Suspects in Taylor murder won't face death penalty

[azuquita8]

Suspects in Taylor murder won't face death penalty
May 12, 2008 4:27 PM EDT
MIAMI - Prosecutors said Monday they will not seek the death penalty against four people charged with murdering Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor because the accused shooter was a minor when the crime was committed.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that people cannot be executed for crimes committed when they're under 18, and it's a well established legal principle that others involved in the same case as a minor cannot face the ultimate penalty if they are less directly responsible.
Assistant State Attorney Reid Rubin filed notice Friday that the death penalty will be waived. That means the four suspects could get a maximum of life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder after a trial scheduled to begin Aug. 25.
Eric Rivera Jr., who turned 18 last month, was 17 at the time police say he shot Taylor during a botched robbery at the Pro Bowl safety's Miami-area home in November. Taylor, 24, died of massive blood loss after he was shot in the upper leg.
The Taylor family accepted prosecutor's explanation for the move, a family spokesman said.
"All the co-defendants can't be subject to the death penalty if the (alleged) shooter is not," said Richard Sharpstein, a lawyer who has acted as spokesman for the Taylor family. "There are no issues of discretion here. There's no choice."
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are barred from discussing the case with reporters under a gag order. But Hunte's attorney, Michael Hornung said in a telephone interview that prosecutors would have had to prove a conspiracy aimed at killing Taylor in order to seek death for the three adults.
"I'm not shocked or surprised they are not going forward with the death penalty," Hornung said. "That would have been challenging legally."
Taylor was an All-American at the University of Miami and was a member of the Hurricanes' national championship team in 2001. He was selected with the fifth overall pick of the 2004 draft by the Redskins and made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2007.

[crazydave]

That is hog wash he done the crime he should pay or I guess you can look at it this way he will be somebody bi*ch fo a long time to come

[BULLITT]

Take them to trial (get'em the best layers money can buy) if convicted, they get (1) appeal. If convicted again (beyond a reasonable doubt) - flush them all.

[azuquita8]

5th person charged in Redskins safety's killing
May 15, 2008 6:23 AM EDT
MIAMI - Prosecutors in Miami say a fifth person has been charged in the slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.
Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office spokesman Ed Griffith says Wednesday that 16-year-old Timothy Brown is charged with first-degree murder. He is also charged with armed burglary of an occupied dwelling.
Griffith says Brown does not yet have an attorney on record with the prosecutor's office.
Taylor died of massive blood loss after he was shot at his Miami-area home during a botched robbery in November. The 24-year-old safety had made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2007.
Late Wednesday night, The Miami Herald reported on its Web site that one of the other four suspects charged in the slaying, Venjah Hunte, has pleaded guilty.
Under the plea agreement, Hunte will serve 29 years in prison and cooperate with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, according to the newspaper.
"He decided he was going to accept responsibility and we worked out an agreement with the state," Hunte's attorney, Michael Hornung, told the newspaper. "Obviously, this is what he wanted to do and he did it."
Brown is being held in Lee County. It's not immediately known when he'll be transferred to Miami-Dade County to face the charge.
Trial for the other four suspects is set for Aug. 25. Prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty.