08-24-2013, 10:18 AM
An online memorial fund set up by one of Lane's US baseball team-mates has raised a staggering $155,000 ($A173,000) in just three days.
![[Image: A-memorial-set-up-for-Chr-008.jpg]](https://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/8/24/1377331026621/A-memorial-set-up-for-Chr-008.jpg)
Memorial near spot where Lane was killed
It was hoped the fund would raise $US15,000 to help pay for funeral expenses and take Lane's body back to Melbourne; the extra funds will be used by Lane's parents to set up a foundation to make donations to organizations Lane was passionate about.
LE addresses racism and gang speculation:
Chris Lane was not shot in the back and left to die on the side of a road in Oklahoma because he was white or the victim of a gang initiation, the lead prosecutor and police chief investigating the Australian's murder believes.
Inflammatory, race-based comments on Twitter by the youngest accused, 15-year-old James "Bug" Edwards, before last week's drive-by murder in the city of Duncan led to speculation Lane, 22, from Melbourne, was targeted because of his race.
In one Twitter post Edwards wrote: "90% of white ppl are nasty. #HATE THEM".
In another post Edwards, a champion junior wrestler who hoped to represent the US at the Olympics, wrote "Ayeee I knocced out 5 woods since Zimmerman court!," Edwards posted, using the derogatory word "woods" to describe whites.
Stephens County district attorney Jason Hicks said there was not enough evidence collected so far in the investigation to indicate Lane's killing was motivated by race.
"At this point, the evidence does not support the theory that Christopher Lane was targeted based upon his race or nationality; the evidence is insufficient to establish that race was the primary motive in the murder of Christopher Lane."
Hicks noted Luna's mother and Jones were both white.
Duncan police chief Danny Ford has also hosed down speculation the three boys were members of a gang and the targeting of Lane as he jogged along a road was part of a gang initiation. Ford believes it is possible the boys were "wannabe gangsters".
Full story:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/au...not-factor
Memorial near spot where Lane was killed
It was hoped the fund would raise $US15,000 to help pay for funeral expenses and take Lane's body back to Melbourne; the extra funds will be used by Lane's parents to set up a foundation to make donations to organizations Lane was passionate about.
LE addresses racism and gang speculation:
Chris Lane was not shot in the back and left to die on the side of a road in Oklahoma because he was white or the victim of a gang initiation, the lead prosecutor and police chief investigating the Australian's murder believes.
Inflammatory, race-based comments on Twitter by the youngest accused, 15-year-old James "Bug" Edwards, before last week's drive-by murder in the city of Duncan led to speculation Lane, 22, from Melbourne, was targeted because of his race.
In one Twitter post Edwards wrote: "90% of white ppl are nasty. #HATE THEM".
In another post Edwards, a champion junior wrestler who hoped to represent the US at the Olympics, wrote "Ayeee I knocced out 5 woods since Zimmerman court!," Edwards posted, using the derogatory word "woods" to describe whites.
Stephens County district attorney Jason Hicks said there was not enough evidence collected so far in the investigation to indicate Lane's killing was motivated by race.
"At this point, the evidence does not support the theory that Christopher Lane was targeted based upon his race or nationality; the evidence is insufficient to establish that race was the primary motive in the murder of Christopher Lane."
Hicks noted Luna's mother and Jones were both white.
Duncan police chief Danny Ford has also hosed down speculation the three boys were members of a gang and the targeting of Lane as he jogged along a road was part of a gang initiation. Ford believes it is possible the boys were "wannabe gangsters".
Full story:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/au...not-factor