James Nichols (convicted murderer)

James Allen Nichols
Born (1978-05-27)May 27, 1978
Occupation Logger
Criminal penalty 69 years
Criminal status Incarcerated
Conviction(s) Second-degree intentional homicide
Hiding a corpse
Felon in possession of a firearm

James Nichols is a felon convicted of murdering Cha Vang, a 30-year-old Hmong hunter from Green Bay.[1] Cha Vang was found shot and stabbed, his corpse hidden, in the woods near Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Nichols has admitted to killing Vang, but insists the killing was self-defense.[2] On March 19, 2007, Nichols pleaded "Not Guilty" to the charge of first degree intentional homicide, felony possession of a weapon, and hiding a corpse. Nichols was convicted of second degree intentional homicide on October 6, 2007 and sentenced to 69 years in prison.[2][3][4]

Evidence and motivation

Mark Witeck, who performed the autopsy on Cha Vang, testified that Vang was shot from about 50 feet away by a shotgun, and stabbed six times in his face and neck.

Attention to possible racial motives has been brought due to some of Nichol's own statements. Nichols has been quoted on record saying Hmong people are bad, mean and "kill everything and that they go for anything that moves."[4] Nichols' employer has testified that two months before the killing, Nichols mentioned that he would have killed a Hmong hunter that he had seen in the woods if he had been carrying a shotgun rather than an air-rifle.

Effects of the killing

Reports of racial tension in the forests of Wisconsin during hunting seasons have been heard ever since Chai Soua Vang (no relation), a Hmong hunter, was convicted of killing six Caucasian hunters two years before Cha Vang's murder.[1] Besides the immediate effects felt by family and friends at the death of Cha Vang, the killing stressed the already-tense relations between the Hmong community and predominantly Caucasian hunters in northern Wisconsin.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "'Accidental Meeting' Led to Slaying of Hmong Hunter, Sheriff Says". The Index-Journal. January 9, 2007. p. 6. Retrieved December 9, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "Hunter found guilty in death of Hmong man". CNN. Associated Press. October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Hunter Sentences for Killing Hmong Man". The Index-Journal. November 29, 2007. p. 5. Retrieved December 9, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "James Nichols Sentenced to 69 Years". 620 AM WTMJ. Associated Press. 2007.
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