>
>
>Visit to death scene delayed
>
>by Suzanne Zalev
>The Times Standard
>
>EUREKA--An investigation of the site where Earth First activist David
>Chain was killed by a falling tree wasn't conducted as planned on
>Friday.
>
>Chain, 24, of Coldspring, Texas, was killed Sept. 17 while trespassing o
>Pacific Lumber land near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. Earth
>Firsters say the logger deliberately fell the tree in his direction,
>while PL officials say loggers didn't know anyone was in the area and
>Chain's death was an accident.
>
>Attorney Steve Schectman, who is representing Chain's family,
>representatives from PL, and representatives from the Humboldt County
>Sheriff's Department went to look at the site Friday afternoon but
>changed plans and will investigate today.
>
>Earth Firsters have blockaded the road leading to the timber harvest
>area, but spokesman Josh Brown said Friday that they were willing to let
>the investigation team in. The team did not arrive early enough and
>there wasn't enough daylight left to complete the investigation Brown
>said.
>
>But PL President John Campbell said environmentalists refused to let the
>investigators in.
>
>"Its still daylight now," Campbell said at 4:45 p.m. "Why didn't they go
>in?"
>
>The team left Carlotta about noon and reported that it was denied access
>by environmentalists, he said.
>
>Earth First spokesman Jeff Davis said the investigating team decided to
>meet at 9 a.m. today. He doesn't know how long it required for the
>investigation but reiterated that activists were not blockading the
>team.
>
>"We weren't hindering them at all." he said, adding that's not the
>purpose of the blockade.
>
>"We don't want PL to log because we don't want them to disturb the crime
>scene," he said.
>
>The Humboldt County Sheriff's department and Earth First members agreed
>Thursday night to let investigators in, Campbell said.
>
>"Clearly, this situation is deteriorating toward mob rule," he said,
>adding the team will attempt to conduct its investigation today.
>
>
>
>
David M. Walsh
P.O. Box 903
Redway, CA 95560
Office and Fax(707) 923-3015
Home (707) 986-1644


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