0:00:02 > 0:00:09This programme contains some strong language and scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16MUSIC: Run On by Cantus
0:00:30 > 0:00:33'I believe in good and evil. I believe it exists in this world.'
0:00:39 > 0:00:43I'm not going to lay down and not let my vote mean something!
0:00:43 > 0:00:47My ancestors DIED for me to have the right to vote!
0:00:47 > 0:00:49And we're going to have law and order.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51CHEERING
0:00:54 > 0:00:56We have to enforce the laws of the State of Florida,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58and our laws say we have to be tough.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00I don't care what caused you to do it!
0:01:00 > 0:01:03You can't run around stabbing people!
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Some people do belong behind bars and I will not apologise
0:01:06 > 0:01:08for putting them there.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50This election is about turnout. If we get our people out to vote,
0:01:50 > 0:01:51we win. It's that simple.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55The city of Jacksonville is about to elect its next state attorney.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Angela's been kicking butt every single day that she's been
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- in office.- Amen. - It's our turn to return the favour,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and we have to turn out our people because the second we do,
0:02:03 > 0:02:04we frickin' win.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07APPLAUSE
0:02:07 > 0:02:09I like it when that smile spreads.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13I love that, when people go, "Oh! I know her."
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Angela Corey has done the job for the last eight years
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and is seeking a third term in office.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Her main rival is a former employee, Melissa Nelson.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25If elected, what's the first thing you would change?
0:02:25 > 0:02:27What I've been saying all along, I'm going to work
0:02:27 > 0:02:30to restore confidence in that office.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33One of their key battlegrounds is how the justice system
0:02:33 > 0:02:34deals with children.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37I can only speak from my own experience as to knowing
0:02:37 > 0:02:40how this state attorney's office treats juveniles.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43In particular, Angela Corey's willingness
0:02:43 > 0:02:45to prosecute children as adults.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Oh, it's a violation of the international code of justice.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54It's inhumane, it's this.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58The kind of people we're sending to adult court are people who shoot
0:02:58 > 0:03:02at kids, people who bash kids' heads into bookcases.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07I got elected to be tough on crime and to follow the law.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10I don't create this stuff, I just do my job.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Florida's law allows the most serious juvenile offenders
0:03:16 > 0:03:20to be dealt with by adult courts and given adult punishment.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24He will serve 15 years in the Florida State Prison.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29Angela Corey has received widespread criticism for her use of this law.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32CRYING
0:03:33 > 0:03:36And now one case is causing controversy -
0:03:36 > 0:03:40the prosecution of Jacksonville's second-youngest killer,
0:03:40 > 0:03:41Sharron Townsend.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44State Attorney's Office announced last week Sharron Townsend
0:03:44 > 0:03:47would be charged as an adult with second-degree murder.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51The State Attorney's Office says he killed 54-year-old Thomas Trent
0:03:51 > 0:03:53when he was just 12 years old.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Angela Corey has always done her best to try to make this system
0:04:00 > 0:04:03a better system, with more punishment.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07She has always been very tough on this juvenile crime,
0:04:07 > 0:04:08to her credit.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Eileen Simpson was the detective who lead the investigation
0:04:14 > 0:04:15against Sharron.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Every now and again, you see someone that just has no care
0:04:22 > 0:04:23for a human life.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It doesn't mean anything to them.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28This is one of those individuals.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Two and a half years ago, Eileen was called to the scene of a shooting.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37She found a homeless man, Thomas Trent, dead,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40with a bullet wound to the head.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43We were standing out here with absolutely no idea
0:04:43 > 0:04:45what happened or who did this to this man
0:04:45 > 0:04:48when a business owner came out and said, "Hey, I want to share
0:04:48 > 0:04:51"something with you. We found something on our video
0:04:51 > 0:04:52"we think you should see."
0:04:55 > 0:04:59The footage showed Sharron and another boy, Darrell Royal,
0:04:59 > 0:05:00ten minutes before the shooting.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06We realise that they're going to make that path
0:05:06 > 0:05:08between the broken building,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and realise that's exactly where Mr Trent was found deceased.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19Mr Trent is basically laying here on this sidewalk.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22There's a little bit of a ledge, and Mr Trent is laying here
0:05:22 > 0:05:28on this sidewalk when they walk up, see him laying there and kick him.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Mr Trent tries to get up, gets standing up,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36they start calling him names
0:05:36 > 0:05:40and eventually Sharron points a gun out at him and shoots him,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43and it hits him in the back of the head.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48He stumbles, stumbles and falls down.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56This man was defenceless. He was asleep, minding his own business,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00not bothering a soul. And that bothers me, when people get
0:06:00 > 0:06:03victimised because they're laying on the sidewalk
0:06:03 > 0:06:04with no place to live.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07We don't live in a country that we allow that type of
0:06:07 > 0:06:08animalistic behaviour.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11We have places for people like that, it's called prison.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17Both boys were identified and questioned.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Darrell claimed that it was Sharron who pulled the trigger.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Sharron was then interviewed by Eileen.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Do you feel bad for what happened?
