Case of destroyed Mexican flag goes to jury

OF RIPPING DOWN A MEXICAN FLAG AT U- N-M. KAYLA ANDERSON HAS BEEN IN THE COURTROOM AND JOINS US...  More »

OF RIPPING DOWN A MEXICAN FLAG AT U- N-M. KAYLA ANDERSON HAS BEEN IN THE COURTROOM AND JOINS US LIVE FROM METRO COURT WITH THE LATEST I JUST LEFT JUDGE CLYDE MCMERSSMAN'S COURTROOM... WHERE THE STATE HAS WRAPPED UP ITS CLOSING ARGUMENTS AND THE DEFENSE SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP ANY MOMENT NOW. THE JURY WILL SOON RETIRE TO DELIBERATE... AND DECIDE IF PETER LYNCH IS GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY. YOU MAY REMEMBER ... LYNCH IS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY FOR TEARING UP A MEXICAN FLAG ON THE U-N-M CAMPUS LAST SUMMER. HE TOLD CAMPUS POLICE HE WAS UPSET THAT AN AMERICAN FLAG HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY PLACED ABOVE THE FOREIGN FLAG. IN THE END POLICE SAY LYNCH TOLD THEM HIS EMOTIONS TOOK OVER. TODAY THE STATE CITED YESTERDAY'S WITNESSES WHO SAID LYNCH ADMITTED TO TAKING DOWN THE FLAG AND RIPPING IT. THE STATE SAYS THAT TESTIMONY PROVES THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT LYNCH IS GUILTY. THE DEFENSE FOUGHT BACK... USING THE FIRST AMMENDMENT ... SAYING IF FLAG BURNING IS PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION... WHAT PETER LYNCH DID IS ALSO A PROTECTED RIGHT. IF LYNCH IS FOUND GUILTY... HE COULD FACE UP TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL AND/OR A 5-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR FINE. AND OF COURSE WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THIS STORY ALL AFTERNOON. REPORTING LIVE FROM METRO COURT... KAYLA ANDERSON EYEWITNESS NEWS 4 MID-DAY. BERNALILLO COUNTY  « Less