Boot camp verdict: Not guilty

Booking mugs released by the Bay County Sheriff's Office show seven former guards and a nurse at a juvenile detention boot camp are shown. Top row, from left: Charles Helms Jr., Henry Dickens Jr., Charles Enfinger and Patrick Garrett. Bottom row, from left: Raymond Hauck, Henry McFadden Jr., Joseph Walsh II and nurse Kristin Anne Schmidt . At right is Martin Lee Anderson. [AP Photo | Bay County Sheriff's Office]
View video from the boot camp

PANAMA CITY -- After deliberating for about 90 minutes, a jury in the boot camp case returned not guilty verdicts against all eight defendants today about 1:15 p.m. Central Time.

The six-member, all white jury found seven guards and a nurse not guilty of aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of Martin Lee Anderson, the 14-year-old boy who died on his first day at the camp after an altercation with guards.

The jury left the courtroom to start deliberations at 9:47 a.m. Central Time after this morning's jury instructions. They re-entered the courtroom with a heavy presence of security guards to read the verdict shortly after 1 p.m.

The judge announced the unanimous verdicts, acquitting guards Henry Dickens Jr., Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Charles Helms Jr., Henry McFadden Jr., and Joseph Walsh II, and nurse Kristin Schmidt.

Before announcing the verdicts, Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet urged courtroom spectators to be restrained, noting the heavy media presence for the verdict.

"They wanted to be here, and I suspect they want to be here to see each of you and how you react. I'd like them to see each of you as you are. You're members of the community, you're good people," he said.

The boy's mother, Gina Jones, stormed out of the courtroom after the verdict was read. "I cannot see my son no more. Everybody sees their family members. It's wrong," she said, distraught.

Her lawyer, Benjamin Crump, told reporters outside: "You kill a dog, you go to jail. You kill a little black boy, and nothing happens."

The Department of Justice issued a statement saying the U.S. Attorney's Office for the northern district of Florida is reviewing the case to decide whether to prosecute the boot camp employees on criminal civil rights violation charges.

Hillsborough County prosecutors, who were trying the case under a special appointment by the governor, had argued that the guards suffocated Anderson by forcing him to breathe ammonia and covering his mouth. An autopsy from Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Vern Adams reached that conclusion.

Defense attorneys pointed to the first autopsy in the case done by Bay County's medical examiner that said the teen died of natural causes, from complications of sickle cell trait. That medical examiner, Charles Siebert, said the roughing up by the guards did not play a role in Anderson's death.

Anderson's family, which has received millions of dollars in civil legal settlements from the state, had said they were concered that the defendants would be acquitted. The eight defendants were being tried in Bay County, where many residents had shown solidarity with the hometown boot camp employees.

As a result of Anderson's death, the state closed its boot camps for juvenile offenders.

Former drill instructor Henry Dickens spoke briefly in front of the courthouse. Now a retired Bay County sheriff's deputy, Dickens said, "I will get on with my life." He said since Anderson's death, he and the other drill instructors have wanted to tell the family they were sorry, but were told not to contact them by their attorneys. "We never had a chance to present our side."

Dickens, who is black, told the court of growing up in the segregated south, and said the case is not about race. Anderson was black.

"This is the year 2007. All this black and white stuff should be over with," he said.

News of the acquittals did not sit well with former state Rep. Gus Barreiro, who led the charge to eliminate boot camps after seeing the video of boot camp employees surrounding Anderson.

"To not hold anybody accountable for that, it really sends a wrong message to all the people who work with kids in Florida," he said. "It becomes like open season on kids. I'm just really, really surprised that a jury could sit back and watch that and say that they were not negligent."

Students from Florida A&M University were marching toward the state Capitol after the verdict. Outside the Capitol building, six police officers stood, providing extra security.

The Florida chapter of the NAACP sent a representative to listen to the verdict. Charles E. Hobbs II, of Tallahassee, said that NAACP leaders plan to meet this afternoon and that they're considering a request to the Department of Justice to ask for federal civil rights charges to be filed.

Abbie VanSickle, Times staff writer

JURY HEARS INSTRUCTIONS FROM JUDGE, 9:37 a.m., Central Time: Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet is reading the jury instructions to the panel of jurors in the boot camp case.

JURY LEAVES COURT TO BEGIN DELIBERATIONS, 9:47 a.m., Central Time: The jurors have left. The three alternates remain. The judge is speaking to the alternates now.

Comments

[Blah]

How sad. Kill a kid and get acquitted.
Astonishing.

[Jen]

Why is it listed that Anderson was Black....the jury was mainly white...look at the accused....half black.

Don't turn this into a racial issue....

[Katrina]

Kill a dog/dogs, get convicted; kill a human, get off!

[JustMy2Cents]

This works out to about 17 minutes per defendant. How on earth do you deliberate the evidence for each guard in 17 minutes? Unbelievable! A young kid died that should not have. We should all be ashamed of this state we live in.

[Robert Browne]

Hopefully, the Feds will step in and figure out a Federal charge so these disgraces to the State Of Florida will not get away with this. The trial should have been moved far away from the panhandle and any part of north Florida

[Sandra J. Stephens, Realtor/Mortgage Broker]

Are you KIDDING me?

[McLuhan]

Robert(2:52 PM), It would definitely appear that at the very minimum, young Martin's civil rights were violated. This verdict is as sad as it is unbelievable.

[Me]

From the pictures above it looks like 2 out of 8 defendants are black. How is that "half?"

This whole situation screams of racism. I agree with Robert, let's hope the Feds step in on this one.

[eileen]

There was no justice today. I'm just a white grandmother, and my heart goes out to Martin Anderson's family. This proves that if you're a person of color, you should never trust Law Enforcement-they can treat you worse than terrorists; torture you, kill you, then lie about the whole thing. "Just doing our jobs..." The rest of the country is watching and ever more fearful of moving here or even visiting. If OJ Simpson can be tried twice for the same killing, perhaps the same should happen to these prison guards.

[Bill]

You brain surgeons don't get the obvious. Scientific evidence supported the first autopsy. Get over the race thing. If this had been a white kid nobody would care. The family was compensated far beyond what they, or Martin, would ever earn in three lifetimes. If Martin's loving mother and father had paid more attention to him when he was growing up, he might not have been sent to boot camp. Boot camp, if you recall, was instituted to keep kids headed for prison from a life behind bars. Martin was awarded boot camp, if I recall. If Mom and Dad want a scapegoat, maybe they should point the finger at whether or not Martin was given a physical examination before he was sentenced to boot camp. If he wasn't a candidate because of physical issues, MAYBE they would have a case against the state. But they need to quit using race as a crutch. Take personal responsibilities for your failures. Martin was your failure, Mom and Dad.

