Yahweh Murder Case Draws to a Close

The government accused Yahweh Ben Yahweh of torturing and murdering dissident members of his black sect because he claims he is the son of God, his attorney said in closing arguments Friday.

“My client is guilty,” attorney Alcee L. Hastings said. “He’s guilty of preaching, caring, teaching . . . guilty of loving people. . . . He’s guilty of saying he’s the son of God. But he’s not guilty of any racketeering murder.”

Prosecutor Richard Scruggs replied that Yahweh’s religious beliefs had nothing to do with the prosecution.

“Yahweh Ben Yahweh, through his own words and writings, sees a world of enemies and preaches violence against those enemies,” Scruggs said.

The prosecutor said the testimony of government witnesses, some of whom feared for their lives, backed up crime-scene evidence and was consistent in all but insignificant details.

“Don’t abandon your common sense when you go back in there and deliberate,” Scruggs told the jury.

U.S. District Judge Norman Roettger said the jurors could begin deliberations as early as today and could work through the Memorial Day weekend.

Yahweh and his 15 co-defendants face up to 40 years in prison if convicted of conspiring to commit 14 murders, two attempted murders and arson to enforce discipline and intimidate non-members of their Nation of Yahweh separatist movement.