'A church whose members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality has been told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) in damages.
The Westboro Baptist Church was taken to court by the ****** of Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, a marine who died serving in Iraq in March 2006.
The church cited its constitutional right to free speech in its defence.
But Albert Snyder's lawyer urged the jury to ensure the damages were high enough to stop the church campaigning.
Members of the church - based in Topeka, Kansas - have denounced homosexuality for years, initially targeting the funerals of Aids victims.
But they later extended their pickets to the funerals of soldiers, who they say are being punished by God because of the US' tolerance of homosexuality.'
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The Westboro Baptist Church was taken to court by the ****** of Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, a marine who died serving in Iraq in March 2006.
The church cited its constitutional right to free speech in its defence.
But Albert Snyder's lawyer urged the jury to ensure the damages were high enough to stop the church campaigning.
Members of the church - based in Topeka, Kansas - have denounced homosexuality for years, initially targeting the funerals of Aids victims.
But they later extended their pickets to the funerals of soldiers, who they say are being punished by God because of the US' tolerance of homosexuality.'
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