Another look at priest's death. Kenyan magistrate orders new look at slain human rights activist

[Ian David]

Perham, Minn. / Another look at priest's death
Kenyan magistrate orders a new investigation into case of slain human rights activist
BY DAVID HANNERS
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 08/01/2007 11:51:07 PM CDT

Those who knew the Rev. John Kaiser from his work with the poor and dispossessed in Kenya never bought the official story that he killed himself. And on Wednesday, a magistrate there ruled that the Minnesota priest was murdered.

The magistrate ordered a new investigation into Kaiser's 2000 death. In doing so, the court rejected earlier findings by Kenyan authorities and the FBI that the priest shot himself in the back of the head with a shotgun.

Relatives and friends of Kaiser, who spent 36 years working in Kenya, said they hoped the ruling would bring the priest's killers to justice.

"We were quite pleased. It's validating everything we've been saying all along," said Mary Weaver, a niece of Kaiser's who lives in Underwood, about 160 miles northwest of St. Paul.

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http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_6520770