17 year old indicted in Taylor death

[peplaw06]

Didn't see this update posted anywhere. Pretty quick indictment coming down.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...g=ap-Commanders-taylorslain&prov=ap&type=lgns

Grand jury identifies 17-year-old Eric Rivera as gunman in death of Commanders star Sean Taylor
By MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press Writer
December 4, 2007

MIAMI (AP) -- The 17-year-old suspect in the death of Sean Taylor was accused Tuesday of firing the shot that killed the Washington Commanders
A Miami-Dade grand jury identified Eric Rivera as the gunman in its indictment.

Rivera and his three co-defendants were indicted by the grand jury on charges of first-degree felony murder and armed burglary.

Charles Wardlow, 18; Jason Mitchell, 19; and Venjah Hunte, 20; were ordered held without bail during brief court appearances via a videoconference from Miami-Dade County jail. The three, who stood silently during the hearing, will remain at the jail under suicide watch after Judge John Thornton Jr.'s ruling.

Rivera, still in custody in Fort Myers, was expected to be transported to Miami-Dade on Tuesday night and make a court appearance Wednesday. One of his attorneys said the grand jury's identification of Rivera as the gunman was expected.

"This does not come as a surprise," said Sawyer Smith, who along with his father Wilbur represents Rivera.

The 24-year-old Taylor died Nov. 27, a day after he was shot in the bedroom of his home. Police have said he was a victim of a botched burglary.

"I think he's in disbelief over what occurred," said Wilbur Smith. "His expression to me was that 'I can't believe this kind of thing happened."'
Asked how he would defend his client, Wilbur Smith said simply: "Stay tuned."

Attorneys said the four young men were agitated.

"He's very distraught," said Hunte's attorney, Michael Hornung. "He's scared."

Hornung offered glimpses of his client's possible involvement. He said Hunte was the only suspect with a valid driver's license and behind the wheel at least part of the time. He said Hunte did not have a gun and did not know his friends' plans.

"Just a bunch of friends that evening said they were going to the East Coast, and he went along," Hornung said. "He had no idea whatsoever what was going on."

Hunte is cooperating with police, his attorney said, and would tell them everything he knows.

Probable cause affidavits for Mitchell and Rivera said the two confessed to participating in armed burglary. According to the reports, Mitchell and Rivera admitted entering the home and said someone had a gun and shot Taylor, but they didn't identify who. Police and attorneys also have said some of the young men confessed, though they wouldn't elaborate.

Wardlow's attorney, David Brener, did not return a phone message.
Wilbur and Sawyer Smith have said there is a fifth suspect, though police would not confirm that.

The court proceedings came a day after Taylor's funeral, which was held at a university arena and drew about 3,000 mourners. Among those attending were NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, 300 members of the Commanders organization and actor Andy Garcia, uncle of Taylor's girlfriend, Jackie Garcia.

Richard Sharpstein, Taylor's former attorney, said the athlete's family was grateful for police and prosecutors' work, but that it did little to lessen their loss.

"They're still grieving, and no amount of justice could ever replace Sean to them," Sharpstein said. "However, they'll support this prosecution and wish the state attorney the best in achieving the most severe punishment to these people."

 

[Aikbach]

The story just gets more sickening by the moment.

 

[dback]

He should be held as an adult.

 

[UVAwahoos]

He should be held as an adult.

I hope he is. I don't see why not since he's so close to adult age and has a juvenile record as is. Such a senseless tragedy...

 

[burmafrd]

I am wondering if the lawyers got together and convinced all of them to let him take the fall for shooting Taylor since he is a juvie?

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Unreal......nothing in this world is surprising anymore.

 

[Kangaroo]

I am wondering if the lawyers got together and convinced all of them to let him take the fall for shooting Taylor since he is a juvie?

In most cases he would still be tried as an adult; which it looks like the case here

 

[Nav22]

Who the hell is raising these teenage killers? Freakin' worthless parents.

 

[YosemiteSam]

1. Do unto others as they have done.
2. You reap what you sow.
3. You get what you give.

In short, he deserves the death penalty.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I think he's in disbelief over what occurred," said Wilbur Smith. "His expression to me was that 'I can't believe this kind of thing happened."'

This makes it even more sad. You take a gun to do a burglary. Obviously, you're bringing it just in case something pops off. Something popped off, you killed a guy and you can't believe it happened. Man, these kids just don't think.

I'd heard either on the radio or on TV this morning that they're all under suicide watch.

 

[burmafrd]

Its all part of our culture now. Life is not celebrated or treated as special. The steady degradation of morals and standards is what inevitably leads to this kind of result.

 

[peplaw06]

I am wondering if the lawyers got together and convinced all of them to let him take the fall for shooting Taylor since he is a juvie?

The Grand Jury identified Rivera as the gunman... not the defense attorneys.

Besides, I don't think he's going to be tried as a juvenile. If that were the case, there would be a lot less public information.

 

[YosemiteSam]

This makes it even more sad. You take a gun to do a burglary. Obviously, you're bringing it just in case something pops off. Something popped off, you killed a guy and you can't believe it happened. Man, these kids just don't think.

I'd heard either on the radio or on TV this morning that they're all under suicide watch.

A gun is now a status symbol. Everything is about "your status" these days. Those that don't care about "status" are considered "those people". This guy probably didn't bring the gun because they were going to breakin, he probably always carries it because of the "status" it brings.

I love my wife dearly, but sometimes she is more worried about what someone she will never see again thinks instead of what is actually happening. I find that very annoying! Or the fact that she will wear fashionable shoes that kill her feet to the city when she knows we will be walking alot instead of sneakers that won't hurt her at all!

 

[justbob]

The Grand Jury identified Rivera as the gunman... not the defense attorneys.

Besides, I don't think he's going to be tried as a juvenile. If that were the case, there would be a lot less public information.

Hey peplaw --I don't know much about their penal system --is it like Tx where a juvenile tried as an adult would not be eliglible for the death penalty
only life

 

[peplaw06]

Hey peplaw --I don't know much about their penal system --is it like Tx where a juvenile tried as an adult would not be eliglible for the death penalty
only life

In Roper v. Simmons (2005), the Supreme Court said that the death penalty violates the Eighth Amendment if the offender is younger than 18 at the time of the offense. That is Nationwide.

Now I guess he can be tried as an adult, but he can't face capital punishment according to Roper.