Suspect in Charlottesville murder trial faces 20 years

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The man who ran down a group of counterprotesters with his car during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville last year, leaving one woman dead, went on trial on Thursday, with prosecutors saying he meant to kill.

"It was willful, premeditated murder," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Nina-Alice Antony said in Charlottesville Circuit Court.

James Fields, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder over the death of Heather Heyer, 32, after he plowed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters during the "Unite the Right" protest in Charlottesville in August 2017.

He also faces hit-and-run charges and eight counts of causing serious injury.

But Fields' attorney, John Hill, argued on Thursday that his client acted in self-defense after becoming frightened by the mass of people around his car.

White nationalists carry torches and chant "White lives matter!" and "Jews will not replace us!" during a parade through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, U.S., August 11, 2017. /VCG Photo

"He was scared to death," Hill said. During jury selection, Fields' defense team also said they planned to raise his mental health at the time of the incident and call forensic psychiatrists as their witnesses.

Charlottesville experienced two days of chaos in August 2017 when hundreds of white nationalists descended on the Virginia city to protest the planned removal of a Confederate statue from a public park.

The "Unite the Right" rally followed a Friday night demonstration when hundreds of torch-carrying men chanted anti-Semitic slogans and clashed with counterprotesters.

U.S. President Donald Trump was heavily criticized for his response to the violence after he said there were "very fine people on both sides," seemingly equating the white nationalists with those who demonstrated against them.

The violence shook the country and became a symbol of the growing audacity of the far-right under Trump.

Hours before the attack, Fields was photographed carrying a shield with the emblem of a far-right hate group, although the group later denied he was a member.

His trial is expected to last up to three weeks. If convicted of first degree murder, Fields faces 20 years to life in prison.

(Top picture: James Fields is seen attending the "Unite the Right" rally in Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 12, 2017. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters