Jury recommends life in prison for US white nationalist

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - A jury in the state of Virginia recommended Tuesday that a white nationalist who rammed his car into counter-protesters during a "Unite the Right" rally, killing Heather Heyer, receive life in prison.

James Alex Fields Jr. was convicted of 10 counts, including first degree murder, last Friday for killing Heyer and injuring dozens of others.

After the jury conclusion Fields deserved a life sentence, the judge accepted the decision but did not impose a sentence, according to reports.

He faces a sentencing hearing in March, with a final recommendation of life in prison with an additional 419 years, as well as a fine of nearly $500,000 dollars.

Hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis gathered in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017, for a demonstration to protect a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. It is reported to be the largest recent gathering of white nationalists.

Fields was photographed on the front line of the rally, holding a shield emblazoned with the black and white emblem of one of the hate groups.

The rally turned violent when protesters clashed with counter-protesters, and Fields drove a car into the crowd of counter-protesters, leaving Heyer dead and more than 30 others injured.

"In the end, the hands of justice say that [Fields] needs to be kept away from society for a while, and I'm content with that," Susan Bro, Heyer's mother told reporters outside the courtroom.