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Canada
Chaos as judge sentences Mohawk rioters


Chaos erupted in a Quebec courtroom on Friday when a judge sentenced a group of Mohawk men who participated in a riot on the Kanesatake Reserve.

Members of the crowd shouted slurs at Superior Court Justice Nicole Duval Hesler as she sent two of the men to one year in jail. People accused her of being a racist and one of the rioters flashed her an obscene hand gesture.

Hesler cleared the court and resumed sentencing. She ended up giving the last two men to 15 months in jail.

In total, 13 men were convicted for participating in a violent riot in January 2004. The chief's home was burned down and Native officers were forced to leave the reserve due to threats and intimidation.

Get the Story:
Judge throws book at Mohawk rioters (The Montreal Gazette 1/21)
Outburst forces judge to halt Mohawk hearing (CTV 1/20)
Kanesatake sentencing disrupted (CP 1/20)
Spectators shout down judge as Quebec Mohawks sentenced (CBC 1/20)

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