Outrage over lifer for teenager

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MARCH 10. There is criticism and outrage in Florida and the rest of the country following the sentencing of 14 year old Lionel Tate to a life in prison without parole for the ``wrestling'' death of a six year old girl. The Judge handed down the verdict - mandated by Florida law - terming Tate's action ``cold, callous and indescribably cruel''.

Tate, an African American lad, was 12 when he caused the death of Tiffany Eunick by inflicting multiple bruises, a fractured skull, a lacerated liver and a broken rib. Defence attorneys, at the time of trial, argued that the lad believed he could body slam people who would then get up and walk away as seen on wrestling shows on television. A jury rejected the arguments.

Even before the trial began, Tate was offered a plea bargain which was rejected by his mother and his attorneys. Upon conviction under the terms of the plea bargain, Tate would have been sentenced to three years in a juvenile facility. Now in the aftermath of a prison sentence being handed down on a person so young, there is afterthought. ``That was a fair plea offer and if I could turn back time, I would take it,'' said Tate's defence lawyer, Mr. Jim Lewis.

Prosecutors and defence lawyers have said that they will be petitioning the Governor of Florida, Mr. Jeb Bush, for clemency; and Mr. Bush has said that he would accept a request for such a hearing. ``In the interim, I think it is appropriate this child is kept in a juvenile facility. All I can tell you is it breaks my heart when we see these outbreaks of violence that seem senseless,'' the Governor said.

The final sentencing proceedings were carried live on many television stations; and the Judge while saying that he was bound by laws written by the legislature was nevertheless blunt in his observations. ``The evidence of Lionel Tate's guilt is clear, obvious and indisputable. And that evidence supports the jury's verdict,'' said the County Judge, Mr. Joel Lazarus.

The Judge said that he had received many letters asking him to spare Tate the life sentence. ``Voices cry out for justice, but not for justice for Tiffany Eunick. Most letters and calls refer to this victim only as an afterthought.''

Meanwhile, human and civil rights organisations have denounced the handing down of a life sentence without parole for Tate; and some activists have gone to the extent of asking States to review laws that require juveniles to be tried as adults under some circumstances. Others have made the point that African American and Hispanic children have been tried as adults more often than white children.

``This sentence violates international law which clearly states that the possibility of parole must not be denied to children, however serious their crime,'' said Mr. William Schultz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, in a statement.

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