KKK verdict sees 'justice arrive'

The families of three civil rights workers beaten and shot to death 41 years ago in Mississippi have welcomed the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen.

The 80-year-old former Ku Klux Klan man was convicted by a jury in the town of Philadelphia of recruiting the killers.

Bennie Thompson, the state's only black congressman, said justice had "finally arrived in Philadelphia".

Rita Schwerner Bender, widow of victim Michael Schwerner, said the conviction was a "very important first step".

But she asked why the jury "could not bring themselves to acknowledge that these were murders, that they were committed with malice".

Michael Schwerner's widow added that the state of Mississippi was "complicit in these crimes and all the crimes that occurred" and called for a further inquiry.

Ben Chaney, brother of James Chaney, the only black man among the three victims, thanked prosecutors and said he sensed "hope".

District Attorney Mark Duncan said he still believed the prosecution had "proved murder".

Clearly referring to the Alan Parker 1988 film Mississippi Burning about the struggle to bring the killers to justice, he added: "We won't be painted or described or known throughout the world by a Hollywood movie any more."

The jury in Mississippi rejected the murder charges against Killen but did find him guilty of recruiting a mob to kill the three.

His wife, Betty Jo, went to her husband with tears in her eyes and hugged him.

As he was wheeled away, he struck out at two television microphones and a TV camera.

Killen now faces up to 20 years in jail for the role he played 41 years ago.

The defendant had denied taking any part in the killings of Mr Schwerner, 24, Mr Chaney, 21, and Andy Goodman, 20.

A Baptist preacher, he showed no emotion as the verdict was read in the courtroom.

He used a wheelchair in court and was connected to breathing apparatus during the trial.

The activists were two white men from New York and a local black colleague, who were killed while campaigning for the registration of black voters.

They were arrested for a dubious traffic violation, and attacked by a gang of Klansmen and police after being released in the middle of the night.

They were abducted as they drove out of the Mississippi town and shot dead.

Their bodies, riddled with bullets and badly beaten, were buried at a dam and only found 44 days later after an extensive search.

Killen, who was a suspect in the original investigation but never convicted, was re-arrested after new evidence emerged.