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| Lionel Tate ordered released from Fla. prison |
| By South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
| Published: 01/27/2004 |
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Lionel Tate, the youngest American ever sentenced to life in prison, walked free on Monday to smiles, hugs and prayers from his supporters. Four days shy of his 17th birthday, Tate emerged from the Broward County (Fla.) Jail holding his mother's hand, just weeks after an appeals court threw out his conviction. Looking mostly solemn and shy, his face occasionally broke into a big smile as supporters celebrated his release. On Thursday, Tate will return to Broward Circuit Court to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for the three years he has already served. He will be on house arrest for the first year and must also complete 10 years of probation. Looking stunned by the dozens of camera crews, photographers and reporters waiting for him outside the jail, Tate had just two wishes - he wanted to go home to Pembroke Park, Fla., and he wanted his mom's Jamaican chicken curry for dinner. He did not speak publicly. While much of the campaign for his release focused on Tate, the prosecution of juveniles as adults and efforts to reform the system, his supporters balanced their jubilation at his release with memories of his 6-year-old victim, Tiffany Eunick, and gratitude to her mother, Deweese Eunick-Paul, for approving the plea agreement. After attending the court hearing, Tiffany's mother said she just wants Tate to admit what he did was wrong, acknowledge his guilt and say he is sorry. Richard Rosenbaum, the attorney who won Tate's appeal, said Tate and his mother have both already apologized to Tiffany's mother and her family in a private and personal way. Tate's release was approved during a quick court appearance shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday. But it took about 4 1/2 hours for him to be formally released from the jail because of bureaucratic red tape that needed to be sorted out by the state Department of Corrections. Since age 12, when he was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the beating death of Tiffany, Tate has become the international poster-child for reform of the laws that allow juveniles to be prosecuted as adults. Supporters took their appeals to the governor's office, the clemency board, the United Nations and the Vatican. The slaying was shocking and tragic, but many people around the world were horrified that he was condemned to life in prison without a chance of parole for a crime committed when he was so young. |
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