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Accused murderer of US nun surrenders

The rancher accused of ordering the killing of American nun Dorothy Stang in the Amazon rainforest six weeks ago surrendered to police on Sunday and declared he was innocent, authorities said.

Vitalmiro Moura, who had been a fugitive since an arrest warrant was issued for him on Feb. 15, also said he was not involved in Stang's death in comments to reporters after a police interrogation.

"I'm not guilty, I don't have anything to do with this crime," he said.

Moura told police he surrendered so he could prove his innocence, saying he had no motive to kill Stang and was likely set up by the two men accused of shooting her, authorities said.

The two alleged gunmen, who were arrested shortly after the Feb. 12 killing, have testified that the rancher told them to kill Stang.

Amair Feijoli, an alleged middleman, initially said he offered the men about US$18,000 to kill Stang on Moura's behalf, but later changed his testimony to say he alone ordered the killing, police said.
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