0:06:27 > 0:06:29I mean, it's a difference in somebody.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Are you the type of person that just doesn't care about anybody
0:06:33 > 0:06:36and you're just that evil, at 12?
0:06:36 > 0:06:40I don't know any 12-year-old, almost 13, I don't know any kid your age
0:06:40 > 0:06:42that could be evil like that.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Are you evil?
0:06:48 > 0:06:49No.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53At the time of his arrest, Sharron had fallen out with his family
0:06:53 > 0:06:57and was living rough in an abandoned apartment.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58There's your mom.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Oh, boy, you know what you got yourself into?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I don't know if they're going to charge you with murder,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11first-degree, second, manslaughter. I don't know.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13They're trying to put you away for life.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Your whole life.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Only 12 years old, though, like!
0:07:17 > 0:07:19You're not even understanding.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22You just threw your whole fucking life away for nothing!
0:07:22 > 0:07:23Boy, you as crazy as hell!
0:07:33 > 0:07:34You just don't know.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Darrell Royal was released, but Sharron was charged with
0:07:45 > 0:07:49second-degree murder and has been in adult jail awaiting trial
0:07:49 > 0:07:51ever since.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57In two days, he attends court to decide his plea -
0:07:57 > 0:07:59guilty or not guilty.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- Eileen, how are you? - Mr Mizrahi, how are you?- Very good.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Eileen is meeting prosecutor Alan Mizrahi
0:08:05 > 0:08:08to review the case against him.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11We have the Facebook picture, holding what appears to be
0:08:11 > 0:08:14money and gun, and we have a close-up on the money and the gun.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18We can also see Townsend holding, fanning out money.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21And then we have all the pictures of all the guns.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Gun, gun, semi-automatic pistol there.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28There's no forensic evidence and the surveillance footage
0:08:28 > 0:08:30doesn't show who shot Thomas Trent,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34so the prosecution's case is mostly circumstantial.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37And then we have the statements where Townsend is confessing
0:08:37 > 0:08:39- to being a shooter.- Correct.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47And then he's like, "You shot him or you scared him?" was the question.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- "I shot his ass in his head." - Yeah, in his head.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56"Man, I'm mad as fuck, like. I just went around the corner
0:08:56 > 0:08:59"and shot this man and walked away like I didn't give a fuck no more,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02- "for real." - Yep. That's what he says.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I think that pretty much gives us a flavour of who we're dealing with.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I think none of us wants to live in a society where
0:09:11 > 0:09:15your actions as a 12-year-old define the rest of your life.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21But remember the primary purpose of criminal punishment
0:09:21 > 0:09:25is the protection of the community. That's number one, above all else.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33And so, sadness takes a very significant back seat
0:09:33 > 0:09:35to the protection of the community at large.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Hey, hey!
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Here are just a few pictures.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46This is one of his school pictures.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Oh, this...another picture when he was...
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- How old?- I don't know, four, five or six? Look at him.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56No, he was younger.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57He was a mama's boy.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Sharron's mother, Nekia, is preparing for the hearing
0:10:04 > 0:10:06with a support worker.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- This seems like a child... - He is a child!
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- ..that, maybe, for where you moved at...- He's sweet.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13He'd help anybody.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20They think they're getting ready to take him away, his whole life.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Oh, no. I don't think it's fair.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24He's ready to come home.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26He looked like he learnt his lesson now.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28I know he got his mind together.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34Yes. He's been reading up on his books, his Bible.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35He's got all kinds of books.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Yes, he got older.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41He got face hair, I can't believe it.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42Yes.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09They got him around all these grown-ass adults
0:11:09 > 0:11:11in this big jailhouse.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Juveniles supposed to get sent with the juveniles.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15It don't make sense to me.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10Now 14 years old, Sharron faces a choice - stick to a plea
0:12:10 > 0:12:13of not guilty and take his chance at trial,
0:12:13 > 0:12:18or change it to guilty and negotiate a limit to his sentence.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20At some point while a criminal case is pending,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22you're at a crossroads, OK?
0:12:22 > 0:12:26And you have to evaluate what lies down path A,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29which would be a trial, and what lies down path B,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31which would be,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33you know, some form of negotiated plea.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38You have to talk about...
0:12:38 > 0:12:42not whether or not that client is guilty,
0:12:42 > 0:12:44but whether or not the state could convince
0:12:44 > 0:12:48a jury in Jacksonville, Florida that they're guilty.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53All rise.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57But ultimately, it's his choice.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Even though he is a young child,
0:13:00 > 0:13:04ultimately it's his decision as to what he wants to do.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Sharron Townsend.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14You are Sharron Townsend?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Yes, sir. - How old are you, Mr Townsend?- 14.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- Who have you spoken to to reach this decision?- My lawyer.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Your Honour, at this time we have reached
0:13:26 > 0:13:29a proposed negotiated disposition.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Mr Townsend has authorised me to withdraw
0:13:32 > 0:13:35his previously-entered plea of not guilty.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40He has authorised me to enter a plea of guilty as charged
0:13:40 > 0:13:44with the understanding that in exchange for his plea, the state
0:13:44 > 0:13:49is willing to enter a waiver of the 25 year minimum mandatory penalty.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53You're entering a plea of guilty to the charge of murder
0:13:53 > 0:13:55and with a firearm?
