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Trials in AIM slaying moved to late November

By Journal staff Posted: Friday, May 14, 2010 3:24 pm
Rapid City Journal Article

The murder trial of John Graham and Thelma Rios has been moved to Nov. 29.

Graham, 54, and Rios, 64, are charged in connection with the 1975 slaying of American Indian Movement activist Annie Mae Aquash. The state charges involve incidents that allegedly took place in Rapid City shortly before Aquash was killed on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, had been scheduled for July.

During a Friday hearing, 7th Circuit Judge Jack Delaney also granted a request to remove defense attorney Matt Stephens from Rios' case. Rios' other attorney, Matt Kinney, said he would ask Delaney to appoint new co-counsel.

Rios' attorneys have asked that her trial be severed from Graham's, but Delaney has not ruled on that motion.

Two other men have already been tried in federal court for Aquash's murder. Arlo Looking Cloud was convicted in 2004 and is serving a sentence of life in prison. Richard "Dickie" Marshall was acquitted after a trial here last month.

The state charges filed against Graham and Rios are punishable by life in prison upon conviction. Graham is in custody. Rios is free on bond.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_39233494-5f9f-11df-8303-001cc4c03286.html
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