‘Not-guilty’ plea in cross-burning case
Posted Apr 19, 2010 01:35:33 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
One of the two brothers charged with burning a cross on an interracial couple’s lawn in Hants County has pleaded not guilty to the hate crime, meanwhile the victims say they’ve been targeted again.
Justin Rehberg, 19, will go to trial in October, while his brother 20-year-old Nathan Rehberg will give his plea next month.
Victim Michelle Lyon, a distant relative of the accused, says someone torched her car around 2 a.m. Saturday.
“There was nothing left,” says Lyon. “It was just like someone set a shell from an assembly line on the ground and that was it.”
Lyon says she’s confident her car didn’t spontaneously catch fire and fears it’s another racist act.
RCMP Sgt. Brigdit Legere says they’re investigating the suspicious fire.
“We’re looking at all possible causes for this incident,” says Legere. “In terms of motivations we haven’t even eliminated any motivations for this event.”
Lyon says she, her partner Shane Howe and their five kids are not safe.
“What’s next? I said that last time with the cross burning,” says Lyon. “My car’s been burnt, so I’m going to say it again, what’s next?”
She’s disappointed with the not-guilty plea, but is still confident justice will be served.
