Former Jedi Knight Hanged on Dantooine

Garang, Dantooine — Frank "Havoc" Bruder, outlaw and former Jedi Knight, has been hanged on the planet Dantooine for complicity in the mass murder of police officers that startled the peaceful, pastoral Outer Rim world last week. The Jedi Academy declined to intervene in Mr. Bruder's execution, describing him as "troubled" and stating that, facing discipline for an unrelated matter nine years ago, Bruder had fled Yavin IV and had not been heard from until now.

Mr. Bruder arrived in Garang, the capital of Dantooine, last week with another man who fatally shot four police officers and one doctor as they arrived to inspect their vessel and its purported cargo of medical supplies. A bystander was also shot, and later recovered. Bruder was accused of having lied to the officers and distracted them while the other man, who remains unidentified and who is believed to have escaped the planet, shot the officers and doctor with a blaster carbine.

According to witnesses, the two then fell back into their ship and took off. Mr. Bruder was later found in an escape pod that had crash landed on a farm near Garang, and arrested. He was convicted on the emotional testimony of witnesses, including children, and was hanged this week. Authorities do not know why the pair visited Dantooine, but speculate that they may have planned a larger terrorist attack against the planet's government, the Khoonda Administration.

Dantooine's Senator, Jamulon Desilijic Tiure, was not on the planet and was unavailable for comment.

The Jedi Academy described Mr. Bruder as "a troubled, misguided man" who insisted on being referred to as "Havoc," and who reportedly had few friends on Yavin IV. Jedi Master Streen, when asked to comment on the incident, said on behalf of the Academy that "it is not our policy to intervene in matters of local justice... Frank [Bruder] has been convicted of complicity in a heinous crime, and he should face the consequences. We do not consider ourselves, or our students, as above the law."

Bruder's body and possessions were later sold at auction, and proceeds went to the families of the victims. Authorities on Dantooine are appealing to the Raioballo Sector to be on the lookout for Bruder's accomplice, a human of dark complexion and thorough build, who was seen momentarily on a dashboard camera as he arrived with Bruder on the planet. His image is available on the holonet from the New Republic Security Forces.