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Are you guilty of that charge?
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- Yes, sir.- I didn't hear you. - Yes, sir.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03You understand that when you plead guilty,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05you give up certain constitutional rights?
0:14:05 > 0:14:06Yes, sir.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08You give up the right to have a trial, trial by jury,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- you understand what that is? - Yes, sir.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15At a trial, they have to come here and prove your guilt to the jury.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- You don't have to prove anything, you understand?- Yes, sir.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Did you speak to your mother?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Yes, sir.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Have you discussed this with her and your intention to enter this
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- plea of guilty?- Yes, sir. - Did she approve of it?- No.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34But you're making this decision despite that, is that correct?
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Yes, sir.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38All right.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- To be set for sentencing. - Thank you, Judge.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46By pleading guilty,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Sharron now faces between 10 and 40 years in prison.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Had he chosen to fight the case at trial and lost,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56he would've faced at least 25.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01The State Attorney's Office in Jacksonville is
0:15:01 > 0:15:06incredibly aggressive in the prosecution of juveniles.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10I think Angela Corey herself has said that, you know,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13"I don't care that they're kids. If they do horrible things,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15"I'm going to treat them like they're grown-ups."
0:15:18 > 0:15:22The juvenile justice system is not designed to deal
0:15:22 > 0:15:25with 12-year-old or 13-year-old murderers.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30We have had to put kids that age in adult court because there is
0:15:30 > 0:15:35no juvenile programme that would either fix them, or protect
0:15:35 > 0:15:38the community from them if they are that dangerous.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41I do disagree with the suggestion that the Department of
0:15:41 > 0:15:45Juvenile Justice is ill-equipped or inept of dealing with juveniles.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I know otherwise. Ms Corey knows otherwise.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Angela Corey and Melissa Nelson's conflict over juveniles
0:15:52 > 0:15:56can be traced back to a case three years ago.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Cristian Fernandez walks into court in an orange jumpsuit,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02without shackles or handcuffs, and pleads guilty.
0:16:02 > 0:16:0512-year-old Cristian Fernandez was charged with killing
0:16:05 > 0:16:09his two-year-old brother by repeatedly smashing his head
0:16:09 > 0:16:11against a bookshelf.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Angela chose to prosecute Christian as an adult and Melissa
0:16:15 > 0:16:19was part of a team that volunteered to defend him.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23The idea that a 12-year-old child
0:16:23 > 0:16:27with a very, very, um, sad background
0:16:27 > 0:16:31would be charged as an adult and face...and be facing
0:16:31 > 0:16:35a mandatory life sentence was hard to wrap your head around.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Melissa successfully fought Angela's pursuit
0:16:40 > 0:16:43of a mandatory life sentence,
0:16:43 > 0:16:48instead reducing it to five years in a juvenile facility.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52In the Cristian Fernandez case,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55the 12-year-old was put into solitary confinement,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57a four by eight cell,
0:16:57 > 0:17:02alone and kept there for 28 days. That is what caused the outrage.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Cristian Fernandez, Miss Nelson and several others
0:17:06 > 0:17:11made great hay about it, a lot of publicity, a lot of bashing.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15They have not said one word since we've had another 12-year-old,
0:17:15 > 0:17:20two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old who cut off his mother's head.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Following his guilty plea, Sharron will be sentenced
0:17:38 > 0:17:42for the murder of Thomas Trent in two months' time.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46Starting to think about them all. Trying not to think about it, but...
0:17:46 > 0:17:48It just is what it is.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57Since I've been back here, I've seen people caught 40, 10, 30, 20...
0:17:57 > 0:17:5825.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Did it to a lot of people.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Mm, nothing I can do.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13While in jail he shared a cell with another 14-year-old,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15who's about to be sentenced.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20His name is Jeremiah Hill.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Grab a seat. That's it.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25He committed a murder when he was 13.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04At 3am on June 10th, 2015,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Jeremiah met his victim, Tony Johnson,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09to trade weapons.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14During the deal, Jeremiah shot Tony and killed him.
0:19:21 > 0:19:22OK.
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Mm-hm.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42Mm-hm.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52After confessing to police,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Jeremiah was charged with first-degree murder.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28We help. We help, all y'all.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48SHE SIGHS
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Jeremiah is going to court to find out how many years
0:21:26 > 0:21:28he'll spend in prison.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Because he's being treated as an adult,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37the maximum sentence he faces is life.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Jeremiah was charged as an adult
0:21:42 > 0:21:45at the discretion of the State Attorney's Office.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47There's a whole lot of power
0:21:47 > 0:21:51in what the State Attorney's Office can do.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57He is facing his murder charge just as if he were a 50-year-old man.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02In a sentencing, the defence and prosecution present their arguments
0:22:02 > 0:22:08to a judge, who ultimately decides what punishment fits the crime.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12I've grown up with the belief that good and evil exists in this world.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19We have, uh, a young man committing a brutal crime.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24And so he still needs to be held accountable for his actions.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31We can't always say, well, he's young and he didn't know any better.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36The defence call Jeremiah to the stand.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Jeremiah, you know exactly why you're here, right?- Yes, ma'am.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44I'm going to use the word "remorse". Do you know what that word means?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- I feel sorry.- OK.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50And you feel sorry for your participation in what happened?
