Jackie Northam of member station WBEZ in Chicago reports on the imminent trial of three white teenagers charged with attempted murder and hate crimes for the racially-motivated beating of an African-American teen last year. 13-year-old Lenard Clark was beaten so badly he slipped into a coma. His slow recovery has been followed by the national media. Prosecutors say they have a strong case despite the murder of one witness, and the disappearance of another. Community activists say the prosecution's problems could mean that the perpetrators of this crime could escape punishment.
Copyright 1998 NPR