[LittleBro]

It was a concentration camp created and run by the state. These were the state hired, state trained guards. They are not intelligent, thoughtful, thinking people - they are concentration camp guards. How can they be guilty? They were doing precisely what they were ordered to do by the state and then the state got embarrassed. It's the nature of concentration camps - you don't want weaklings running the show. So we hire people who know how to demand and get respect as well as results. It's like it is in any concentration camp - accidents will happen.

[Janet]

I am crying as I respond on this blog. I am angry, hurt, and confused. I don't understand how the jury could not find them gulty of something. The guards are on tape inflicting bodily harm to this child. Yet, they walk away free. This child does not get another chance at life. He was sent to a place that was suppose to give him that, but he lost his life instead. Its not about black or white, its about humanity and the value we place on our young children. I pray to God that his death is avenged. It is not right. His human rights were violated, his civil rights were violated, but yet they walked free.Its not right! I have a 17 year old son, I can only imagine the pain and anquish this mother is going through. My son had gotten beside himself his eleventh grade year. I contemplated sending him to a boot camp, becasue I did not know what else to do. I lived the right life in front of him, I was his role model. I talked to him about the dangers of drugs,alchohol and unprotected sex, and the importance of getting his education. I lived in front of him how a christian should. He had a curfew. He was easily influenced though, and he managed to link up with some children that were of a negative influence. I did not send him becasue I remeber during my internship with the Juvenile Justice Department, I shadowed a Juvenile Probation officer to a visit with one of her client's who was incarcerated at the juvinile facility in clearwater. As we were walking we passed what apparently was a confrontation between the officers and a detainee. The yelled at the kids, spoke down to them, it amounted to what we would call verbal abuse out in the free world. I did end up reaching out to some of my church members and I kept praying for him. He is scheduled to graduate this year and has a job at a local food chain. I'm certain some people employed at those facilites had good intentions in working with troubled youth, but for those who aided in the death of this child their deeds should not go unpunished.

[LittleBro]

You see? Bill up there at 2:10 understands the problem exactly. the twirp deserved to die - he was given a chance and he blew it. and his parents got a lot more for it than they would have if he hadn't been killed. Get over it. It's a good deal for the family and the system worked. Kid's not in prison for life, is he?

[concerned parent]

I have children and if this happened to one of them i would not stop until justice is served fairly. Theses people should be ashamed of themselves to even portrait that type of violence on a 14 year old child and not be convicted, it is clear on tape that they did not handle that situation properly and i agree that is setting a bad example for other boot camp employees.

[Dave]

"If this had been a white kid nobody would care."

This is by far the dumbest thing I've read about this whole case. If it was rich white kid, this would be on the front page of every newspaper in this country. It's amazing it's gotten the publicity it has.

[Mike]

No cop or agent of authority will ever be convicted for anything like this. Ever. They never are. They can do whatever they want.

[Katie]

Chalk this one up to another moronic jury......I don't care what that kid was in bootcamp for, it gave those guards no right to abuse him like that. For that alone (even if he did not lose his life) they should all be in prison. The sickle cell trait was a big excuse..my daughter was born with the trait and I did a lot of research and was assured by her pediatrician that the trait alone does not cause ANY type of health problems. These Dr's were obviously in bed with the defense on this one. To LittleBro and Bill - you should both be ashamed of your comments and you OBVIOUSLY do not have children.

[Katie]

Chalk this one up to another moronic jury......I don't care what that kid was in bootcamp for, it gave those guards no right to abuse him like that. For that alone (even if he did not lose his life) they should all be in prison. The sickle cell trait was a big excuse..my daughter was born with the trait and I did a lot of research and was assured by her pediatrician that the trait alone does not cause ANY type of health problems. These Dr's were obviously in bed with the defense on this one. To LittleBro and Bill - you should both be ashamed of your comments and you OBVIOUSLY do not have children.

[concerned parent]

Bill and Littlebro both of you are twisted, probably racist yourselves. I guarantee that if this was your child you would be doing the samething probably even more if the tables were turned. I think that neither of you have compassion for anything. And Martin did not deserve to die because he couldn't finish a "routine run" Those guards should have taken the time to properly find out if something was really wrong with him, what is the point of having a nurse there if she is not going to perform her duties, nurses are supposed to help people in need, not help other people harm them and stand there and watch without doing anything, maybe she should not be allowed to practice nursing until she truly understands the meaning of a "NURSE". And as for those guards all of them would probably be worse than Martin's parents. So Bill and Littlebro "GET A LIFE"!!!!!!!!!

[gwen]

I read with interest if this was a white kid scenerio both excuses for what would happen if the kid was white was funny ... stop and think the chances are if it was a poor white kid the same scene would have just been played out only less press alot of less press if it was a rich white kid this would not never have happened a rich white kid does not go to jail ! Look at Lindsey Lohan cocaine possesion and she got no jail time just rehab wake up ppl the only color that runs this world is GREEN

[G Thomas]

This family was victimized twice, once by the boot camp and again by the justice system. TOTALLY unacceptable!! I would definetly file a cival suit asap. Someone needs to be held accountable. Good Luck, I will be praying for you
Georgia

[Terri White]

I am so appalled that these "murderers" were found innocent. I cannot express how frustrated that I am with this legal system. This young man was sent to this camp for a new chance at being a productive member of society, and at one moment, he is being "attacked" and then he is dead. All because these guards felt it right to attack him. What about the misuse of the ammonia tablets? Someone needs to answer for this immediately. If I were his family, I would file an appeal and take it to a higher level. This is an injustice. I pray for his family.

[BrainSurgeon]

Yes Bill, Martin deserved to die because he took his grandmother's car and went to K-mart and took a CD. And Martin's parents are just horrible people because they couldn't prevent him from taking the car. Yep, you're right, I get it now. Thank god this kid got what he deserved. Thanks for helping me see the light.

[LittleBro]

concerned parent - you did not understand my sarcasm. I meant it when I said it was a concentration camp and I meant it when I said the state created it. this was second degree murder and there is no doubt about it. a bunch of rednecks came in from the fields and listened to how the kid the guards killed was a punk - just like "bill" said. The jury is our version of the OJ jury - a group of unthinking rednecks who did precisely what the OJ jury did for a black man - ain't gonna be no white guard get convicted for killing a black prisoner who shoulda knowed better.

