Defense describes violent early years of skinhead’s life

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

Jurors began deliberating this morning the fate of a Nazi skinhead convicted of a double homicide.

The jurors in the John Edward Butler case heard closing arguments Monday night. Now they must decide if the 29-year-old should be sentenced to death or receive a life sentence in connection with the July 1998 deaths of Lin Newborn, 25, and Daniel Shersty, 20.

Prosecutors believe Butler's girlfriend lured the men to the desert northwest of Las Vegas, and Butler and possibly two other men ambushed and shot them to death.

The motive, prosecutors believe, was Butler's hatred for blacks and the men's anti-racist beliefs. Newborn was black and Shersty was white.

Butler's defense attorney, Deputy Special Public Defender Bret Whipple, urged the jurors to look past the double homicide and look at the factors that made Butler who he is.

Butler grew up in a violent, poor and drug-addicted family, was sexually assaulted as a teen and he began using drugs himself at 13.

Whipple reminded the jurors that Butler went to five schools in the first grade, six in the second grade and five in the third grade.

"Every morning he woke up and his first breath of air was filled with anxiety," Whipple said.

"We wouldn't let our kids spend one night in the (type of) home Mr. Butler spent his whole youth," Whipple said.

Even a life sentence would be harsh, given that Butler will be spending 23 hours a day in a seven-foot by 10-foot cement box, the defense attorney said.

Whipple also reminded jurors that Butler has spoken to youths as part of a program designed to turn around young offenders. Whipple also referred to two black inmates who testified on Butler's behalf as proof that he has turned his life around.

Butler's message isn't about violence and hate, Whipple said, it's about hope and change.

"Please give him a light at the end of the tunnel," Whipple said.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent attacked Whipple's argument, calling it a marketing ploy, an "infomercial complete with testimonials."

Laurent said the defense was trying to divert their attention from the brutal slayings by selling Butler "as a poor, preyed upon individual, never given a break in life and predisposed to becoming a murderer."

Shersty died begging for his life, and Newborn died trying to run for his, Laurent said.

"The defense wants to talk about how poor Mr. Butler will be stuck in a cell when Mr. Newborn and Mr. Shersty are stuck in a coffin," Laurent said.

"This is called the punishment phase for a reason," Laurent said. "It's not a rehabilitation phase. It's a penalty phase. Retribution for retribution's sake is perfectly OK."