No death penalty in Taylor murder

Sportsgirl · 05-12-2008, 04:43 PM

4 Sean Taylor murder suspects won't face death penalty

MIAMI (AP) — 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.

thegreatdiatchi · 05-13-2008, 01:42 AM

Every aspect of this is both sad and not right but I'm not surprised the death penalty isn't being pushed here due to the age of the shooter. Sadly, while this particular incident is heavily publicized there are many more just like it. The world needs to be cleaned up.

ChuteBoxe · 05-14-2008, 05:54 AM

crazyl · 05-15-2008, 01:26 AM

Death penalty would be a little excessive in this case. Reserve that for the most heinous of crimes.

pimike · 05-15-2008, 01:29 AM

The problem is there was no intend of death. These punks just wanted to scar him. Most people don't die from that type of shot.

No Malice of forthought

No mediation

crazyl · 05-15-2008, 01:50 PM

Yep. The reality is, they came there looking to burglarize the place not expecting him to be home. Sean Taylor was a big tough dude, he was waiting in his bedroom with a machete, when they barged through he must've scared the living daylights out of them, they shot him out of fear. Also, had they not, (and I'm not justifying this), he'd have sliced their goddamn nuts off and fed it to them. Still, they're scumbags and deserve to spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

mofome · 05-15-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pimike

The problem is there was no intend of death. These punks just wanted to scar him. Most people don't die from that type of shot.

No Malice of forthought

No mediation

Comical to say the least. They did not aim for his crotch, dear dufus. No Mediation? what does that even mean?

You walk into someones home with a gun on purpose, not on accident. The shooter should be killed and i would gladly volunteer to do the honors.

mofome · 05-15-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyl

Yep. The reality is, they came there looking to burglarize the place not expecting him to be home. Sean Taylor was a big tough dude, he was waiting in his bedroom with a machete, when they barged through he must've scared the living daylights out of them, they shot him out of fear. Also, had they not, (and I'm not justifying this), he'd have sliced their goddamn nuts off and fed it to them. Still, they're scumbags and deserve to spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

The reality is they shot and killed someone who was no threat to them. I'd trade everything i own for the chance to kill that kid with my bare hands.

thegreatdiatchi · 05-16-2008, 12:35 AM

Now one of the guys is only getting 29 years in jail for ratting out the others.

The bottom line here is that people need to be responsible for their actions. Regardless of whether the others knew the one kid had a gun the bottom line is they were all doing something wrong. Due to the end result ALL of them should have life sentences handed to them.

Justin7 · 05-16-2008, 12:45 PM

You can't claim self-defense if you broke the law putting yourself into the situation, such as these kids breaking into Taylor's home.

I believe in due process, but I don't think these punks will even BEGIN to suffer justice until locked away a long time. Maybe someone else on the inside will take them out.

jackpot269 · 05-16-2008, 12:56 PM

I don't own a machete however i do own several guns that are loaded someone brakes in my house i hope i get the chance to use them. A THIEF IS ONE OF THE LOWEST FORMS OF LIFE..........................

mofome · 05-16-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin7

You can't claim self-defense if you broke the law putting yourself into the situation, such as these kids breaking into Taylor's home.

I believe in due process, but I don't think these punks will even BEGIN to suffer justice until locked away a long time. Maybe someone else on the inside will take them out.