Second Man Goes on Trial In Sean Taylor Case
Jason Mitchell, 25, is accused of coming up with the idea for the November 2007 burglary of Taylor’s Palmetto Bay house.
The accused mastermind of the botched burglary that claimed the life of Washington Redskins football player Sean Taylor heads to trial on Tuesday in a Miami-Dade courtroom.
Jason Mitchell, 25, is accused of coming up with the idea for the November 2007 burglary of Taylor’s Palmetto Bay house. Prosecutors say he and four other young men drove from Fort Myers to South Florida with the general thought that Taylor was not home. Taylor, who was recovering from an injury at home, confronted the robbers and was shot by Eric Rivera while in the process of protecting his infant child and girlfriend.
Lawyers selected a jury late Monday. Opening statements begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Also awaiting trial: Charles Wardlow, 24, and Timothy Brown, 22. A fifth defendant, Venjah Hunte, 26, already has pleaded guilty and may testify against Mitchell.
Rivera, 24, was convicted last fall of second-degree murder without a firearm and armed burglary after a jury failed to vote unanimously that Rivera pulled the trigger.
Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy sentenced Rivera to 57 1/2 years in prison.