And the "nurse" obviously was put there to pretend that somebody cared. she should be barred from the profession forever but she won't be.

In any event - it's a travesy, it was murder and they all should be going away for a long time. But that's what you get when you get rednecks in a redneck county deciding if their redneck buddies are going to be punished.

[Inez]

That jury had to be deaf, dumb, and blind to come to that conclusion!!

[DISGUSTED]

YOU CAN WASH YOUR HANDS...BUT YOU CANNOT WASH YOUR CONSCIENCE!!!!

What moron allowed an all white jury...and Im surprised Hills Cty state attorneys lost this one (sarcasam) ...Guess Pam Bondi wasnt over losing her dog yet...

[David]

That kid was beaten to death by brainless thugs. No matter what Martin did he did not deserve to be beaten to a pulp by any number of adults who were striking him till he became unconscious. Those murderers should all be in jail. There is no justice for Martin.

[Katrina]

Wow! Bill and LittleBro, it's exactly because of attitudes like yours that Martin is dead. I don't care if his mother and father were the absolute worst parents in the world, no kid (black or white) deserves to be killed. This is a sad day in Florida! I do believe, however, that the Justice Department will find that Martin's civil rights were violated. And to the person that said, his parents got a bunch of $$$, there's not enough $$ to compensate them for the loss of their child. Just a sad, sad day in Florida.

[Jan]

I hope that because of this case full medical records of juvenile offenders are made available to employees of the juvenile justice system. This unfortunate incident is entirely the result of lack of critical information.

The moral of the story is bad things happen in jail, so lead a life that doesn't require you to go. The trial lasted several days and many hours of evidence was presented by both sides - how many posters here sat in the courtroom and listened to all of it? None I suspect. So all you have is part of the story on which to base your opinion.

Maybe they did get away with murder, maybe the kid did have sickle cell trait - I can't be sure because I wasn't there. I just know a jury of independent individuals was convinced beyond a doubt by the evidence presented that the guards were not reponsible.

The family has been compensated so civil suits are unlikely. Sure they can attempt to make a federal case out of it, but on its merits that likely won't be successful.

[Bill]

This is the same area that had the Pitts and Lee trial. Same area that had the conditions that was shut down at the Florida School for Boys (Marianna). Same area of Florida where murder by the law enforcement is over looked and everything bad about a person is brought out to justify 7 grown men killing a 14 year old kid. Putting anything in the nose or mouth causes choaking and possible death. If you read the warning on a package of capsuls you would see it is not for prolong use. I use to think these warning were for safety purposes.

A decision like this keeps us devided and on the defense to justify difference in treatment by classs, race, color and sex. Sometime in our justice system a Judge has to have the guts to overrule a jury decision and make things right. There has to be some libility for what you do and don't do.

Kill a black kid and get a free pass. Jennifer Porter kill 2 kids went home and go off (Tampa)

"Kill a dog and go to jail - Kill a black kid and get nothing"

[David in Tampa]

Justice was clearly not served today. The "sickle cell" defense was outrageous, but the jury bought it. Unbelievable.

[John]

Katrina, If this absent mother and father had been parents to start with, the boy wouldn't have been in custody. Sheez!

[Sam]

What a shock...Black people turning this into a racial issue. Have you never read, "The boy who cried wolf"?

You're forgetting, AT LEAST TWO OF THE PEOPLE IN QUESTION WERE BLACK! Hello!

[LittleBro]

John - if the guards had been any other than sadistic morons, the boy wouldn't be dead. If the state had any sensible people working for it, these rednecked moronic sadists would never have been hired.

Sheeez???

[JO]

Truly unbelievable. Everyone in this country saw that video....what is wrong with 12 of them???

[Disgusted]

I am a white father of two teenagers and I cannot understand how these idiots were not found guilty of 2nd. degree murder. This is a complete injustice and ultimately a young life was stomped out and there is no amount of money that can replace that!!!

[Katrina]

John, that doesn't mean he should have been killed. Sheez back to ya!

[Sarah]

No surprise! Why did the state waste our money when this outcome was obvious from the start? - white guards and a black family (I'm white by the way.)This is justice?? What a joke!!

[concerned parent]

littlebro my apologies, but this just makes me very upset! How can you not convict those guards and the nurse? That child was beaten for what reason, there is really no excuse for that, one against eight.

[concerned parent]

Jen, don't you read the papers, watch the news, everthing in this country is a "race issue" Try putting yourself in our shoes or walking our walk I really believe that you would not be able to handle how you are treated. Take the presidential election for example, there are already comments about Barak running for president because he is black. This world needs to grow up!!!

[concerned parent]

Sam yes two of them were black, but HELLO!!!! the majority was white and as for the jury, well it speaks for itself they were all WHITE. So HELLO !!!!!!!!! get a grip!!

[Debbie Debo-Mochizuki]

This was wrong... all the way around. A sad day... as sad as the day the young teen was killed.

[LittleBro]

It happens the same way the OJ trial happened - the jurors know it's wrong but they also have to live there. If they convict, then they will be shunned forever. If they acquit, they'll catch some heat for a while but it will soon be forgotten. That's the way injustice works - it's unjust, it's perpetrated by people who have no core belief in what's "right" and who want to be liked by the people around them. Read - if you haven't already - To Kill a Mockingbird. It's a terrible thing but it's also why so many people were convicted on "eye witness" testimony that proved to be false. And why so many people have been released from death row because they didn't do it. and why there are so many people in jail today who don't belong there. Juries are people. And they have their prejudices and failures just like other people. the trouble is, their mistakes sometimes affect an entire society. With a decision like this, how can people have faith in the "system" of "justice?" And, with people like "Bill" and others who are saying things like "bad things happen in jail - don't go to jail and you'll be ok" - you can see how there's not a lot of hope unless the good people get louder.

[Tyrone]

It's sad that this kid died, but why does everyone always assume that any ruling that goes against a black person, consider it a "racist" decision? Stop the maddens now! White people need to stop being scared to call it as it is. Bad things happen, that's why they are called accidents. If it was a white kid that died and 50% of the guards were black you would not get the "racism" card played.

