Natives combine worship and criminal justice


By Bolero News Services
Photos by Namida Giulia

AMAZON -- Three accused criminals were executed Sunday after a hasty trial, which was also part of a native sacrifice ritual to the god Supay.

Jack Andel, Cain Knight, and Quinn were put to death in the span of less than an hour, their guilt or innocence judged by the vote of a mob that had gathered to witness the executions that immediately followed judgement.

Prior to reading the charges to the accused and explaining why they’re probably guilty, Chieftess Khaing Zar of the Xocó recounted the proud native tradition of murdering people for Supay.

“For all past time, in the lands of desolation, on the pyramid of death, the priests and priestesses paraded to the bloody sacrifices at the top of the great step-pyramids. The souls taken there by the terrible Lord Supay were given to the gods and the bodies of the wicked burned for all eternity,” Zar told the raucous crowd that had gathered for the ritual/trial.

Andel, who was forced to wear a pink tutu, was charged with a number of crimes, including aggravated assault, vandalism, robbery, attempted rape, and slave trading.

Among the dozen or more accusers was Zar herself, who claimed Andel subdued her, removed her loincloth, and sniffed it.

“Almost every tribe and faction has brought complaints against you,” Zar shouted at Andel.

Andel was defended by renowned Amazon attorney Persephone Bolero, who said she advised Andel to plead guilty to the charges and beg for mercy, as ingratiating himself to the "kangaroo court" was his best hope for survival.

Andel, however, went against his attorney’s advice and attempted to explain his actions. He claimed the Xocó chieftess was lying about the loincloth and that he was actually the victim of all his accusers. He said that his penis was stuck in a zipper, and when he attempted to get help for his predicament, he was wrongly attacked.

"Ya'll jumped me and hit me firth,” Andel, who has a speech impediment, stated in his own defense.

Bolero also spoke in her client’s defense, stating that, despite being alone with the accused for nearly an hour, Andel did not attempt to rape or otherwise harm her. For reasons that remain unclear, Zar nor the mob jury found Bolero’s testimony convincing.

Zar left the decision as to Andel’s guilt or innocence to the crowd. There were few sympathetic voices in the mob, which demanded Andel be put to death immediately.

Zar then detailed how in the past those sentenced to die would be put to death in a far more egregious, ritualistic manner, which included cutting out the hearts of the condemned. The chieftess said a prayer to Supay and then ordered Andel’s execution to be carried out.

Andel attempted to beg for mercy shortly before he was beheaded to great cheers from the mob.

Speaking after the trial, Bolero expressed her regret that Andel didn’t follow her advice.

“Andel retained the services of one of the best lawyers in the Amazon but chose to pursue his own strategy,” Bolero said. “It was a fatal mistake.”

Quinn, last name unknown, was accused of murder, blasphemy, and using foul language.

“No fucking way,” the woman said in her defense and was executed shortly after.

Cain Knight was accused of grievous bodily harm stemming from a series of attacks over the course of the week preceding the trial.

Knight protested that he was not given the opportunity to lose his virginity before his execution and began maturbating in his cell as he awaited trial. For this, he was held in contempt.

"Okay miss chieftess, before I say a word in my defense, can you turn around and spread your legs so I have a nice view before you kill me?" Cain testified, which apparently sealed his fate.

Shortly before his head was removed from his body, Knight swore he’d return, but did not provide any specific details on how precisely that would happen. After his beheading, Elizabeth of the Xoco castrated Knight’s headless corpse.

Following the triple execution, the Xoco held a dance celebration. The jubilation of the party did not appear to be dampened by the violence that preceded it.

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