Wyoming court hears Arapaho murder appeal
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Filed Under:
Law
The Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday in a murder case against a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
Andrew John Yellowbear Jr. was convicted of murdering his 22-month-old daughter Marcela Hope Yellowbear, who was a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe.
He is serving sentence of life without parole in state prison.
But since the incident occurred in Riverton, he says he should not have been subject to state prosecution.
His lawyer says the town is within the boundaries of the Wind River Reservation and is considered Indian Country.
The state argues that the reservation has been diminished. On four prior occasions, the state Supreme Court has ruled that Riverton is not Indian Country.
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe and Northern Arapaho Tribe say Riverton is under their jurisdiction.
Get the Story:
Court hears murder appeal
(The Casper Star-Tribune 8/16)
Related Stories:
Hundreds walk in memory of slain Shoshone
child (7/5)
Federal judge won't intervene in state prosecution
(6/15)
Wyoming tribes dispute state
prosecution of murder (05/01)
Arapaho
man convicted of daughter's murder (04/03)
Jury sees mother confessing to daughter's murder
(3/23)
Arapaho man heads to trial for
murder of daughter (03/06)
Judge won't
move Arapaho man's murder trial (02/16)
Judge affirms state jurisdiction in murder case
(01/24)
State jurisdiction at issue in
Wyoming murder case (11/17)
Utah court
blocks state jurisdiction on hunting (11/11)
Witness dispute in tribal member's murder trial
(10/19)
Judge agrees to move tribal member's
murder trial (08/23)
Copyright © Indianz.Com
Subscribe