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Yes, ma'am.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Is there anything that you want the victim's families to know?
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Thank you, Jeremiah.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19The prosecution can now challenge Jeremiah's claim that he's sorry.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Let me read to you exhibit one. The victim's family members
0:23:25 > 0:23:27make a posting where it says,
0:23:27 > 0:23:31"My brother will be missed, a true friend."
0:23:31 > 0:23:35And you put on there, what? Happy faces and guns as a reply.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36Do you remember that?
0:23:36 > 0:23:38- I don't remember that. - What else does it say?
0:23:38 > 0:23:40I don't want to read that part.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42You don't want to read that part on the record?
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Doesn't it say, "You're talking crazy,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46"you're going to be next, like that..."
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Pardon my language, "That fucking nigger, Tony."
0:23:49 > 0:23:51The victim. Correct?
0:23:55 > 0:23:58You genuinely are apologising to family members.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00- You realise what they've gone through, right?- Yes, sir.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02And that they've suffered.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- Correct?- Yes, sir.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07And their loved one will never come back. You agree with...?
0:24:07 > 0:24:09I guess what I'm trying to ask you is,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12do you understand the consequences of what you did?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- I understand, I understand the consequences.- OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Thank you, sir. I have no further questions.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26It is a terrible thing that we have, as a society, have progressed
0:24:26 > 0:24:32to the point where a 13-year-old resorts to such violent actions.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36How do we protect the public from individuals like that?
0:24:36 > 0:24:39How many chances should that young man get
0:24:39 > 0:24:41before he's held accountable?
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- JUDGE:- And whether you have empathy or not,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48whether or not, as you stated, you feel remorse,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I've never thought of you as an evil person,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55but I think you are a person who's done an evil act.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Based upon your plea of guilty to murder in the first degree,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03the court adjudges you to be guilty and sentences you
0:25:03 > 0:25:05to serve 40 years in a Florida state prison.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21The number of cases involving young children, a 13-year-old,
0:25:21 > 0:25:26a 14-year-old, their willingness to commit these serious crimes,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30throwing their lives away, it's the biggest problem I've seen
0:25:30 > 0:25:34as a judge in the criminal division and in the juvenile division.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42The same judge, Jack Schemer,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44will also preside over Sharron's sentencing.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24BIRD CHIRPS
0:26:25 > 0:26:29The family of Sharron's victim, Thomas Trent,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33lives less than a mile away from where the murder took place.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37My niece had been down at the end of the street and heard the shot.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41She was only like a block away from where he got shot.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44So we didn't know that was him.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48The next day, the detectives... My brother Pete comes rushing in
0:26:48 > 0:26:53and he's like, "Dawn, Dawn, get up, Tom's been shot!" I'm like, what?
0:26:53 > 0:26:56You know... I wasn't thinking dead shot.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00You know, OK, he's gotten in trouble. But no.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05They said he was shot... right between the eyes.
0:27:07 > 0:27:08Point blank.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12By a 12-year-old child.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Thomas Trent had struggled with alcoholism since the death
0:27:17 > 0:27:20of his mother, and despite attempts by his family to help,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23was living rough at the time of the attack.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31My whole...world broke.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34Because he...
0:27:35 > 0:27:37He was my baby brother.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40I loved him, I raised him.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46He might not have had the best life,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48he might not have lived
0:27:48 > 0:27:51in the style everybody thinks that we should live in,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56but he was a person, he was a human being, he had a right to life.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59They had no right to take it.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07My brothers, when it happened,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10were ready to go on the hunt for him.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15And if they'd have found him, honestly, before the police had,
0:28:15 > 0:28:17it would not have gone over good for the child.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24If the maximum punishment he can get is 40 years...
0:28:24 > 0:28:28- Then he should get every day.- Then he should get every stinking day.
0:28:30 > 0:28:31Ten years...
0:28:31 > 0:28:35- For that...- That would be the giant smack in the face.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- He'd be out before he was... before he turned 30.- Yep.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44I didn't think it was going to be some little...
0:28:44 > 0:28:45- Kid.- ..hoodlum.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49I won't call him a kid, cos...
0:28:49 > 0:28:53- Somebody do that, you're not a kid any more.- Well, you're right there.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58He decided he wanted to be a man and make a man's choice,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00so he should get man justice.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05This is the spot where it happened.
0:29:07 > 0:29:08Yeah.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Can't believe it. He's a rotten-ass person, I know that.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29I go along with what the detective said.
0:29:29 > 0:29:30One evil person.
0:29:32 > 0:29:33That he should kill somebody.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Just hold together, OK?
0:29:39 > 0:29:41It is hard.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45But anyway...
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- Hi, guys.- Hi there, how are you?
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- NEWSREADER:- Primary day in Election 2016 continues...
