The Nation - News from Dec. 23, 1987

Defense attorneys planned appeals for three white teen-agers convicted of manslaughter, first-degree assault and lesser charges in a Dec. 20, 1986, attack on three black men in Howard Beach, Queens. Attorneys said they would argue their clients were deprived of an impartial jury because jury forewoman Nina F. Krauss was trying to sell her story to the highest bidder. Gabriel Leone, who represents Scott Kern, said attorneys also would argue that the youths should have had individual trials and that the judge gave the jury improper instructions. The convictions of Kern, Jon Lester and Jason Ladone came just hours after “Day of Outrage” protests tied up traffic in New York City. Seven black leaders of the action were arraigned in state Supreme Court on misdemeanor charges of obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass, and released pending a court appearance Feb. 9.