[Russ]

No one should be suprised by this verdict. Regardless of what this CHILD did, he didnt deserve to be abused by these guards and to have that nurse just walk around the action like nothing was wrong. Everything about this case is a disgrace and for all those idiots who say he deserved this, pray nothing like this ever happens to a CHILD in your family. Maybe your tune would change if it was your kid. Pray for the victim and his family

[Jessica]

It is a sad day for Justice in Florida. From the comments posted, most people believe that those guards got away with murder, so do I. For those of you who blame the parents, at what age does a person become responsible for themselves? The parents didn't kill this child, the guards did, they need to be held responsibile for their actions, but the jury failed to do that. No I wasn't in the court room, but I was in the room when the state of Florida told my parents that if they had more money then they would prosecute 1st degree murder instead of second degree on the man that killed my brother. What does that tell you about the "great" state we live in?

[Linda]

I understand now, what a "boot camp" is. Don't the parents' (and I might be mistaken, I'm not saying I'm well read on this subject) send their kids to these boot camps cause they have no control of these children, don't they send them to these boot camps to "get them in line"?
I any case, I can assure you, (and I am a white parent) that if I sent my child to something like this, or if it happened on the street, .....I'd become a vigil antee (rrobably not spelled correctly, sorry). My child's death, no matter where or for what, would be avenged, properly!

WERE ANY OF YOU ON THE JURY OR PRIVY TO THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED OR THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHARGES BROUGHT FORTH?????

[LittleBro]

Nope - I wasn't on the jury. Yup - I was "privy" to the evidence and its relationship to the charge. I watched - several times - as the sadistic morons ganged up around this kid, beat him senseless and then had the idiot in a white dress check to see why he was unconscious. Oh - I also read the report about how stupid it was to say he died because of sickle cell trait.

Now - what evidence was it that you saw to make you think those moronic sadists shouldn't be in jail?

OK folks here we go - the charge of aggrivated manslaughter assumes the defendants assault on Anderson was directly responsible for his death...

there was evidence presented that could not 100% corrobortae this, and thus the charge as it stood could not yield conviction.

as a civil matter, is there room for wrongful death? liability? yes and yes, and both have been settled by the courts and the Florida Legislature.

4:36

the video was not the only piece of evidence presented. there were also conflicting reports by the different ME's. That is too much doubt for a criminal conviction on the charges as presented. I don't know why anyone is surprised by this at all.

[Matt]

Justice served. Trying to replace a troubled child whose actions were the result of poor parenting, with money, didn't work. Move ON!!!!!!!

[Clifford]

The parents should have never received the millions that the state provided them with. Given the history of this young man, he would have ended up dead before he turned 30 or he would have killed someone else. The parents are lucky they received anything from a sympathetic governor.

[think rationally!!!]

maybe all you people who are so quick to open your mouths should realize a couple things. first, most of you probably don't know jack about criminal law or criminal procedure, and a lot of cases turn on technical details which the unwashed public don't know a thing about. you're all so quick with your "RACISM!!!" cries and it's very obvious most of you are uninformed and quick to jump to the most emotionally sensitive and easiest conclusion. our legal system is the best in the world. we give the plaintiffs as much opportunity to present their case as possible and the defense as much benefit of the doubt as possible (DO NOT put a racist spin on that). this is almost 2008. i'm not saying racism doesn't exist anymore, but people can expect to get a fair shake in the courtroom. now, onto the civil side of things. these greedy and crazy parents need to cut out the shenanigans. they got huge civil settlements for the kid's death and now they're set for life. as someone posted above, the millions that were dropped into their lap are most likely more than they or their kid would make in sixteen lifetimes each. they lost their kid, but our legal system came to their freaking rescue and laid them a freaking golden egg. that should be enough. that's the way it works. you may have a criminal case but you MAY NOT WIN and so you should be damn glad you made out as filthy rich as you did. you can't replace people but this is the way our system works and you "brain surgeons" may recall charlie crist was practically ready to dig into his own pocket and throw dollars at these parents. oh but wait, it wasn't HIS pockets, it was THE TAXPAYERS'. in sum: PLEASE stop playing the race card because it's gotten so old. also, take a calm look at the facts before you blog yourselves into a tizzy. well, i guess it's too late for that.

[John]

Yesseri,
The good old white boy rule is alive and well in Florida. I can only say that the day they meet their maker there will be no aquiting them at that time, they will pay and pay again for your lies.

[Ian S]

Even if we throw race away the issue remains - a person in custody of authority died. When you have someone in custody you are responsible for that person's life. If said person dies from lack of care under your watch you are responsible. This is in the Geneva Convention! Yes it was an accident. But so what? If I kill someone by accident I will still be charged with manslaughter. That's the law.

Simple fact is people are more tolerant abuse of authority these days. It's always "them" but one day it will be you. And when that day comes there will be no person to plea on your behalf, they'll all be gone because you didn't have the fortitude to stand up and say NO.

[Dave Graziano]

The Child died at the hands of Bullies. It does not matter why he was in that Boot Camp. The color of the guards, nurse and victim should not matter. The State of Florida Failed that boy and his family. FYI: In the State of Florida, there is no independent oversight of of the Sheriffs Departments or Jails. The Florida Sheriffs Association oversees themselves.

[Al]

Isn't the jury selected by both the prosecution and the defense? If it was a big deal to have an all-white jury, wouldn't the defense find a reason to disqualify some of them until blacks were selected?
He was a criminal in the making thanks to his lack of supervision and I'm glad he won't be commiting crimes against me or my family in the future.

Just watched the video again...I don't see "beating." I see them take Anderson to the ground, then spend the next 6 minutes trying to revive him. Where are the continuous strike, blows, punishment usually associated with beating and torture? I'm sorry, but I just don't see it.

[LittleBro]

Thanks 4:42. Assuming you were able to have children, may I buy your daughter? The price will depend on how pretty she is, of course, since I'll want to resell her. But, no matter what it is, it will be a lot more than you would get from her if you don't sell her.

[Reality]

He doesn’t look like a bad kid. I see a good-natured core, and possibilities in his eyes. Involved and responsible parenting could have helped this young man realize those possibilities.

The horrible reality in a tragedy like this is not only this young man’s death, but also the fact that it could have been avoided by applying some parental love, family unity, and hope. And 8-million dollars won’t do a damn thing to change that fact; ever.

[John]

Bull crap to "think rationally." YOU sir are the one that does not know his a__ from a hole in the ground, wake up and smell the racial slurry that is STILL going on today, yes it may be 2007 or so but WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE NOOSE HANGINGS GOING ON ALL AROUND OUR SO CALLED RACIAL FREE SOCIETY?? You need to get a reality check before you open your big ludd of a mouth.

