Materials related to Douglass Frank Durham's testimony in the 1974 George Aird murder case (Administrative Records, Superior Court of Los Angeles)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Materials (including, but not limited to: transcripts, notes, reports, documents, audiovisual material, etc.) related to the testimony of Douglass Frank Durham in the trial of Paul Durant for the 1974 murder of George Aird (see Note #1).

George Aird was a taxi driver who was murdered on the night of October 10, 1974 near an American Indian Movement-affiliated camp in Box Canyon (near the Ventura/Los Angeles County line). Though the circumstances of the events were murky, Durant and a man named Richard Billings (also known as Richard Mohawk) were arrested for the murders (see Note #2).

At some point during Durant's trial (possibly during a pre-trial hearing or during a sanity hearing, Douglass Durham testified as an apparent expert on Native American psychology (see Note #3). Not only did Durham have no training on the matter, but he was actually an informant who was actively passing information about the American Indian Movement to the FBI. Even after he was exposed as an informant in March of 1975, his testimony was never investigated, nor was he charged with perjury.

The prosecution's case against Paul Durant and Richard Billings was riddled with inconsistencies, and both of the men were ultimately found not guilty. Still, Durham's involvement in the case speaks to a larger issue of FBI involvement in Native American justice movements during the 1970s. Documentation of his testimony is historically significant, and releasing any extant materials would be in the public's interest.

I am attaching two contemporary articles on the case: the first, "Skyhorse and Mohawk Acquitted," is from the July 1978 edition of the American Indian Journal, and the second, "Your Information Might Save Their Lives," is from the early spring 1976 issue of Akwesasne Notes.

Note #1: Durham occasionally went by "Doug" or spelled his first name "Douglass." Paul Durant also went by "Paul Skyhorse" or "Paul Sky Horse."
Note #2: Though the crime occurred in Ventura County and the men were arrested in Ventura County, the trial took place in Los Angeles. The defense was granted a change in venue after it came to light that Ventura County judges and prosecutors participated in a racist skit about the case during a county bar association meeting. It is unclear when the switch happened or which court would have retained the case documents.
Note #3: The exact date of Durham's testimony was likely (though not certainly) December 3, 1974.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Meg Showalter