Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. - A brother of the man accused in the 1964 deaths of three civil rights workers took the stand Saturday in his defense, saying the defendant was at a Father's Day gathering that day and never indicated he was in the Ku Klux Klan.

"Until he tells me so, I won't believe it," said Oscar Kenneth Killen, 74.

His brother, Edgar Ray Killen, 80, a part-time preacher and sawmill operator, is being tried on the first-ever state murder charges in the killings of Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney. He faces life in prison if convicted in the case that helped spur passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The defense called four witnesses Saturday - including Oscar Killen and a sister, Dorothy Dearing, who both testified Killen attended a family Father's Day meal until late in the afternoon of June 21, 1964, the day the three civil rights workers were killed.

Oscar Kenneth Killen testified that he saw his brother at a funeral home that night.

The slain men, who were helping register black voters, had been stopped for speeding, jailed briefly and then released, after which they were ambushed by a gang of Klansmen. They were shot, their bodies found 44 days later buried in an earthen dam.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case Saturday with testimony from Chaney's mother, Fannie Lee Chaney. She testified that her son went to join the other two in delivering books.

"He never come back," she said.

Fannie Lee Chaney, who now lives in New Jersey, said she moved from Mississippi in 1965 after receiving threats including one by a man who said he would dynamite her house.

She said another caller told her "I wasn't going to be there long before I be put in a hole like James was."

After the initial defense witnesses, the trial was recessed for the weekend.

Defense attorneys said they would call two more witnesses Monday before closing arguments. Killen is not scheduled to testify.

Attorney General Jim Hood told reporters after court recessed that prosecutors would ask the judge to allow the jury to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter in the case. Killen is charged with three counts of murder, which could lead to a life sentence. A manslaughter conviction would carry a maximum of 20 years.

Defense attorneys had no immediate comment.

Killen was tried along with several others in 1967 on federal charges of violating the victims' civil rights. The all-white jury deadlocked in Killen's case, but seven others were convicted.
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Meridian Star, The (MS) - January 17, 2012
Deceased Name: Oscar Kenneth Killen
MERIDIAN —

Services for Oscar Kenneth Killen will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Pine Grove Baptist Church in the House Community with burial in the church cemetery. Bro. Rusty Walton, Bro. Lin Chesney, and Dr. Danny Lanier will officiate.

Mr. Killen, 80, of Union, died Sunday, January 15, 2012 at his residence in Union.

Mr. Killen was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include; Wife of 58 years: Estelle Killen of Union. Son: Jeff Killen of Union, Daughter: Lisa Thomas and Fiance' Barry Smith of Union, 1 Granddaughter: Lauren Pogue and husband Jeremy of Collinsville, 1 Great granddaughter: Kennedy Pouge, 2 Sisters: Clara Hardy of Union and Dot Dearing of Union, 3 Brothers: Edgar Ray Killen of Union, Bobby Killen of Union, and J.D. Killen of Philadelphia

Mr. Killen is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Killen and two brothers, Roy Gene "Shorty" Killen and Jerry Killen.

Pallbearers: Ferrell Alexander, Mark Kemp, Joe Kemp, Doyle Wolverton, Brian Taylor, David Ray Hardy, Ricky Harrison, and Dwight Keady

Honorary Pallbearers: BR Smith, Billy Butler, and the Men of Adult 6 Sunday School Class

Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 pm, Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Milling Funeral Home of Union and also 10 a.m. - service time Wednesday at the church.