John Graham sentenced to life in prison for 1975 Aquash murder

Tuesday, January 25, 2011  

John Graham was sentenced to life in prison in South Dakota for his role in the 1975 murder of American Indian Movement activist Anna Mae Pictou Aquash.

Graham, a Native man from Canada, was convicted of felony murder in connection with Aquash's kidnapping and subsequent murder in December 1975. But he maintained his innocence and even spoke to Aquash's two daughters.

"The truth hasn't come out here," Graham told Denise Maloney Pictou and Debbie Maloney, The Rapid City Journal reported. "I'd like to tell your family that Annie Mae wasn't kidnapped ... she wasn't murdered in my presence ... that just did not happen."

Graham also addressed the court for the first time. He said the case against him was tainted by "rumors, speculation and innuendo."

"I guess you're gonna believe what you're gonna believe," Graham said in court, the Journal reported.

Graham plans to appeal his conviction.

Get the Story:
Graham sentenced to life in prison (The Rapid City Journal 1/25)
Graham Speaks (KOTA 1/25)
Vancouver man gets life in prison for 1975 U.S. murder of aboriginal activist (Postmedia News 1/24)

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