0:30:15 > 0:30:18All eyes are on the race for state attorney...
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Jacksonville's voters go to the polls today
0:30:21 > 0:30:23to elect their next state attorney.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25The campaign has been great.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28We've built positive momentum every single day, every single
0:30:28 > 0:30:33weekend and it's culminating with, I hope, a great turnout today.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37No state attorney here in Jacksonville in modern history
0:30:37 > 0:30:38has ever lost a re-election bid.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Thank you! Thank you.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Who did you vote for for state attorney?
0:30:43 > 0:30:46I voted for Angela Corey, I think she's done a great job.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51The candidates' views on how to treat child criminals
0:30:51 > 0:30:54has split opinion throughout the campaign.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58Now the people can choose what brand of justice they want
0:30:58 > 0:31:00for the next four years.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05I'm supporting Angela Corey.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08She has been our best prosecutor
0:31:08 > 0:31:11we have had in Duval County in many, many years.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14What has she done as a prosecutor that makes you want to come out...?
0:31:14 > 0:31:17She puts criminals in jail. She puts people on death row.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20She looks out for the victims. The criminals despise her.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24What has been one of the busier precincts here in town will be
0:31:24 > 0:31:29even busier over the next hour and a half or so until polls close.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Clark, everyone here at the Melissa Nelson camp is optimistic.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37We spoke with her campaign staff earlier.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39Nelson is tucked away, she hasn't been seen so far,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43but she will come down and address this crowd.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48The polls closed 20 minutes ago.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51And results are starting to come in.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00And half the polls have reported, so it'll stay that way?
0:32:00 > 0:32:03- 64, around that.- Third of them. - Third of them.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09- Matt, you saw early numbers?- Yeah.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11It's a big number!
0:32:11 > 0:32:12Bro!
0:32:14 > 0:32:16- That's Duval.- Yeah.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19- Now this race is...- It's over.
0:32:50 > 0:32:51All of you, thank you so much.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53I, I... This is overwhelming.
0:32:55 > 0:33:00I believed that we deserve more in our justice system
0:33:00 > 0:33:01and that's why I ran.
0:33:01 > 0:33:07And tonight this victory gives voice to what our community expects
0:33:07 > 0:33:08from our justice system.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17Democrat, Republican, Independent, black, white, rich or poor,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21I am committed to serving all of you in this community equally.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:33:29 > 0:33:34I want us all to remember that there are children living in homes
0:33:34 > 0:33:38where the sound of gunfire is, unfortunately, not a foreign sound.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41And there are segments of our community who do not trust
0:33:41 > 0:33:43that our system is fair.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50I will work hard to restore trust in the criminal justice system.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:34:02 > 0:34:04How do you feel after this loss?
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Well, you know, we're looking at the numbers
0:34:07 > 0:34:09and we were very disappointed by those.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12We have tough justice and we've not been apologetic,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15nor will I be at this point for being tough on violent
0:34:15 > 0:34:16and repeat offenders.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18And I did what I promised to do eight years ago.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20So you have no regrets at all?
0:34:20 > 0:34:21Well, no.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- Thank you, Angela.- Thank you. - Thank you. Thank you.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31The election loss means Angela Corey will leave office
0:34:31 > 0:34:33in four months' time.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37Her last high-profile case is Sharron Townsend.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49- RADIO:- 115mph, that makes it a Category 3 hurricane,
0:34:49 > 0:34:54major hurricane, with gusts over 140mph. That's a major hurricane
0:34:54 > 0:34:57moving just off our coast and then heading on just along...
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Detective Eileen Simpson is meeting the Trent family
0:35:01 > 0:35:04ahead of Sharron's sentencing.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08Two years ago, it was Eileen who broke the news of Thomas's death.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- Did I hear the doorbell ring? - EILEEN LAUGHS
0:35:11 > 0:35:12I knew you'd come let me in!
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- Hey, Pete.- How you doing? - How are you?
0:35:15 > 0:35:17- No, you don't get to have her! - DOG BARKS
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Oh, my Juju bee! Where's my Juju?
0:35:20 > 0:35:23- Come on.- Juju! Hey!- There she is.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25Hey, Juju!
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Hi! Hi, Juju!
0:35:30 > 0:35:34If y'all remember us sitting right here in this living room,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38I knew I was up against a tough case, but I promised you guys
0:35:38 > 0:35:42I would make this happen for you and I told you there was good and bad
0:35:42 > 0:35:45in the case, but I told you I'd get you to this day.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48- Yes, ma'am.- This sentencing hearing, they'll say what a great kid he is
0:35:48 > 0:35:53and all the things that he's done to change, and all the reasons why,
0:35:53 > 0:35:56you know, he should get the lightest sentence. And then it's our turn.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59- And...- That, to me, does not matter. He killed somebody.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Simple as that. I don't care how many goodies you're doing
0:36:02 > 0:36:05in prison or in jail, how much you've changed.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09- You murdered somebody. Simple as that.- I agree with you.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- I mean... - I agree with you.