[John]

Bull crap to "think rationally." YOU sir are the one that does not know his a__ from a hole in the ground, wake up and smell the racial slurry that is STILL going on today, yes it may be 2007 or so but WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE NOOSE HANGINGS GOING ON ALL AROUND OUR SO CALLED RACIAL FREE SOCIETY?? You need to get a reality check before you open your big ludd of a mouth.

John, I agree the nooses in Jena were apalling. But they also do not give the black students liberty to beat the crap out of a kid in anger. We live in a civil society.

[think rationally!!!]

littlebro: what? speak in concrete terms not bizarre abstractions.

for the rest of the uninitiated peanut gallery: you can't reject jurors during voir dire based on race. that's a big no-no.

[concerned parent]

Littlebro, I think that person who made that comment was probably one of the jurors. (lol)I think the guilt of their decision needs to weigh on them heavily, because there is no way in the world that after looking at the tape and the conflicting evidence and reports should those people have been found not guilty. The state should be ashamed of themselves, and as for the guards I hope that when they go home and look at their children that they for just a moment feel the pain that Martin's parents and his community are feeling right now.

"Kill a black kid and get a free pass. Jennifer Porter kill 2 kids went home and go off (Tampa)"

actually, retard, the children crossed the street and got themselves killed. Porter erred in not remaining at the scene. She has paid dutifully for that error.

"The state should be ashamed of themselves"

I guess you didn't catch the news when the Legislature and Governor paid the family $5m of our taxpayer dollars.

[think rationally!!!]

john: like i said in my post, i don't think racism doesn't exist anymore. but this is modern society and in today's world people get fair treatment in the courtroom. i do not think race was absolutely absent from this trial. but like i said, i think it was fair.

you prove to me that this verdict was based on race. otherwise, we have to presume it was not.

[LittleBro]

Gee, "think rationally" - I didn't think it was all that difficult to understand. You think it's ok that the state bought the kid to kill because he was a bad kid. I wondered if you'd sell your daughter because I thought I could make some money on the resale. Is that clear enough? You value the life of this kid as a commodity - how did you so nicely put it? Yes - here you are: "these greedy and crazy parents need to cut out the shenanigans. they got huge civil settlements for the kid's death and now they're set for life" Now - I wonder if you are going to be greedy about the price for your daughter or if you will take what the market will bear?

[Linda]

Tyrone is incorrect and incorrect. "If a white kid died and 50% of the guards were black you would not get the racism card."
I think you would get the racism card. Only because, since the 1990 L.A. riots, protests, wars, whatever you want to call them,the racism legal call runs rampant! And if a white kid had died and it was 4 black guards that had beat him to death, which is what everyone is saying, than they would have been found guilty, why, because O.J. had enough money to get away with murder and the white people are just as much crying "racism""(If you are black you get more racial rites now)...so those guards would have been found guilty, and the non-whites would have been protesting that as well, saying if it were a group of white guards that had done that to a black man they would have been condemned.

"He doesn’t look like a bad kid. I see a good-natured core, and possibilities in his eyes."

Gee, I'm glad to know your judgment based upon a newspaper photo is so sound and wise

[Barb]

I am shocked! What these officers did was wrong!I saw the video! Did this Jury see the video? Anyone with eyes can see they were guilty! Put him in confinement,don't kill him!
this makes me sick, and scared of what money can buy.

[Mike]

Al, you are a freaking idiot and you absolutely suck, this is a kid and it does not matter if he is black or white. Your redneck a%* is probably sitting in Kenneth City making a strong $8.50 an hour. IDIOT!!

[think rationally!!!]

littlebro: LOL value is put on human life all the time by the court system! why do you think families get damages in wrongful death suits? how do you suppose that works? the court calculates how much value the person's life had and would have had, and pays it out! i'm not making this up. it seems cold and clinical but that's life.

Someone show me where in the video he is being beaten. He gets taken down like any criminal resiting arrest that you see on C.O.P.S. They bring him down and restrain him, then attempt to revive him when he goes out. That is not beating.

Reginald Denney...THAT was beating.

[pasta]

they got away with murder. "such a sad way to live..."- marvin gaye, 1971

[Cheif]

If I look at the defendants, 50% are minority or of color. How is this a race issue?
I trust that the jury looked at all the evidence and made the correct call.
A certain amount of this tragedy falls on the parents. You need to teach your kids right and wrong.

"such a sad way to live..."- marvin gaye, 1971

LOL at the irony of your post.

[Reality]

4:56,

I have no intention on debating this with you. It is a far too emotional situation, and rationality will rarely, if ever, enter into the discussion. Besides, I was just offering my opinion on a tragic situation, (as you and many others have), nobody said you had to agree with it.

[mike]

It looked to me that they were hitting his arms to get him down. I never saw any beating of the head or body. We use to get licks in school, if you cry baby people would punish your kids and teach them Right fro Wrong they wouldnt be in this situation. as for the black and white thing goes, get a life. people always want to point a finger, stop and look in the miror.

hmmm...Times uses mugshots of guards, but a casual photo of Anderson.

How abou showing a little less bias St. Pete Pravda

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41642000/jpg/_41642522_martin203ap.jpg

[LittleBro]

Well then - rational person - answer my question. You now are talking in the abstract. I've been specific. Of course the civil system works as you describe - because there is nothing else that can be done. On your reasoning, a murderer should be released if he pays enough. You ARE aware, are you not, that a murderer cannot avoid a conviction simply because he pays off the family? And you ARE aware, are you not, that it is the STATE - not the family - that is the aggrieved party when a crime is committed? The STATE is the one prosecuting these morons - not the family. And what the family got as a "civil settlement" has absolutely nothing to do with the complete injustice of the matter.

But - I still haven't heard if you are willing to sell your daughter. Suppose she gets arrested for dui? Ok to shoot her?

[Barbara]

This is an outrage .I am white and this is racial,maybe Jena had something to do with this verdict,these guards need to have the same done to them as well as the racist jurors ,prayers to the mother and family of this horrendous crime of racism .Damn, America sucks.

[Chris]

What this case illustrates is why we need to scrap the jury system. Jurors ignore the facts and the law, and decide on emotion and prejudice. The fact is the American population has gotten so dumbed down that the average Amercian is stupid and connot be trusted to make important decisions. I am a lawyer and I just don't take cases that must go before juries. Give me bench (nonjury) trials, appeals, and adminitsraive law judges any day.

[Tim A]

Little Bro, you are obviously as racist as anyone else who advocates on someones side just because of race. Where do you get off calling people in the prison guard profession Redneck. Thats the problem, no one wants to make a point with throwing up the race issue or have it be a race war. Get over the race issue its 2007 and if you want to live in the Jim Crow days, well you are as ignorant as I thought you were.

