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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2001

The high-profile trial of four white man accused of burning an Indian leader to death began on Tuesday in Brazil.

One of the accused took the stand and said he and his friends burned Galdino Jesus dos Santos, a Pataxo chief, as a joke. They only wanted to scare him, the man said.

Dos Santos had been visiting Brasilia in 1997 to promote Indian rights when he was suffered 95-percent body burns. His family and tribal members have held protests and vigils up to and during his trial.

The four men accused face up to 30 years in prison.

Get the Story:
Man Describes Burning Indian Chief (AP 11/6)
Brazilian Indians Demand Justice (AP 11/6)
Trial of youths accused of burning indigenous man alive opens in Brazil Agence France-Presse 11/6)