0:36:12 > 0:36:13We're gambling on how much time
0:36:13 > 0:36:16this judge is going to give this young boy,
0:36:16 > 0:36:19that everybody's going to want to portray as the poor kid, OK?
0:36:19 > 0:36:23- Right.- So let's just say that if you all don't get up
0:36:23 > 0:36:28and tell that judge how you feel, then he doesn't have a way to know
0:36:28 > 0:36:29how you feel.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32I don't understand why he shouldn't get life,
0:36:32 > 0:36:36because he took a life. Why should he be, 40 years from now,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39have a chance to come out, have a life, maybe have children,
0:36:39 > 0:36:41maybe have this, that and the other?
0:36:41 > 0:36:43My brother isn't.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47I don't disagree with you, but we're in the minority.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49I don't think that everybody feels that way.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53Listen, trust me, I've been on the stand now
0:36:53 > 0:36:55for probably 15 years, testifying and stuff,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58and there is times that I feel hot all over,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01because I can't contain what I really want to say.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04And when they make me raise my hand and say, "Tell the truth,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07"the whole truth and nothing but the truth," they don't mean
0:37:07 > 0:37:09the whole truth, because there are so many things I'm not allowed
0:37:09 > 0:37:13to say because it could be prejudicial to the defendant.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15There's a system in place and I have to play within it.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17I don't have to like it.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Just remember, you can't just come off and say,
0:37:20 > 0:37:22"Well, that blankety-blank just pisses..."
0:37:22 > 0:37:25- Welcome to America.- No. - You don't speak what you got to say.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Well, you do, but you have to polish it.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Animals act like animals.
0:37:31 > 0:37:32We are not animals.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36We're not animals. We want to make that judge realise
0:37:36 > 0:37:40we are all civilised human beings and the last thing we want to do
0:37:40 > 0:37:41is act like them.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45- That's for sure. - Does that make sense?- Yes, it does.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Cos if you act like them, you're no different than them.
0:37:51 > 0:37:52I will do my best.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54- I'm sure you will nail it. - I will do my best.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56I am sure you will nail it.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Well, everybody, guess I'll see you on Friday.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05God willing and the creeks don't rise, as we say in the South.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07- The creeks don't rise.- Yeah.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09I'll see you guys Friday. Just remember, say what you want.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12All right, guys. Thanks.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17- You stay!- Come on, Juju! Come on, Juju!- She will!
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Come on, Juju, let's go! Want to go in the car?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- No, she's not going in the... - She is...
0:38:22 > 0:38:24- Bye-bye! Come on, I heard you. - EILEEN LAUGHS
0:38:28 > 0:38:30They're very good people.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33They live the right way, they work,
0:38:33 > 0:38:35they pay their bills,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38they don't get into trouble,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41they don't do things that they shouldn't.
0:38:41 > 0:38:42Just nice people.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12- REPORTER:- The wind and the rain continue to just batter this area.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Winds topping at a deadly 145mph.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19The storm skirts the eastern edge of the Central Florida coast.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21It pummels everything in its path.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24For the next few hours, it's only going to get worse than this
0:39:24 > 0:39:26in the city itself
0:39:26 > 0:39:28and that is why they issued
0:39:28 > 0:39:31that evacuation order for this area.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36On the day of Sharron's hearing, Hurricane Matthew hits Jacksonville.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42The sentencing is postponed.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10By the time it's rescheduled, Angela Corey has gone
0:40:10 > 0:40:14and Melissa Nelson is state attorney.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20KNOCK ON DOOR
0:40:20 > 0:40:24She will now oversee Sharron Townsend's sentencing,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27which is taking place tomorrow.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29So, we want to spend a few minutes just going over
0:40:29 > 0:40:32Sharron Townsend's case, which is set for sentencing tomorrow.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37Obviously it was a senseless, almost execution-like killing.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42The facts are the 12-year-old took a .22 calibre revolver
0:40:42 > 0:40:46and shot a homeless man in the head.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Has he shown any remorse?
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Eileen met with him, he showed no remorse.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54He tried to minimise, he tried to point the blame.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59Yeah, he has not shown any significant remorse.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01You need to know, the family is going to recommend the maximum,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04which I think is understandable based on what they have lost.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07The maximum we have is 40 years.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10The other good thing to recognise is that would ensure
0:41:10 > 0:41:14that Townsend would be incarcerated during, what all experts agree,
0:41:14 > 0:41:19is the most dangerous part of a criminal's lifespan,
0:41:19 > 0:41:21which is, you know, their teenage years
0:41:21 > 0:41:24- to their early thirties or so.- OK.
0:41:27 > 0:41:32This is a very, very sad case, but our role is recommending
0:41:32 > 0:41:38what we think is a just sentence, both on behalf of survivors
0:41:38 > 0:41:43of the victim and also with respect to mitigation.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48We have a kid who was living on the streets and was 12 years old.
0:41:48 > 0:41:49It's senseless.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53Mitigation, with regard to this child...
