Boy faces murder charge in neo-Nazi dad's death

RIVERSIDE, California (AP) - Nearly two years after a neo-Nazi leader was gunned down at point-blank while sleeping on his sofa, his son - who was 10 at the time of the killing - is going on trial for murder.

Prosecutors want a judge hearing opening statements on Tuesday to rule after the proceedings that the boy, now 12, murdered Jeff Hall, an out-of-work plumber who as regional leader of the National Socialist Movement headed rallies at a synagogue and a day labour site.

The boy told police he pulled a .357-Magnum from a closet and aimed it at Mr Hall's ear and pulled the trigger before running upstairs and hiding the weapon, according to court papers.

"He decided, as he put it, it was time to end the father-son thing," said Mr Michael Soccio, chief deputy district attorney. "This child started at five years old being expelled from school for violence. ... His violence started way before his dad ever joined any Nazi party."