Murder Suspects Won't Face Death Term

MIAMI | Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against four people charged with the murder of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor because the alleged shooter was a minor when the crime was committed, lawyers said Monday.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that people under age 18 can't be executed, and it's a well-established legal principle that others involved in the same murder as a minor cannot face the ultimate penalty if they are less directly responsible.

"All the co-defendants can't be subject to the death penalty if the (alleged) shooter is not," said Richard Sharpstein, a Miami defense lawyer who has acted as spokesman for the Taylor family. "There are no issues of discretion here. There's no choice."

The trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 25.

Eric Rivera Jr., who turned 18 last month, was 17 when police said he shot Taylor during a botched robbery at the Pro Bowl safety's Miami-area home in November. Taylor, 24, died of massive blood loss after he was shot in the upper leg.

Three other men from the Fort Myers area are charged with murder: Venjah Hunte, 20; Charles Wardlow, 18; and Jason Mitchell, 20. Prosecutors say they drove from southwest Florida to Miami intending to rob Taylor of cash they thought he kept at the house.