As I recall two of the guards were African American that were accussed of the incident. Why not take the whole issue at face value and trust that the leagal syten was doings its job, after all it did it did what it was designed to do for O. J. Simpson right? Or at least that was your argument when the shoe was on the other foot.

The problem is that this country's justice system is nothing more than a corrupt leagal system designed to suck money out of those who can pay it to stay out of jail. You can never tell who gets away with murder or not in this country anymore because its all up to some panty waiste judge Slick Willy lawyers. Race has no bearing on this issue.

then leave Barbara

OK Chris, maybe we should just hold civil and criminal tribunals only, like they do in China.

dumbasss

[think rationally!!!]

i am enjoying this sort of real time chat.

hey littlebro you're getting too emotional. no, if i had a daughter or a son, of course it wouldn't be okay to sell or shoot them. how absurd. there, i addressed your question for you.

i'm not sure what you're trying to argue up there with all that stuff about the state. yes, i am aware of all those things and how civil and criminal procedure work. guess what, i have some training in the law!

you're trying to warp my words, which i'd rather you didn't. i stated my case and i expect to get grief for it. but try to keep it on point.

[TANGELA BADGER]

THIS IS A VERY RACIST VERDICT. WAY TO GO FOR ALLOWING KILLERS IN UNIFORMS TO MURDER THIS CHILD. ITS ALREADY BAD ENOUGH THE OFFICIALS TRIED TO COVER WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. ANDERSON UP. ITS JUST LIKE THE COURTS SPIT IN HIS PARENTS FACES. THIS IS A GREAT INJUSTICE. AND A ALL WHITE JURY IS NOT A JURY OF THE DEFENDANTS PEERS. THESE PEOPLE COME FROM ALL RACES. THIS IS RACISM AT ITS MOST BLATANT!!!!!! HOW DO THE JURORS SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THEY SET KILLERS FREE TO POSSSIBLY KILL AGAIN???? THATS A DAMN SHAME!!!!!

Did any of you pansy liberals watch the entire video, or did you just get your clip off of CNN, see "white cops black kid" and make your conclusion then?

Show me the beating part and I will say you all are right.

[Barbara]

I am reading some comments here from people who say get over it and move on,sure,let somebody you love be mauled to death this way and walk,,lets see you all talk the same BS...This was race and I am ashamed to be white today.

were you in the jury, Barbara, or are you just a self-hating white b|tch?

[Barbara]

Leave? If I could be anywhere right now I would be rioting with the mom of this poor boy against my own race,I dont have a car,wanna drive me there? Such idiotic statements,look at the video,are you dumb as well as blind?

[Mimi]

Sad.It is a racial issue.Perhaps not overtly but its certainly there.Back children just aren't that important.See Jennifer Porter.

[Ned]

It ain't always the best judicial system but it is all we've got and perhaps the best in world. I felt they were guilty of something but the jury has spoken. If there is blame, blame the DA. Their case did not convict. That is where failure, if any, lies.

[Atticus Finch]

Kudos to these jurors who made an appropriate decision based on the evidence presented and NOT on emotions elevated by a mob mentality. Govenor Crist on behalf of the Florida taxpayers (of which Martin Anderson was not) we'd like our money back, that you decided to gift to the Anderson family. Did this ease your personal white guilt? Because the check was written without regard to justice, but thankfully the jury took care of that.

[Barbara]

I am reading some comments here from people who say get over it and move on,sure,let somebody you love be mauled to death this way and walk,,lets see you all talk the same BS...This was race and I am ashamed to be white today.
It doesnt matter why he was there there, they beat him to death,can you just imagine the fear and pain his last moments of life were like? Thinking how this could be possible?

[mike]

It's easy to see without looking too hard that it's still legal to kill black people in the South.
A White, or White institution can kill a black, but a black better not kill a white. Blacks are punished for killing Blacks too because White Racists use any excuse to kill, or incarcerate a Black.
To the people that think the verdict is OK, what part of the video did you not see? Also why will you be so suprised when the Blacks riot in your town.
If they beat your child to death on camers & then showed it to the world as a police action snuff film, do you think that you would mind?

[Michael Ewart]

It is always a tragedy when a young person is killed and I am deeply saddened for this young man's family. This is not a forum of black and white but right from wrong, I was not in the court room and do not know all of the facts, but it seems that if the state of Florida is so quick to provide monetary damages that there was a wrong doing. Then how can a jury come back with this decision?? I hope that this will never happen again but unfortunately it will.

[Jeff]

I want my money back from the family. They should not have gotten anything from the state. The Guards were not guilty. As far as federal charges go, the feds should respect the jury and close their investigation. Criminals arent tried twice for the same set of facts, neither should the guards.

[BB]

So where are the riots going to be? Isnt that what happens when you dont get the verdicts you want?

[Cory]

Just wondering how many of you were in the courtroom and listened to every piece of evidence? Watching a 30 second video clip does not tell the whole story. I was not there, and really have not followed the case, so I do not know all the facts. I just have to trust the jury was given all the information in order to make the proper decision.And if they were'nt the that is the district attorneys fault. By the way, Barbra, you are a disgrace. Find somewhere else to go and I will be more than happy to pitch in some money to help you leave. U.S.A

[trevguy]

A TRAVESTY! These guards must be held accountable. A human being only 14 YEARS old is dead. They should have changed the venue and moved this case to Tampa.
I hope THE PARENTS SUE everyone involved personally and in any other way they can. THIS KID'S CIVIL RIGHTS were violated.
WHERE IS REV AL and all the others protesting JENA-6??? What happened in Panama City IS FAR WORSE!

[glasstique]

He fought and lost , on the street and in jail ---that's life ---period!

[Katarina]

I'm shocked and disgusted. They killed this boy. Now they should be adult enough to take the consequences. I can say in all honestly this is one instant that I will welcome seeing Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpton. THIS IS JUST WRONG IN SO MANY WAYS. I work in an office of all whites, and the tears are shedding for this family, and the whole human race... ONE RACE HUMAN RACE.

[Sweet Justice]

Ahh, yes. Justice is served. Good boys don't normally end up in boot camps getting disciplined by guards.

[Kat]

This kid was a THUG or he wouldn't have been there in the first place!

[glasstique]

He killed himself with his arrogance and disregard for civility.

