After five years and nine months, the trials of the accused killers of University of Miami and Washington Redskins Pro-Bowl superstar Sean Taylor are set to begin. The last of the six suppression-of-evidence hearings took place on May 31, 2013 clearing the way for the trials. Sean Taylor was shot in the femoral artery on November 27, 2007 during a home-invasion, robbery and died the next day.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Sean’s father Pedro “Pete” Taylor. “I’d like to thank everyone for their concerns, kind words and prayers for Sean and our family. We hope for speedy trials so our family can get the closure we deserve.”
Eric Rivera, Timothy Lee Brown, Jason Scott Mitchell and Charles K. Wardlow all face charges of first-degree murder and armed burglary and could face life sentences if convicted. Mitchell and Rivera were juveniles at the time of their arrests. In a plea bargain agreement, the fifth person associated with the case, Venjah Hunte, who remained in the car while the others entered the Taylor home, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He received a 29 year sentence and is scheduled to testify against the other alleged co-defendants.
There is another hearing set for mid-July and barring any unforeseen circumstances, four consecutive and separate trails should begin either August 12th or 14th. According to Taylor, there are still several judges’ orders in place until the beginning of the trials. One of which is a gag order meaning, “there can be no further comment on the trials until after they are finished,” said co-author of the Sean Taylor biography, Steven M. Rosenberg.
Pedro “Pete” Taylor is currently the Chief of Police of Florida City, FL. He has been with the force for just over 30 years serving as Chief of Police for the past ten.