0:41:53 > 0:41:57It's compelling, but what is also compelling
0:41:57 > 0:42:01is the risk that this child poses if he is released into the public.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15Sharron Townsend's defence team have one last chance to meet with him
0:42:15 > 0:42:17before tomorrow's sentencing.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22He needs to see the barber, he wants a haircut and he wants a shave.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- Hey.- What's up, Sharron, how you doing?
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Blake was just talking to the watch commander about getting you
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- to see the barber. - We don't want you to look any older
0:42:32 > 0:42:34- than you are, you know. - I'm going to let it grow back.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37No, you can grow it back, you can grow it back, but I think
0:42:37 > 0:42:40it's a good idea for you to be clean-shaven.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44This is what we have put together for the judge.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47We have some experts that are going to talk about
0:42:47 > 0:42:51your mom and your grandma and how they raised you
0:42:51 > 0:42:53and the things that they did or didn't do.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57One of the, kind of, themes of this sentencing hearing is,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00you know, their failings, right?
0:43:00 > 0:43:04I mean, they did the best that they could with what they had to give,
0:43:04 > 0:43:08but to be quite honest, Sharron, there is a lot that they didn't do
0:43:08 > 0:43:10that they should have done, OK?
0:43:10 > 0:43:12And we're going to tell the judge that,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15it's important that we tell the judge that.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19It's not because we're trying to attack them or make them look bad,
0:43:19 > 0:43:22but it's because that's what we have to do to do our job for you.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24- You understand that?- Yes, ma'am.- OK.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26Now, the other side of it is the state attorney gets
0:43:26 > 0:43:28to put on whatever they want.
0:43:28 > 0:43:32And you can expect them to jump up and down and try to make you
0:43:32 > 0:43:33look as bad as they possibly can.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36And if you find yourself getting upset about something
0:43:36 > 0:43:40that is said, I want you to write it down, OK?
0:43:40 > 0:43:45So write your feelings down on the paper and do not let anybody see it
0:43:45 > 0:43:47on your face, OK?
0:43:47 > 0:43:51You know, the whole point of this thing is to show the judge
0:43:51 > 0:43:54that you're more than that one day. You know, the state attorney's going
0:43:54 > 0:43:58to focus on that one day, that one moment, and try to make
0:43:58 > 0:44:00that all about Sharron Townsend,
0:44:00 > 0:44:03and what we're doing with all of these witnesses and all of
0:44:03 > 0:44:07these doctors is to show the full Sharron Townsend
0:44:07 > 0:44:09and to show that you're more than that day.
0:44:09 > 0:44:13And by way of explanation, you know, maybe how you got to that day.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15It's going to be one of the hardest days
0:44:15 > 0:44:17that you've ever been through, OK?
0:44:17 > 0:44:20So you just need to be telling yourself that
0:44:20 > 0:44:21and know that we're there for you.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45They ain't telling me nothing at all, or my mom.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48They're not even listening to us, like we don't have no say-so.
0:44:48 > 0:44:49That is my son.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55I'm just trying to stay calm and pray for the best.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00But I think everything's going to be all right, though.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05I just know it is.
0:45:07 > 0:45:08It'll be all right.
0:45:19 > 0:45:21- REPORTER:- Sharron Townsend is to be sentenced today
0:45:21 > 0:45:24after pleading guilty last June to second-degree murder
0:45:24 > 0:45:27for killing a homeless man when he was just 12 years old.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35I ain't that much of a religious person, but...
0:45:38 > 0:45:39..all we can do is pray.
0:45:41 > 0:45:43Hope for the best, praying for the worst.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21The beautiful thing about a sentencing hearing is we don't
0:46:21 > 0:46:23have to at all worry about whether or not
0:46:23 > 0:46:25he's going to be found guilty.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29He has pled guilty to the second-degree murder of Thomas.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32Perfect, we've already won.
0:46:32 > 0:46:36We have won the trial and now we're here deciding what
0:46:36 > 0:46:38the appropriate sentence is going to be.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52Just make sure that if you hear things that you don't like, OK,
0:46:52 > 0:46:54from the defence...
0:46:55 > 0:46:57- Bite your tongue. - ..bite your tongue.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Listen, my boss, Melissa Nelson, she wants to meet y'all.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13You're in great hands with Alan, so...
0:47:14 > 0:47:18I'm just... It's tragic and senseless. I'm sorry for your loss.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33..in the State of Florida is now in session.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35Judge Jack Schemer is now presiding.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59Can you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give...?
0:47:59 > 0:48:03The hearing begins with the defence calling a social worker
0:48:03 > 0:48:05who's been assessing Sharron's upbringing.
0:48:05 > 0:48:09Well, the first time that Sharron came to the attention
0:48:09 > 0:48:12of the Department Of Children And Families, he had been
0:48:12 > 0:48:15burned in the eye with a Black & Mild cigarette.
0:48:15 > 0:48:20Other DCF involvements surrounded Nekia and her mother's homelessness
0:48:20 > 0:48:24and also drug use within the family.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27By the time Sharron was 11 years old, the mother provided him
0:48:27 > 0:48:30with drugs, marijuana and cocaine.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33The mother also uses drugs, she has parties in the home
0:48:33 > 0:48:37and she supports her family by committing crimes such as robbery.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43At some point, Nekia decided to move to Jacksonville
0:48:43 > 0:48:46and she did so without having any plans.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49So they came to town, they had no place to live,
0:48:49 > 0:48:53she had Sharron, was a small child, and then a baby,
0:48:53 > 0:48:56living out on the streets of Jacksonville.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58How old was he during that period of time?