[Chief]

Exactly as I said earlier, bring your kids up the best you can. This kid was already in trouble with the law, thats why he ended up in the boot camp.

If they really wanted to convict these gaurds then they should have hired the best lawyers they could with the settlements they recieved from the state.

Your case is only as strong as your weakest link.

Nothing in the verdict cries RACE at all NOTHING! So some of you need to get over it! Most of us are born with the same oppurtunities to lead successful lives. Just because you made the wrong decision doesn't mean everyone else is responsible for your mistakes.

[Susan]

I am a 57 year old white female. I am outraged at this verdit. A young child was murdered. I can not see any other verdit to explain this. An all white jury? Excuse me but, this can not be a fair trial. Let's do this again.

[Dale]

DWB: Driving While Black
VWB: Voting While Black
DOSCDBWB: Dying of Sickle Cell During Beating While Black

[asmith]

Before some of you begin commenting on or about the Anderson family, and or rearing of Martin Lee...Please take a few minutes to go through the Times archives (or any other source) to gather all of the facts (ie, why he was in the boot camp and his family dynamics). It is my understanding that this child came from a lower class, though supportive and caring family. Martin Lee was NOT a "thug" (he may have been on the path, but he was not far gone down that path!). He stole his grandmothers car (something my father and uncles did-paternal and maternal-at least once. It was wrong, but they all turned out to be law abiding, college educated black men). Marting Lee's Grandmother chose to press charges to teach him a lesson in hopes that he would not make further bad decisions...to bad we she/we will never know how Great he could have been if he learned his lesson!

[glasstique]

He killed himself through disregard for law , order , and civility.

[Greg]

All white jury; from the Panhandle. You expected a guilty verdict?
What more could you ask from a bunch of hillbillies from one of the most backward armpits of this country?
They're probably celebrating in the streets of Panama City.

you know it is a sad fact that a kid died at the hand of prison gaurds. but alot of people are forgetting that this kid was in a BOOT CAMP. he was already in the camp for being a bad egg and then while in the instituation of punishment he continued to be rebelliant. I know that guards and policeman have to use a certain amount of violence to maintain order in the facilities other wise those same people ould be out on the streets killing the same people that are having pity on him right now. This wasnt his first offence either becuase the judicial system wont send you to boot camp for that unless it was sever. As fr the amount of force the kid had an underlying condition that made him vaunerable to the action of the guards that they werent aware of. that's why they got off, so before you offer you pity to a case that got manipulated by the media to play him as innocent and the police as brutal to get ratings. Think about this would you feel the If he had done something to you and this had still happen like hurt your family, rob you.

[Steven]

Poll the jurors!
Force them to appear before the TV cameras and explain themselves.
Have them expound to the world how they could watch the tape of that kid's death - irregardless of whether he is black or white - and not find those people guilty. It was murder.
If I were that kid's father, I would devote the rest of my life to tracking down and slaughtering those cretens.

[Andrew]

Who cares? The parents are out for money anyways. Have a nice time smoking your crack!

[T.j.]

Thank God our system works and these thoughtful peoples who only crime was trying to straight out a kid black or white are free,where were the parents when he was comiting the offence that got him there but now they want money,the parents should be in jail for neglect!

[Eric]

This is more proof that the situation in Jenna, LA goes on all throughout our "GREAT" nation. If this kid was white, and 6of8 defendants were black, there would've been some sort of conviction! The 5mil settlement proves they were wrong. The taped BEATING proved they were wrong! Stuffing pills in a 14yr old buys nose is WRONG! The lying about the autopsy proved they were wrong! This is just pathetic!
P.S. What's up with the "all-white jury?" Are there no blacks in the area? I've been through that area of Florida, the answer is yes there are blacks there.

[FRONTIER JUSTICE]

THIS IS COMPLETE BS!! AS USUAL THE HISTORICALLY PRIVILEDGED GET AWAY AGAIN.THIS IS BEYOND A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. AS FAR AS AMERICA GOES I HOPE NO ONE OF COLOR LETS THIS SLIDE. CALL YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN PLEASE. SOMEONE MUST PAY FOR SHEDDING THIS CHILDS BLOOD. E-MAIL YOUR SENATORS FEDERAL CHARGES WILL STICK. THEY SEND A BLACK MAN TO THE CLEANERS FOR KILLING SOME DOGS AND THIS IS THE VERDICT?? JUST REMEMBER THIS FLORIDA, THERE IS A GOD AND JUSTICE WILL COME FROM ABOVE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ARE LEAVING IN DROVES. THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FLORIDA SUCKS.

[Bill]

It's all about power and the perception that cops can do no wrong! It's bunk!

[mickee]

I am white, this child deserves another trial. To anyone thinking about relocating to Florida, do some reasearch, I sold my home two years ago and it was the best thing I could have ever done. If you are rich and white, Florida may be O.K. for you, but for the middle class and those just getting by, the future there is very bleak........

[Justice Served]

I am just amazed at the commments I have been reading in the last 30 minutes. I like many others are tired of the everyone calling this a race issue. Look at the defendants and get a clue to who they are. I hardly think you can say race was an issue. As for the child in this case, it was a tragedy but one that could have been avoided if he stayed out of trouble and if his parents did more parenting. I also have spent time looking over this film as well as my friends (whom are also minority) we do not see the beating that everyone was crying about. we do see them putting him down on the ground. As for the 2 Medical Examiners findings, Both sides presented a solid case with backup expert testimony and I would think that because of that the jury would have to decide which they believe. People in this day age need to stop crying race to suit there needs, too much of this is happening and it needs to stop. my 2 cents

[Louis]

Whatever..............

[charles]

I think justice was served with this verdict.

[Larry]

Most people are missing two key points.

#1. The guards had no "intent" to kill or harm this young man. So where is the criminal intent.

#2. Why would our idiot Governor settle for 5 million dollars before the case even goes to court.

Also, you cannot suffucate in 30 seconds.

[BostonS]

Larry...Give me 30 seconds with you and you would change your mind...oh, that's right, you don't have one.

in all honesty do you really believe that in this day and age, with people being prosecuted for hate crimes all over the country, and with the racist al sharpton roaming the countryside in search of headlines, that these guards woke oe day and said lets go kill a young black boy. Do you really and honestly belive that. It has nothing to do with the fact that this young man couldn't be subdued in any way. A young boy died. Black or white didn't die. Forget the race already and get aducated. A life was lost unintentionally.

2 of the guards were black so prosecute the white ones and release the black one's to al sharpton. The white guards made the black ones do this. a boy died you idiots this has nothing to do with race, by the way he was not a boyscout.

