Boy in 'Wrestling Death' Freed From Jail

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp...490.htm&sc=1110

 

Boy in 'Wrestling Death' Freed From Jail

By JILL BARTON

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Lionel Tate, the teen who killed a 6-year-old playmate and became the youngest defendant in the nation to be locked away for life, was released Monday after three years behind bars.

 

Wearing a light blue golf shirt, Tate emerged unshackled from the jail surrounded by his mother, attorneys and other supporters. Tate and his mother held hands and raised them in the air.

 

``For now, Lionel wants to go home, he wants to feel his pillow, he wants to sleep in his own bed and his mom cook to make him his favorite meal tonight,'' said his attorney Richard Rosenbaum.

 

Circuit Judge Joel Lazarus earlier ordered Tate freed without bail, a month after an appeals court threw out the boy's conviction because his mental competency was not evaluated before trial. Tate, 16, has since struck a plea bargain that will mean no further time in prison.

 

Supporters have rallied from the Vatican to the United Nations to free Tate since he was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 6-year-old playmate Tiffany Eunick three years ago. Tate was 12 when he punched, kicked and stomped the 48-pound girl to death in 1999.

 

Tate had claimed he accidentally killed the girl while imitating professional wrestling moves he had seen on television.

 

The case stirred debate over a Florida law that requires children convicted of first-degree murder to get life in prison without parole.

 

After Tate's conviction was thrown out, prosecutors renewed their offer of a three-year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea to second-degree murder - the same offer Tate's mother had turned down before the trial.

 

After meeting with a psychologist who will test his mental competence, Tate is to appear at another hearing Thursday, when he is expected to plead guilty to the second-degree murder charge and be formally sentenced.

 

He has agreed to one year of house arrest, 10 years' probation, counseling and 1,000 hours of community service.

 

``I just want to give God thanks first and foremost,'' said Tate's mother, Kathleen Grossett-Tate. ``Continue to pray for us because we're going to need it. This is a new chapter in our lives and we're just going to go forward.''

 

Tiffany's mother, Deweese Eunick-Paul, said she agreed to the plea sentence because Tate was so young at the time of the killing.

 

``In some cases people are rehabilitated,'' she said Monday. ``If he wants to do better and do something good with his life I think he should be given that opportunity to do that.''

 

Eunick-Paul also said she hoped Tate would admit he was responsible for the death and stop claiming it was an accident.

 

``We wanted Lionel to step up and say, 'Look, I have done something wrong here. I'm guilty of this, I'm sorry about this,'' she said.

 

``I do hope that Lionel will express remorse, at a minimum, for what occurred,'' Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Good.

[Sandman9000 0]

He'll be back in jail before the end of the year.

[cynicalprofit 0]

Im so glad to know you can kill people in America and not stay in jail for it.

 

BTW, sandman I love your custom title.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Im so glad to know you can kill people in America and not stay in jail for it.

 

BTW, sandman I love your custom title.

Yeah, I'm so glad that we put 13 year old kids in jail for life.

[MrRant 0]

He killed someone Tyler. Doesn't matter the age.

[BX 0]

Well, they are obviously less then human, Tyler, so it is only right that we, being perfect specimens of the Amerikan ideal, ridicule him and send him to die.

 

With that said, I'm off to stroke my jewel-adorned cock till it spurts refined petrol. Good night.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

He was 13.

 

You don't send a fucking 13 year old to jail for life.

[MrRant 0]

I do.

 

And then when they are 18 I give them the chair.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

ok

[Guest Anglesault]

Im so glad to know you can kill people in America and not stay in jail for it.

 

BTW, sandman I love your custom title.

Yeah, I'm so glad that we put 13 year old kids in jail for life.

He was a monster. I don't care how old he was.

 

Well, they are obviously less then human,

 

Someone that murders a six year old girl?

 

Damn straight.

[MrRant 0]

If that kid killed my daughter he would be lucky to get life in prison because I'd get him myself.

[treble 0]

And then you'd get the chair?

[Guest Anglesault]

And then you'd get the chair?

I can't speak for Rant, but if the bastard killed my girl, I'd be willing to take whatever punishment I get for killing him.

[treble 0]

That's kind of hypocritical.

[MrRant 0]

And then you'd get the chair?

At least I would have my revenge.

[Guest Anglesault]

Call it what you want.

 

You kill my daughter in cold blood, I don't care if you're 12 or 92, I don't think I could contain myself

[treble 0]

I just think it's hypocritical to call someone a monster for killing someone and then to go and say you'd do it yourself.

[Guest Anglesault]

I just think it's hypocritical to call someone a monster for killing someone and then to go and say you'd do it yourself.

I don't think anyone that kills a murderer is a monster.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Well, then if someone murdered you, they wouldn't be a monster, either.

[Guest Anglesault]

Well, then if someone murdered you, they wouldn't be a monster, either.

I've never killed someone.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

But you would if someone...

 

Fuck it, this is stupid. Have whatever stupid opinion you want. We live in America.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

Cut his throat. I'm calling for the kid's blood.

[The Metal Maniac 0]

You don't send a fucking 13 year old to jail for life.

 

Well...then what do you do with him?

 

Honest question - what the fuck do you do with a kid who's already killed someone & spent time in prison at the age of..what is he now...16 maybe?

 

You can't just send him on his merry little way. And this community service and stuff...I dunno, but somehow, I would think that doing what he's done would fuck up a person's brain beyond the point that cleaning garbage off the highway could fix it.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Already put in my order for the Cancer Fairy to do her thing to this little monster.

 

Had I did when he was in the slammer he'd get free medical care, but now -- hahahahaha.

 

Since I'm feeling frugal I only put in an order for a lung or throat...

[Vern Gagne 0]

I blame the Judge. The prosectuion pretty much had to let this punk out of jail.

[BX 0]

What's prison going to do anyway? It's not like prisons rehabiliate people nowadays.

 

On a somewhat related note, have you seen "Butterfly Effect" yet? The kid in that movie deserves to be shot.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

What's prison going to do anyway? It's not like prisons rehabiliate people nowadays.

And silly me thought the purpose of prisons were to punish...

[Vyce 0]

He was 13.

 

You don't send a fucking 13 year old to jail for life.

Do you mind?

 

All of this blood from that heart of yours is staining the carpet.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Although, I'm not sure you really mind spilt blood all that much, do you?