Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Washington: Wolf Blitzer) Interview held with the prosecutor and the defense attorney in the "wrestling death" trial of 14-year-old Lionel Tate for the murder of a six-year-old girl. [From Fort Lauderdale, Florida, defense attorney Jim LEWIS - says the tragic event was an accident; points out the mother decided not to accept the plea bargain and that the novel felony murder theory painted the jury into a corner; describes Tate's demeanor now that he is in an adult prison.] [Prosecutor Ken PADOWITZ - says he got justice for the victim Tiffany Eunick, who was brutally beaten and the jury and judge called it first degree murder; says Governor Jeb Bush could hold a clemency hearing to decide on the revised sentence; suggests the system needs to give a judge discretion in juvenile cases.] [Earlier in court, Judge Joel LAZARUS - says the prosecutor could have filed on a lesser charge.]