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Show FRIDAY, DEC. 10,2004 5 STATESMAN"'W()RLD & NATION Prosecutor calls Peterson 'worst kind of monster' GAY MARRIAGE From page 2 "This is a victory for Canadian values," said Alex Munter of Canadians for Equal Marriage. He said that while public opinion may be split on the subject, Canadians endorse the Charter of Eights and Freedoms, the constitutions bill of rights. "One area of overwhelming consensus is that the charter is a document that Canadians cherish," Munter said. In the United States, gay marriage is opposed by a majority of Americans, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll taken in November, shortly after constitutional amendments in 11 states to ban same-sex marriage were approved. "I think its a tremendously historic day that will help not just families in Canada, but people across the border who are wrestling with this question, of how the denial of marriage harms gay people and their loved ones," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, a gay-rights coalition based in New York. In California, the Campaign for Children and Families called the Supreme Court opinion "shabby." California's state legislature last week began reconsidering a bill legalizing marriage licenses for gay couples. To pass in the House of Commons, the legislation needs the approval of about 44 of the 95 Liberal backbench members of Parliament to obtain a 155-vote majority in the 308-seat House. One top Liberal predicted the legislation should pass easily after its introduction, likely early next year. It already has the support of the 38-member Liberal cabinet and virtually all the 54 Bloc Quebecois and 19 New Democrat lawmakers. However, some Liberal members of Parliament are opposed. "I do personally have a problem with redefining marriage and I'm sure some of my colleagues do as well," said Roy Cullen of the Liberal Party. Gordon Young, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church in St. John's, Newfoundland, was disappointed by the ruling. "Its a sad day for our country," Young told CBC television news. "God is in the DNA of this nation. We believe that changing the definition of marriage is changing the divine institution that God put in place for the order of our society." In its ruling, the Supreme Court said the legal definition of marriage should change with public opinion over time. "Several centuries ago, it would have been understood that marriage be available only to opposite-sex couples," the court said. T h e recognition of same-sex marriage in several Canadian jurisdictions as well as two European countries belies the assertion that the same is true today." BY BRIAN SKOLOFF Associated Press REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Calling him "the worst kind of monster" and undeserving of sympathy, a prosecutor urged jurors Thursday to sentence Scott Peterson to death for murdering his pregnant wife. "This is somebody who had everything and threw it away," prosecutor Dave Harris said, pointing at Peterson as the convicted murderer sat stiffly at the defense table and intently watched the jury. "He had a plan and he executed it" In his 40-minute closing argument, Harris also reminded jurors that Thursday marked the two-year anniversary of Petersons "monstrous plan" to murder his wife, Laci. "Two years ago today, the defendant, Scott Peterson, bought a boat," Harris said. "He told (his mistress) Amber Frey his wife was 'lost." Defense lawyer Pat Harris begged jurors to give Peterson the chance to "do some good for the rest of his life," by sending him to prison instead of death row. "I wish there was a phrase that I could give you that could turn this around and make you believe there is good, there is real, real good in this person," he said. "But I don't have that phrase... that's up to you to decide. "So I'm going to ask you ... I'm going to beg you, begging you to go back there and please spare his life," he added. Defense attorneys called 39 witnesses over seven days in the penalty phase of the trial. AP Photo/Fred Larson Prosecutors called just four of Laci's SCOTT PETERSON is seen during defense closing arguments in the • family members. penalty phase of his murder trial at ihe courthouse in Redwood City, "Thirty-nine wit- Calif., Thursday. Seen at right is defense attorney Pat Harris. nesses," Dave Harris said. "And those 39 witnesses Peterson and pointed at him. 'They didpretty much all said the same thing. This n't know the real Scott.... Thai he's a man who sits here, this convicted double manipulator. That he's a liar." murderer, is not the man that I know." After the defenses closing argument and instructions from the judge, jurors The prosecutor walked over to the will be sequestered for deliberations. defense table, stood directly in front of DlMEBAG MURDER From page 2 who loaded band equipment; fan Nathan Bray, 23; and Jeff Thompson, 40. Two others were hospitalized after the shooting. The nature of their injuries was not disclosed. The guitarists brother, Vinnie Paul Abbott, the drummer for Damageplan, was rushed to safety offstage and tearfully tried to learn his brothers fate from officers who couldn't even tell him which hospital he was taken to. With his frenetic, ear-splitting guitar riffs, Dimebag Abbott created an aggressive sound for Pantera and attracted a cult following in the early 1990s. The band was nominated for Grammys in 1995 and 2001. The Abbott brothers left Pantera last year and released Damageplans debut album, "New Found Power," in February. "I'm absolutely beside myself with grief. I can't for the life of me understand why someone would do this," said heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, who often toured with Pantera Lines were deep Wednesday night at the Alrosa Villa club — a popular venue for heavy metal for 30 years — to buy T-shirts for Damageplan. As the lights dimmed, club security was trying to catch up to a man in a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey jersey over his sweatshirt, who was seen jumping the 8-foot wooden fence to enter the club. The guards could not reach the tall, heavyset man in the crowd. He climbed onstage, as many Alrosa headbangers do. "At first we thought it was a hoax, and then when he fired again we knew it was real," said Jeremy Spencer, 16. Kozicki, the lighting director, brought up the house lights and ducked under his control table, where he called 911 on his cell phone. Several calls followed, with one male caller saying: "He's on stage right now. He's got a gun.... He just shot again." Fans surged toward the doors in fear. Kozicki peeked from his table to see the gunman holding a man in a headlock. Police said the gunman appeared ready to shoot the hostage, who managed to duck just enough for Officer James D. Niggemeyer to take aim and kill Gale. Gale has a minor police record in Marysville, near Columbus, including driving with a suspended license last month, said Police Chief Floyd Golden. At the Bears Den Tattoo Studio in Marysville, Gale made people feel uncomfortable by staring at them and forcing them into a conversation, manager Lucas Bender said. The shootings came on the 24th anniversary of perhaps the most well-known assassination of a rock star — that of former Beatle John Lennon outside his New York City apartment in 1980. Get your CAP G atthe Grad Fair Get it at your UtahState UNIVERSITY December 14,10-6 & December BOOKSTORE ft f! h '-11 fit ** M-*1 TSC Sunburst Lo STOKES'ISJHE PLACE FOR CHRISTMAS DEALS THAT ARE SUPER GREAT! 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