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OCTOBER 16, 2000

Federal prosecutors say the attempts of the Miccosukee Tribe to carry out it its own brand of healing and justice aren't sufficient and that a tribal member needs to stand trial and potentially receive the death penalty.

Federal and state authorities have been stymied in their attempt to conduct an investigation on the tribe's land in Florida. They have been attempting to serve subpoenas for a first-degree murder case against a tribal member.

The crimes of which Kirk Billie is accused didn't take place on the reservation, so the state has jurisdiction. But most of the witnesses reside on the reservation and the tribe hasn't been allowing investigators to set foot on their land.

Assistant US Attorney says tribal members "seem very wary of white people" and don't have written laws.

Get the Story:
Murder Case Pits Tribe vs. U.S. Jurisdiction (AP 10/16)

Related Stories:
Miccosukee tribe tries to protect sovereignty (Tribal Law 09/26)