N.S. men remanded in cross-burning

Two brothersfrom Hants County charged with settinga crosson fireoutside the home ofa whiterelative andher blackfianc have been remanded into custody until next week, when a judge will decide whether tofree them on bail.

Nathan Neil Rehberg, 20, and Justin Chad Rehberg, 19,appeared in Kentville provincial court late Wednesday afternoon to face charges of public incitement of hatred, mischief and uttering threats.

After atwo-hour bail hearing, the judge adjourned the case until Monday when he will give his ruling.

The brothers areaccused of erecting a two-metre-high cross, with a hanging noose, in front ofthe home of Michelle Lyon, their father's cousin,and Shayne Howe and yelling racial slurs at the terrified couple and their children, who wereinside at the time.

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday in Poplar Grove, a small community northeast of Windsor.

Granville Rehberg, Nathan and Justin's father, said he's "real sick"aboutwhat happened early Sunday and equally baffled.

"I don't understand," Rehberg told CBC News in a voice that cracked with emotion. "I got nieces that have black children. Igot cousins that are black. My family is not racist. I just don't know what to say."

He said he hasn't spoken to his sons yet and doesn't know what to think.

"They're my kids I don't know what's going through their heads. Ihaven't talked to them. This is my first time hearing about it. I just want to apologize to the public and to the black community. I'm not racist. I'd just like to apologize to all the black people.

"Why would they put it on their own cousin's lawn?"

Rehberg said he grew up in Falmouth, a community in Hants County with black and white residents. He said he has close friends who are black, as do his sons.

RCMP wouldn't comment on the relationship between the suspects and the victims but said the cross-burning was not a random act.

Howe is the only black person inPoplar Grove. He and Lyons and their childrenhave been receiving support from neighbours and strangers alike since their ordeal became public.

More than 1,900 people joined a Facebook site set up in support of the family, with expressions of anger that the family was being terrorized.

Sgt. Brigdit Leger, an RCMP spokeswoman, said theRehbergs were arrestedbecause of information that came in through tips.

''This incident was very disturbing, and we were very quick to reach out to the public,"Leger said. "In this instance, we are very thankful to the public for the tips that we received."