"The trial of Richard Marshall in the Annie Mae Aquash murder left me with a sense of dread and sadness that didn't have anything to do with the not-guilty verdict.

A federal jury on April 22 found Marshall not guilty of providing the gun that was used to kill Aquash, the American Indian Movement activist killed by other AIM members in December 1975. Marshall's acquittal showed that a Native American can get a fair trial in Rapid City, said his defense attorney, Dana Hanna. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol thanked Hanna, a court-appointed attorney, for providing a spirited defense.

It's too bad Annie Mae didn't have the same quality of defense against those inside AIM who accused her of being an FBI informant throughout 1975, a charge the FBI has consistently denied.

Some in AIM accused the FBI of being responsible for Aquash's death. That theory has fallen apart since the real story began coming out about 15 years ago.

The real story-and the sad story-is that fellow AIM supporters kidnapped Annie Mae, tried her in a kangaroo court and then executed her, based on testimony in the murder conviction of Arlo Looking Cloud for his role in her shooting, as well as testimony in the Marshall trial.

My sense of dread came from listening to the chilling account of Annie Mae's last days, knowing how it would end."

Get the Story:
Steve Miller: Aquash had no defense with AIM (The Rapid City Journal 5/7)

Related Stories:
Jury acquits Oglala Sioux man for role in Aquash murder (4/23)
Jury deliberates case against Aquash murder defendant (4/22)
Witness in Aquash murder case seeks immunity at trial (4/21)
Testimony resumes in trial of Aquash murder defendant (4/20)
Man guilty of Aquash murder contradicts prior testimony (4/16)
Aquash murder defendant goes on trial in federal court (4/15)
Judge allows woman's testimony in Aquash murder trial (4/14)
Trial set for man accused of murdering Anna Mae Aquash (4/13)
Evidence box halts trial for Aquash murder defendant (2/16)
Judge postpones trial for Aquash murder defendant (2/12)
Judge throws out charges against Aquash defendant (2/4)
Aquash murder defendant asks to exclude testimony (1/27)
Aquash murder trial scheduled for February 2010 (12/17)
Aquash murder defendant wants separate trial again (12/2)
Woman pleads not guilty for Aquash death (10/6)
Two indicted in state court for Aquash murder (09/11)
Aquash defendant to face state court charges (9/10)
Prosecutors want delay in Aquash murder trial (9/9)
Judge won't dismiss Aquash murder indictment (9/8)
Trial set for remaining Aquash murder defendant (8/4)
Appeals court dismisses charge in Aquash case (7/28)
Aquash murder defendant seeks separate trial (7/22)
Aquash murder trial delayed until appeal resolved (5/6)
Hearing scheduled for Aquash murder defendants (5/5)
Case against Aquash murder defendant coming apart (5/1)
Judge rejects probe into BIA informant claim (4/30)
Trial for Aquash murder defendants set to begin (4/27)
8th Circuit hears Indian status appeal in Aquash case (8/16)
Aquash murder defendant seeks release until trial (4/10)
BIA official's link to informant raised in Aquash case (4/1)
8th Circuit to hear appeal in Aquash murder case (3/23)
Trial for Aquash murder suspects delayed again (3/3)