Life-or-death segment of Butler nears end with closing arguments

Kim Smith

Monday, Jan. 8, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

Jurors who must decide if John Edward Butler should die for shooting two anti-racist skinheads to death two years ago will hear closing arguments this afternoon.

Butler, 29, was convicted two weeks ago of shooting Daniel Shersty, 20, and Lin Newborn, 25, in the desert northwest of Las Vegas on July 4, 1998.

Prosecutors believe the men were lured into the desert by Butler's girlfriend, and Butler and possibly two other men opened fire.

Butler, the prosecutors argued, was the leader of a small Nazi skinhead group that hated the victims because of their biracial friendship and their anti-racist views.

On Friday Butler, who was the only person charged in the slayings, took the stand and apologized, but did not admit his guilt.

"First and foremost I'd like to send my sympathies and condolences to the two families involved," Butler said. "I'm sorry for their grief and I'm sorry for the things they will never have in reference to their sons. I also want to say I'm sorry to my family and friends for the things they will never have."

Butler said a lot of things were said during the trial, but the law prevented other things from coming to light.

Butler didn't openly beg for his life, but said that during his time in jail, he has done some "good things."

"I'd just like to say that nobody wins here and three families will be without three sons," Butler said.

Jurors also heard from two black men who have been housed with Butler since his arrest. Lamark Brown and William Shoels both described Butler as a nice and caring person.

As for the Nazi tattoos decorating much of Butler's body, the men said they were able to look past them.

The trial's final witness was E.K. McDaniel, the warden of the Ely State Prison.

McDaniel was brought in to rebut the testimony of defense experts who testified about how harsh life can be for people who are serving life sentences.

McDaniel testified that people who are serving life prison terms with or without the possibility of parole can gain more and more freedom and privileges within the prison if they behave themselves.

Some lifers have ended up in medium security facilities and many enjoy such things as softball, basketball and work details, McDaniel said.