Skinhead Soldier Gets Life Terms Lone Juror Holds Out Against Death Penalty In Racist Murders

A racist former paratrooper who gunned down a black couple on the street was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday after a lone juror held out against the death penalty.

Under state law, Judge Coy Brewer had to impose two life terms on former Army Pfc. James Burmeister II because the jury could not unanimously decide on a sentence.

Burmeister, 21, of Thompson, Pa., was convicted last week of murder and conspiracy in the 1995 slayings of Jackie Burden, 27, and Michael James, 36.

Prosecutors depicted Burmeister as a skinhead who hoped to earn a spiderweb tattoo by killing a black person.

The murders prompted an Army-wide investigation of racism in the ranks. It found 22 soldiers at Fort Bragg, including Burmeister and the two other soldiers charged in the killings, with extremist sympathies.

“We’re delighted the (S.O.B.) will be put away for life,” District Attorney Ed Grannis Jr. said.

The jurors told the judge they were deadlocked with 11 members in favor of the death penalty and one against.

The woman who held out “didn’t really believe in the death penalty,” said a fellow juror, Darcy Day, who was in tears after the case was over.

Juror Robby Mareau said the 11 who favored the death penalty wanted to send a message that “society is tired of this kind of ignorance.”

According to testimony, Burmeister joined a racist skinhead group after arriving at Fort Bragg as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. By the time he went hunting black people, Burmeister had engaged in heavy drinking every day, singing extremist songs and giving Nazi salutes.

Defense attorneys said that there was no proof Burmeister fired the fatal shots and that he was too drunk to form the intent to murder.

Before sentencing, Burmeister addressed the court for the first time.

“The state has chosen to blame me for this. So be it for now,” said Burmeister, who has denied pulling the trigger. “I’m not conceding. And I’m not going to quit. It’s not over.”

Burmeister also apologized “to all of the families involved. I know this has been a great strain on everybody.”

But he added: “A lot of what we saw … was smoke and mirrors.”

In addition to the life sentences, he received more than 16 years in prison for conspiracy.

Another former Fort Bragg soldier, Malcolm Wright, 22, is scheduled for trial March 31 in the slayings.