Jury convicts man in Pictou-Aquash murder

A U.S. jury has convicted a former member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the death of Nova Scotia-native Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash, who was shot 27 years ago in South Dakota.

The federal jury found Arlo Looking Cloud guilty of first-degree murder committed during the kidnapping of Pictou-Aquash.

The Nova Scotia activist and mother of two daughters was part of the movement when it stormed the village of Wounded Knee in 1973 in a fight for self-determination and better living conditions.

Looking Cloud and another former AIM member, John Graham, were formally charged last March. Graham was arrested in December in Vancouver and plans to fight extradition.

The 30-year-old woman was shot in the head, execution-style, in 1975. Her frozen body was later found on the Pine Ridge reservation.

Various rumours abounded over why Pictou-Aquash was killed. Some believed she was shot by an FBI informant trying to undermine AIM during and after its 71-day armed standoff.

Others suggested she was killed by members of the group who thought she was a government spy. Federal authorities have always denied any involvement.

Looking Cloud's supporters believe their friend became a scapegoat for an old crime, perpetrated by FBI informants.

"Once again, South Dakota courts of injustice have continued the merry-go-around of picking on poor, defenceless Indians and not going after the culprits," said Russell Means of the American Indian Movement.

Looking Cloud, 50, will be sentenced April 23 and faces a mandatory life prison term.