Barking Mad US God-Botherer in Court

From the Beeb

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7072404.stm

A church whose members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality has been told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) in damages.
The Westboro Baptist Church was taken to court by the father of Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, a marine who died serving in Iraq in March 2006.

Members of the church - based in Topeka, Kansas - have denounced homosexuality for years, initially targeting the funerals of Aids victims.
But they later extended their pickets to the funerals of soldiers, who they say are being punished by God because of the US' tolerance of homosexuality.

Last year they caused outrage when they attended the funeral of Matthew Snyder with signs reading "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "You're going to hell".

On Wednesday, the jury ordered the church and three of its leaders to pay $2.9m in compensatory damages, and an additional $8m for invasion of privacy and for causing emotional distress.

Defence attorney Jonathan Katz's argument that the $2.9m in compensatory damages already far exceeded the defendants' net worth and would be enough to "bankrupt them and financially destroy them" was ignored. Good. Bankrupt the bastards and then sell their organs for spares.
The church, which is unaffiliated with any major denomination (funny, that), is headed by Fred Phelps. Most of its 70-odd members belong to his extended family. Anyone hear banjos?

Members of the church, however, reportedly greeted the verdict with tight-lipped smiles. Of course they did, there's nothing smugger than a born again cultist who knows that they're right as God told them Personally. Via the microwave.
"It will take the 4th Circuit of Appeals a few minutes to reverse this silly thing," said Rev Phelps.
See above.

Daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper - co-defendant along with another daughter, Rebecca Phelps-Davis - called the verdict a blow against free speech and vowed to continue picketing military funerals. Same again.

Although I would never dream of inciting violence, I'd happily buy a beer for someone at the next funeral these troglodytes picket who accidentally parks a SUV on top of them. Or has an 'incident' while loading his .30-06. Or, to be 100% fair, rogers the chief loon almost to death with a cheesegrater before setting fire to him.

Incidentally, I wonder if 'Rev' Phelps had an early experience that sent him off on his deranged path? Did Uncle Bubba babysit a little too often? Or is the Rev protesting a little too much as he wrestles with his inner desires to be nailed to the wall by a Pro Footballer? And seeing as most of the members of the church are family (and, notably the daughters keep the moniker when they get hitched), I'm starting to think that they need to be checked for webbed feet.