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NewsJurors in boot-camp trial will be able to consider lesser offense if they can't agreeSeptember 7, 2007Tallahassee Democrat By Stephen D. Price Bay County Judge Michael Overstreet will allow a jury in the coming boot-camp trial to consider a lesser, non-homicide offense if they do not agree to convict the seven former guards and camp nurse of felony aggravated manslaughter of a child. Defense attorneys had wanted the jury to only be able to consider the one charge, or find them not guilty. "Because the cause of death is disputed in this matter, the State is entitled to jury instructions relating to non-homicide lesser included offenses," Overstreet wrote in his ruling. The charges were brought against the eight defendants related to the death of Martin Lee Anderson. The Panama City teen died Jan. 6, 2006, a day after video of his first day at the Bay County juvenile boot camp showed he was manhandled by drill instructors. An initial autopsy by Bay County medical examiner Charles Siebert said Anderson died from natural causes associated with sickle cell trait. A second autopsy by Hillsborough County medical examiner Vernard Adams said the 14-year-old was suffocated to death. The trial is set to begin Oct. 3, and will be held at the juvenile justice courthouse in Panama City. More than 1,400 potential jurors will be called for jury selection Sept. 24. |
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