OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - A judge has warned a Missouri white supremacist accused of killing three Christians at two suburban Kansas City Jewish sites last year that any outbursts in front of jurors at his capital murder trial could result in a mistrial.
Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., 74, of Aurora, Missouri, has admitted to news outlets and in court that he killed Dr. William Lewis Corporon, 69, and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, outside the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City in Leawood on April 13, 2014. He also acknowledged fatally shooting Terri LaManno, 53, who was visiting her mother at a Jewish retirement home in nearby Overland Park.
At several monthly hearings leading up to the trial, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 17, Miller and Johnson County District Judge Kelly Ryan have sparred over Miller's frequent outbursts. The judge has largely stayed calm, but warned Miller on Wednesday that such behavior in front of jurors would not be tolerated, The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/1E8N6S0) reported.
Miller turned loud, profane and argumentative at the last scheduled pretrial hearing Wednesday.
Even before the hearing started, he was temporarily removed from the courtroom after he reacted angrily to a deputy telling him not to give the Nazi stiff-armed salute to people in the gallery. Later, Ryan told Miller he would not be allowed to say "Sieg Heil" or give the salute in the presence of jurors.
Miller has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and indicated he will use a "compelling necessity" defense at trial. He fired his attorneys and has insisted on representing himself, despite being urged by his lawyers and the court to reconsider.
Miller, who has said he is dying of chronic emphysema, told The Associated Press earlier this year that he doesn't believe he has long to live and certainly won't be around long enough to be executed in a state whose last execution was in 1965.
He also has demanded a speedy trial, even though his attorneys - who are now in a standby role and providing minor assistance - have said the trial date was too soon to prepare a credible defense.
Miller also requested a change of venue, saying massive pretrial publicity made it impossible for him to get a fair trial in Johnson County.
Assistant District Attorney Chris McMullin countered that Miller had generated most of the publicity himself by contacting the media and "giving confessional interviews."
Ryan rejected the motion, saying Wednesday that Miller had not provided evidence or testimony to support his request.