[denise]

the only rational comment here is "bad things happen in jail". Live a straight life, respectfully, and you don't end up in the situation that this kid did. Did he deserve to die? absolutely not. was he already living a life that most likely would have ended violently on the streets? it looks that way. He chose his path. A very sad lesson that unfortunately, no other kids in his position will learn from.
very sad all around.

I just find it amazing that people on here have to point out the fact that everything was because he was black, or qualify their comments with oh Im white by the way. Who really cares?? OJ got off - was it because he was black? NO !!
Stop crying and pouting about this. Save your comments and criticism cause in the end, thats all its gonna be. No changes will come, and this will all be forgotten by you bobbleheads with the next big headline about Britney, OJ, or Paris.

legal system worked this time

[mike]

He was just a young thug who was accidently killed in boot camp...The parents only care about him now because they think there is more money to be made..who really care about any of it??? Only Exteme liberals...

[Amy]

Our right to discipline our children was taken from us by our government and we wonder why boot camps are needed.

Now we have those who are appointed to protect and serve killing children. Black, White, Brown or Yellow Children are children period.

This verdict goes to show us that those with large amounts of money and or anyone affiliated with law enforcement are absolved of their criminal actions, even the murder of a child. (with video incrimination no less).

God will judge.

[Dave of Clearwater]

Larry, you can most certainly suffocate in thirty seconds or less when someone has knocked the wind out of you repeatedly. Watch the video, watch the Bullies kick, hit and punch that boy. Oh, & do not forget they also obstructed his airway by forcefully shoving his face in the ground, covering his mouth and pushing amonia inhalents up his nostrils. Sounds like assualt and battery to me at the very least.

[Bob]

Here we go again, several adult guards roughing up a 14 year old kid, shoving ammonia in his face, he dies, they're innocent of any wrongdoing at all.

Insane corrupt government - 1
American citizens - 0

How long are we going to take this from the people we pay to keep the peace? They work for us, it's time to fire every last one and start over.

[I'M WHITE AND THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!]

PLEASE DON'T MAKE THIS A RACE THING. IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT, THE NURSE WAS DERELICT OF DUTY, THE GAURDS KILLED "NOT PREMEDITATED "THAT IS MANSLAUGHTER AT THE LEAST. THIS KID DIED BY THIER ACTIONS

( THE VERDICT WOULD BE GUILTY IF A GROUP OF KIDS KILLED A GAURD BY RUFFING HIM/HER UP. THIS IS BULL##IT.

I HOPE THE FAMILY GETS JUSTICE IN CIVAL COURT!

JS

[glasstique]

If OJ can get off certainly these officers can.

[Tony]

To answer a few of you bloggers. First, you CANNOT appeal a not guilty verdict it is unconstitutional. Second, the L.A,. riots happened in 1992 not 1990. Third, focing members of a jury to explain why they voted guilty or not guilty is illegal.

[linda]

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The only consolation in the case is that the "good folks" of the backward state of Florida had to fork over their tax dollars to the family.
Charlie should have given them another 5 million, just to stick to you all.
No wonder this state is the laughing stock of the country - its a label you deserve. They should give this state back to the Spaniards.

10:02 - we don't want to be any more like California and Texas than we already are.

"I am crying as I respond on this blog. I am angry, hurt, and confused. I don't understand how the jury could not find them gulty of something."

The state had a very weak case, that's why!!! Even their experts weren't in complete agreement as to what exactly killed him. There was evidence that it was the sickle cell trait.

"Robert(2:52 PM), It would definitely appear that at the very minimum, young Martin's civil rights were violated. This verdict is as sad as it is unbelievable."

Exactly WHICH "civil right" of his was violated? The right to life? OK, now prove that the guards' actions, as opposed to his sickle cell trait, caused his death!!! That's why the state lost; they had no solid proof that the guards' actions killed him.

"The yelled at the kids, spoke down to them, it amounted to what we would call verbal abuse out in the free world. "

What do you think Shock Incarceration means? The camps were meant to shock them into straightening out. Stop your whining and crying over a dead thug. His death was accidental, certainly not intentional.

"my daughter was born with the trait and I did a lot of research and was assured by her pediatrician that the trait alone does not cause ANY type of health problems. "

Did you watch the trial? There was evidence that this trait has killed hundreds of people, usually military recruits or football players, upon intensive exercise. Yes, it's rare, but it HAPPENS. Your pediatrician is wrong if he thinks it NEVER causes a problem.

"If I were his family, I would file an appeal and take it to a higher level. This is an injustice. I pray for his family."

This shows you know nothing about the law. There is NO appeal by the state or a member of the public from a judgement of acquittal in a criminal case.

"Sometime in our justice system a Judge has to have the guts to overrule a jury decision and make things right. There has to be some libility for what you do and don't do."

A defendant in a criminal trial, especially a felony, has an inviolable right to a jury trial and the judge cannot overrule a jury's decision or even judge the accuse unless the accused consents to being tried by the judge alone.

"I am a white father of two teenagers and I cannot understand how these idiots were not found guilty of 2nd. degree murder. This is a complete injustice and ultimately a young life was stomped out and there is no amount of money that can replace that!!!"

First, they weren't CHARGED with murder because there was NO proof of an intent to kill. Second, they were found not guilty of manslaughter because there was no conclusive evidence that the guards' actions caused his death, as opposed to his sickle cell trait. Even the prosecution's experts couldn't completely agree on the cause of death.

"He doesn’t look like a bad kid. I see a good-natured core, and possibilities in his eyes. Involved and responsible parenting could have helped this young man realize those possibilities."

I see nothing but a thug in him,what with those godawful ugly dreads and pug attitude written on his face. He was a member of a street gang (which the media omitted to mention until the trial) and thus almost certainly committed many crimes he was never charged with. The ONLY possibilities this thug had was being killed for 'dissin' someone.

"I was not in the court room and do not know all of the facts, but it seems that if the state of Florida is so quick to provide monetary damages that there was a wrong doing. Then how can a jury come back with this decision??"

Your questions illustrate perfectly why the state should NOT have settled first before the guards had their day in court. The payment was highly prejudicial, potentially, to the guards' case.

" am a 57 year old white female. I am outraged at this verdit. A young child was murdered. I can not see any other verdit to explain this. An all white jury? Excuse me but, this can not be a fair trial. Let's do this again."

They CAN'T be tried again by the state; the feds maybe, but they shouldn't. This was the correct verdict.