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Thursday, February 5, 2004

The former common-law wife of American Indian Movement leader Dennis Banks implicated AIM leaders in the murder of her friend Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash.

According to news reports, Darlene Nichols, also known as Ka-Mook Nichols, said Aquash was terrified of Banks and Leonard Peltier. She testified that she was with Aquash when Peltier bragged about killing two FBI agents. Peltier is serving two life sentences for the crime.

Nichols said she heard, but did not witness, that Peltier once pointed a gun to Aquash's head because he believed she was a federal informant. In the months before her murder, rumors were rampant within AIM that Aquash was an informant.

Aquash's body was found on the Pine Ridge Reservation on February 24, 1976. Nichols testified that Banks called her that same day and told her Anna Mae was dead. Authorities, however, weren't unable to identify the body until much later.

Also testifying was former AIM member Mathalene White Bear. She said Aquash was wearing a ring but told her to call a number if it "were to come to me another way." A few days after speaking to Aquash by phone shortly before the murder, White Bear said the ring was mailed to her.

The number belonged to former AIM leader John Trudell, now a recording artist, who picked up the ring, White Bear said. Trudell is expected to be called as a witness.

Get the Story:
AIM leader's former wife testifies in trial (AP 2/4)
Wife of AIM leader says Leonard Peltier admitted killing FBI agents (The Rapid City Journal 2/5)
In Court, AIM Members Are Depicted as Killers (The New York TImes 2/5)
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Relevant Links:
Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash Info - http://www.dickshovel.com/annalay.html

Related Stories:
Jury for Anna Mae Aquash murder has one Indian (2/4)
Questions remain as Aquash murder trial starts (2/3)
Man accused of murdering Anna Mae goes on trial (2/2)
Man accused in Aquash murder fights U.S. extradition (1/29)
Aquash murder suspect released on bail in B.C. (01/16)
Aquash murder suspect seeking release from jail (01/13)
Second man arrested for Anna Mae Aquash murder (12/03)
Federal judge to hold hearing in Aquash murder case (10/09)
AIM asked to help man charged with Aquash murder (09/24)
Aquash family disappointed with trial delay (09/17)
Trial for man charged with Aquash murder delayed (9/12)
Man charged with Aquash murder seeks trial delay (9/10)
Evidence in Aquash murder case may be missing (08/22)
Trial for Anna Mae Aquash murder suspect delayed (06/09)
Peltier sues Indian newspaper editor for libel (05/06)
Anna Mae Aquash suspect to go to trial in June (04/24)
Aquash murder suspect transferred to S.D. (4/22)
Editorial: Anne Mae murder deserves to be solved (04/14)
Second Anna Mae indictment was mistakenly unsealed (4/8)
Canadian police aware of Aquash developments (4/4)
Second man sought in murder of Anna Mae Aquash (4/3)
Arrest made in murder of Anna Mae Aquash (4/2)
Editorial: Aquash murder deserves attention (01/30)
Anna Mae Aquash murder investigated again (1/27)

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