Published: Jun 22, 2005 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A 13-year-old boy has recanted his statement that Lionel Tate - once the youngest American sentenced to life in prison - robbed a pizza delivery man at gunpoint, Tate's lawyer said Wednesday.
Posted on 06/22/2005 11:01:37 AM PDT by TheOtherOne
Attorney: Boy Recants Statement That Lionel Tate Robbed Pizza Delivery Man
Published: Jun 22, 2005 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A 13-year-old boy has recanted his statement that Lionel Tate - once the youngest American sentenced to life in prison - robbed a pizza delivery man at gunpoint, Tate's lawyer said Wednesday.
Attorney James Lewis said the boy, Taquincy Tomkins, has now told private investigators that a 16-year-old Tomkins knows only as "Willie" actually committed the May 23 robbery. Tomkins said he blamed Tate under pressure from Broward County sheriff's investigators and because "Willie" threatened to kill him, according to a transcript of the statement provided by Lewis.
Circuit Judge Joel Lazarus has scheduled a Thursday hearing to determine whether the new evidence warrants Tate's release on bond. Broward County sheriff's officials did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
Tate, now 18, killed 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick in 1999. Then 12, Tate initially blamed the girl's death on wrestling moves he said he copied from television. He touched off a debate over Florida's practice of prosecuting juveniles as adults when he was sentenced to life in prison.
Tate's life sentence was overturned on appeal and he was released on a plea bargain after serving three years. The deal placed him under house arrest for a year, followed by 10 years of probation.
But Tate was re-arrested last month and charged with armed robbery. Police said a print matching Tate's had been found on one of four pizza boxes delivered to the apartment where the holdup occurred. They also said Tomkins and the pizza delivery man identified Tate.
At a hearing earlier this month, a judge ordered Tate held without bond pending an August hearing on whether to revoke his probation. If Tate's probation were revoked, he could face life in prison under the plea agreement stemming from Eunick's death.
Tate's lawyer has said Tate did not commit the crime. He also has questioned how the delivery man could have identified Tate when the robber was wearing a black mask over the lower part of his face.
AP-ES-06-22-05 1328EDT
That's amazing.
Taquincy ping!
Ah. So we've arrived at the truth. < |:/~
I suppose Tate can now continue with his plans for med school...
"The police set him up. Let Tate go free." That's probably the drumbeat we will hear soon; Tate must be release so he can keep on committing violent crimes.
So, I wonder how Tate's fingerprints got on the pizza box.
("Taquincy" is a name I don't see every day.)
"Taquincy Tomkins, has now told private investigators that a 16-year-old Tomkins knows only as "Willie" actually committed the May 23 robbery."
And if you can't believe a piller of the community like Taquincy.....who can you believe?
My thought too.
Taquincy. Isn't that special.
Wait, one of these is that creep 12 yearold that killed the neighbor girl a few years ago!
Yoicks!
Here's a good one from my niece's high school graduation: "Shakeyma Rashanda". At least the dear girl graduated :-).
Taquincy ping!
Wasn't he a medical examiner on a TV show?
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.