Neo-Nazi Frazier Glenn Miller Fires Attorneys in Upcoming Capital Murder Trial
Frazier Glenn Miller, the longtime neo-Nazi accused of killing three people last spring at two Jewish facilities in suburban Kansas City, fired his team of experienced lawyers during a testy status hearing in the case on Thursday.
Miller, who is 74 and in poor health, told the presiding Johnson County, Kan., District Court judge that he thought representing himself was “the only damn way” he would be allowed to say what he wanted during his upcoming capital murder trial, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Miller, who suffers from chronic emphysema, was seated in a wheel chair with an oxygen tank at his side in court Thursday, as the judge cautioned Miller against representing himself in such a complicated proceeding.
“It’s my life and I’ll do as I please,” Miller said, according to The Kansas City Star. “The death penalty don’t bother me.”
After he has his say at the trial scheduled to begin Aug. 17, Miller told the judge, he “might climb up on the gurney and stick the needle in, myself.”
Miller is accused of gunning down William Corporon, 69, and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Underwood, in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City in Overland Park, Kan., on April 13, 2014. Corporon had taken his grandson to the center to audition for a singing contest. Minutes later, prosecutors say, Miller shot and killed Terri LaManno, 53, outside of the Village Shalom care center, where she had gone to visit her mother.
Miller has said he drove from his home in Aurora, Mo., to Overland Park with one goal in mind: killing Jews. He told The Kansas City Star last November that he was convinced he was dying and wanted to “make damned sure I killed some Jews or attacked the Jews before I died.”
None of the three people killed that Sunday in April was Jewish.
The status hearing began with the Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe telling the judge that Miller’s court-appointed lawyers had twice told prosecutors that the elderly white supremacist would plead guilty in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table. The state declined both times, including the defense’s most recent offer on May 6, according to the Star. Moments later, Miller shouted that he was firing his attorneys and wished to represent himself. The judge, Kelly Ryan, called a recess to give Miller and his attorneys time to discuss the issue in private. When court resumed, Miller said he still wanted to represent himself.
Judge Ryan warned Miller that he would be held to the same standards and rules as a licensed attorney. He asked Miller if he thought he was competent to do so.
“My IQ is probably higher than yours,” Miller replied, according to the Star.
The judge asked Miller’s now fired attorney, Mark Manna, if he would remain in the case on a stand-by basis to assist Miller or if need be to take over again. Manna agreed to do so and the judge granted Miller’s request.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled on June 10.
It should be an interesting summer with Miller in charge of his own defense once his trial begins. According to the Star, Miller said one witness he intends to call is actor Mel Gibson.
