Attorney Says Hunter Shooter Acted in Self-Defense

The attorney for a Hmong immigrant on trial for shooting six hunters in the Wisconsin north woods said his client acted in self-defense during opening statements in the trial Saturday.

Steven Kohn, attorney for Chai Soua Vang, said Vang was lost in the woods when he climbed a deer stand to get his bearings and was surrounded by white hunters, who cursed him and shot at him.

"I want you to remember ... who was outnumbered and who tried to walk away peacefully three times," Kohn told the jury in his 20-minute opening statement. "He felt he was under siege."

In his 90-minute opening statement, Assistant Attorney General Roy Korte gave the jury an entirely different version of the events, telling the jury that Vang shot four of the victims in the back and ambushed two of them.

Vang is on trial for killing six of the deer hunters and wounding two others.

See Also:
Man Killed Hunters in Self Defense: Attorney

Earlier Articles:
Six Killed in Wisconsin Hunting Incident
Suspect Says Hunters Fired at Him First
Hunter Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
Outside Jurors to Decide Deer Hunting Case
Jury Selection Set in Wisconsin Hunter Shootings