A Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge sentenced a young man accused of stabbing a classmate to death at Coral Gables High School during a fight. This tragic story began making headlines back in 2009 when the incident occurred.
After being found guilty of second degree murder at trial, the young man was sentenced to 40 years in prison followed by 10 years probation.
While the prosecution asked for life, the maximum penalty allowed by law, the Judge considered the accused's young age and lack of criminal history in making her decision to sentence the accused to less than the maximum.
It is alleged that both the alleged victim and the defendant, who were 17 at the time, had gotten into a fight in the halls of the school before the accused pulled out a knife and stabbed the alleged victim in the school's courtyard.
At trial, the defense claimed that the accused acted in self-defense, using a knife to escape from a lethal chokehold. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, believing the accused's actions were murder and not lawful self-defense.
Eric Matheny represents clients accused of criminal traffic offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies in Miami-Dade and Broward.