Black Man’s Estate Can Seize WAR Funds

The estate of a black man killed by racist “skinheads” was granted permission Friday by a San Diego judge to seize donations sent to post office boxes rented by White Aryan Resistance, the racial hatred group led by white supremacist Tom Metzger of Fallbrook.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Terry O’Rourke ruled that the donations could be seized to help pay a $12.5-million civil judgment against Metzger, his son, John, two skinheads and WAR. A Portland, Ore., jury returned the award last year in the November, 1988, beating death of Mulugeta Seraw, a 27-year-old Ethiopian immigrant.

O’Rourke’s ruling marked Metzger’s latest legal and financial setback. Last month, San Diego Superior Court Judge Lawrence Kapiloff ruled that Metzger’s Fallbrook house could be sold to help satisfy the $12.5-million award.

James McElroy, the San Diego lawyer representing Seraw’s family, said Friday that in past years the WAR post office boxes, rented by Tom and John Metzger, have generated $75,000 to $100,000 annually. WAR sells videotapes, racist literature and newspaper subscriptions.

“Now that the word is out, we expect that (amount) will be cut down to a certain extent, but there are people who will be sending money in, I’m sure,” McElroy said Friday after the hearing. “And it’s the best we can do under the circumstances.”

O’Rourke ordered Metzger to turn over the keys to Fallbrook post office boxes 65 and 1784 to a receiver, as soon as one is appointed.

Metzger is due back in court Monday to discuss the details of the house sale. He contends he is due a homestead exemption of $75,000, meaning he would keep the first $75,000 of the sale price. McElroy claims the exemption is $45,000.

Seraw’s skull was split open when he was attacked by the two skinheads in November, 1988. In October, 1990, the Portland jury found that the skinheads, who pleaded guilty in the slaying, had been incited by the campaign of racial hatred waged by the Metzgers and WAR.

Tom Metzger, who calls himself a white separatist, appeared earlier this year before a federal grand jury investigating the Sept. 15, 1990, bombing of the San Diego Federal Courthouse.

Metzger consistently has denied any link to the bombing, which shattered the building’s front doors but caused no injuries.