MIAMI -- A jury has convicted a man of second-degree murder in the in the killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor, who was shot outside his bedroom after witnesses said he confronted a group of young men who broke into his home.
Norm Standlee Jersey . The jury deliberated about 16 hours over four days before returning the verdict Monday in the trial of 23-year-old Eric Rivera Jr., who admitted in a videotaped confession to police days after Taylors death that he fired the fatal shot after kicking in the bedroom door. But at the trial, he said on the witness stand that his confession was given only under police pressure and amid purported threats to his family. Rivera sat quietly at the defence table with his lawyers after the verdict was announced, showing no reaction or emotion. The courtroom was packed with Taylor and Rivera family members -- and about two dozen security personnel -- but there were no outbursts. Rivera was also convicted of armed burglary. Although Rivera did not get the maximum first-degree murder conviction, he still faces a potential life prison sentence. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy did not immediately set a sentencing date but will hold a related hearing Dec. 10. Neither prosecutors, Taylors family nor the family of the football players girlfriend would comment afterward. Riveras parents, sisters, lawyers and friends also left without comment, as did the 12 jurors. In the confession, Rivera said the group of five young men, all from the Fort Myers area, drove to Taylors house planning to steal large amounts of cash he kept inside. They thought Taylor, 24, would be out of town at a game against Tampa Bay, but didnt realize until it was too late that he was home with a knee injury. Taylors then-girlfriend, Jackie Garcia Haley, and their 18-month-old daughter, were also home at the time but were not hurt. Four other men were also charged in the case and three will be tried later. Venjah Hunte, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges in a deal that calls for a 29-year prison sentence. Testifying in his own defence, Rivera claimed it was Hunte who brought the 9mm handgun and who shot Taylor. Rivera insisted he was not told about the burglary plot until the group was driving toward Miami, and that he stayed in the car outside Taylors house the whole time. The gun was never found. Police say it was stuffed in a sock and thrown into the Everglades. Legal experts said Mondays verdict appeared to be a compromise, with at least some jurors doubting the confession and questioning whether Rivera, who was 17 at the time, truly pulled the trigger -- but not that he played a role in the burglary plot. "They believed that he was part of the burglary and was present when it occurred," said David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. "There was no eyewitness to put the gun in Riveras hand and that is what at least one juror needed to convict him of first-degree murder." Taylor, a Pro Bowl safety who had starred at the University of Miami, was shot in the upper thigh, damaging his femoral artery and causing massive blood loss. Witnesses say Taylor was shot when he confronted the group with a machete outside his bedroom. A medical examiner said he was essentially dead on arrival at a hospital on Nov. 26, 2007, although doctors did manage to restart his heart for a while. Aside from Riveras confession, police found shoe prints outside Taylors home that matched sneakers some in the group were wearing that night. Witnesses testified Rivera was seen driving a rented black Toyota Highlander believed used in the crime, and another witness said the group of five had burglary tools when they came to her house after Taylor was shot. Taylor, a first-round Redskins draft pick in 2004, signed an $18 million contract with the team and was becoming one of the NFLs top defensive players when he was slain. Several witnesses, including Garcia Haley, testified that he liked to keep large amounts of cash around his Miami house. One of the men charged in the slaying, 25-year-old Jason Mitchell, attended a birthday party a few weeks earlier at the house for Taylors half-sister, Sasha Johnson -- who lived in Fort Myers and knew Rivera. She testified that Taylor gave her a purse containing $10,000 in cash at the party, which was witnessed by all the guests. That event put the wheels in motion for the burglary plot, witnesses said. Rivera himself testified that some in the group thought they would get between $100,000 and $200,000 to split up. Also charged and awaiting trial are Mitchell, Charles Wardlow, 24, and 22-year-old Timothy Brown.
Bernie Casey Jersey . The CFL club is making the move after holding its camp and regular-season practices at the University of Toronto campus in Mississauga, Ont.
Ross Dwelley Jersey . The (14-15-5) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 33 points. They trail sixth place Nashville and fifth place Dallas by two points.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat embark on a four-game road trip, starting Sunday afternoon against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. This was once one of the best rivalries in the NBA, but times change. For the Celtics, Doc Rivers was traded to coach the Los Angeles Clippers, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were shipped to the Brooklyn Nets and Ray Allen is apparently still deciding whether or not to play this season. For the Heat, the four-time reigning Eastern Conference champions, a fellow named LeBron James bolted South Beach for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. And, for the time being, Dwyane Wade is sidelined with a right hamstring injury. Both teams are under .500 and both teams are in the midst of two-game losing streaks. The Heat begin this trek Super Bowl Sunday and will stop in Detroit, Minnesota and San Antonio. They dropped both games on a short homestand, first to the Milwaukee Bucks, then to the Dallas Mavericks. On Friday, the Heat turned a double-digit lead into a 93-72 loss to Dallas. The Mavericks held the Heat to just three points over a nearly 14-minute span in the third and fourth quarters. Dallas went on a 39-3 run during that time to end a seven-game, regular-season losing streak to the Heat. Miamis stale finish -- which came after Dallas started the game ice-cold from the field -- tempered what was a career night for Hassan Whiteside, who set a franchise record with 14 rebounds in the first quarter. The 7-foot center ended with 16 points and a career-high 24 rebounds for the Heat. James Ennis added 15 points off the bench, All-Star Chris Bosh scored 12 and Mario Chalmers had 10 in Miamis fourtth loss in six games.
Robbie Gould Jersey. . We anticipated that this probably wouldnt be a game where wed win by outscoring them, wed have to keep this game down, said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Second half, they dominated and played their style. The Celtics came back from a 3-3 road trip with a home loss to the Houston Rockets, 93-87, on Friday. Boston dropped the last game on the sojourn to the Minnesota Timberwolves for its two-game slide. Against the Rockets, Brandon Bass and Marcus Thornton each scored 17 points for the Celtics. Tayshaun Prince chipped in 13 off the bench and Avery Bradley managed 10. Boston has lost three of its last four. Bass capped a 9-2 run with a pair of free throws to help the Celtics, who were down as many as 19 earlier in the game, close to within three just past the midway point of the fourth. Donatas Motiejunas did damage for the Rockets, converting crucial buckets to keep the Rockets ahead. The Celtics had numerous opportunities to get closer in the final minutes, however, Josh Smiths free throws put the Rockets up seven with 51.6 seconds to play. Thorntons layup preceded an offensive foul by James Harden that trimmed the Boston deficit to 90-87 with 27 seconds left. Corey Brewer converted a pair of free throws before Bradleys missed 3-pointer sealed it for the visitors. I thought we played with much more urgency, said Celtics coach Brad Stevens of the second half. The Heat won the first game between the two teams this season back in December and have won five of the last eight regular-season matchups. Boston is 11-1 in its last 12 regular-season games versus the Heat as the host. ' ' '