0:48:58 > 0:49:00I believe he was a toddler.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07I don't want to leave out the fact that the mother, Lailah,
0:49:07 > 0:49:09was extremely abusive.
0:49:09 > 0:49:13Was there any evidence that Lailah Pollard, the grandmother,
0:49:13 > 0:49:15was physically abusive to Sharron?
0:49:15 > 0:49:17Yes.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20For example, a month before this crime occurred,
0:49:20 > 0:49:24she took it upon herself to beat him in the head with a metal pipe
0:49:24 > 0:49:27because he was "smelling his self."
0:49:29 > 0:49:34And is that one of the events that precipitated Mr Townsend
0:49:34 > 0:49:37leaving home and living on the street,
0:49:37 > 0:49:40which is where he was just prior to this incident?
0:49:40 > 0:49:41That was the precipitating event.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49Next, the defence call a child psychologist
0:49:49 > 0:49:51who has been working with Sharron in jail.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54So, from your review of Mr Townsend's records,
0:49:54 > 0:49:59was this period of incarceration the first, sort of,
0:49:59 > 0:50:04prolonged period of stability that he's experienced?
0:50:04 > 0:50:05Yeah, yes.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09For the first time in his life that he had regularity
0:50:09 > 0:50:12and he had a couple of people who really...
0:50:14 > 0:50:15..seemed to...
0:50:17 > 0:50:20..care for him. He got better, more mature,
0:50:20 > 0:50:23and much more pleasant to be around.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27Always, children are going through developmental stages.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30At 12 years old, his personality's not developed.
0:50:30 > 0:50:34And that's just well-known child psychology.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38The hope would be that we believe in change and we believe in
0:50:38 > 0:50:43rehabilitation and we believe that his personality will form to...
0:50:45 > 0:50:48..be a better person.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51I don't have any further questions at this time, thank you.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01The contact log report, do you have in front of you?
0:51:01 > 0:51:02Yeah.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05The January 19th of 2015 entry.
0:51:06 > 0:51:10Townsend stated to an officer that he was going to kill the officer.
0:51:10 > 0:51:11Yes.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13- He's threatening officers with their lives.- Correct.
0:51:13 > 0:51:18And then I want to turn your attention to
0:51:18 > 0:51:21the first disciplinary report I could see, about having a shank.
0:51:21 > 0:51:25- Shank.- OK, and obviously that's a potentially deadly weapon, correct?
0:51:25 > 0:51:27Yes.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29And then that wasn't the only time he had it. Then we have
0:51:29 > 0:51:33January 5th of 2015, he also had a spoon with a razor attached to it.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36- Yes. Right, a spoon.- OK.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39And, you know, without going through them all cos I think
0:51:39 > 0:51:43- there's too much time...- Right. - ..there's approximately 25 to 30
0:51:43 > 0:51:46- individual disciplinary reports, correct?- Correct.- OK.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48Thank you, Your Honour.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54Your Honour, the State has several victim impact statements.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56We'll begin first with Dawn.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02Please state your name for the record.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05- Dawn McNabb.- And what is your relationship to Thomas Trent?
0:52:05 > 0:52:06- HER VOICE WAVERS: - His older sister.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09Take your time and keep your voice up.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12Respectfully, Your Honour, I ask that the maximum sentence
0:52:12 > 0:52:17liable by law for the senseless death of my brother
0:52:17 > 0:52:19be given to the defendant.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21This is my baby brother.
0:52:22 > 0:52:26And it's a hard thing to lose someone so close,
0:52:26 > 0:52:31someone that you diapered, someone that you taught to ride bicycles.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35He loved life so much.
0:52:37 > 0:52:41He loved his family, he was very close to his mother and father.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43So when they did die...
0:52:43 > 0:52:45it took his heart away.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50We didn't come from the best of life ourselves.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53We had a lot of problems.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56But he's been taken from us senselessly,
0:52:56 > 0:52:58in a crime of pure unadulterated...
0:52:59 > 0:53:00I won't say that.
0:53:02 > 0:53:03If he had...
0:53:04 > 0:53:05I can't, I can't say that.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10He was, he was...
0:53:11 > 0:53:12OK.
0:53:13 > 0:53:14He...
0:53:15 > 0:53:17SHE SIGHS
0:53:17 > 0:53:18Sorry.
0:53:20 > 0:53:21Thank you.
0:53:33 > 0:53:37I am still trying to understand what my brother could have ever done
0:53:37 > 0:53:40to him that would push him to the decision he made that night.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45No-one is a winner. We lost a good brother.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48I know for the defendant's mother this is hard.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51But she will be able to visit him, see and talk to him,
0:53:51 > 0:53:54and for us we will never have that right any more.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59- Thank you.- Thank you, Your Honour.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01That's all the evidence the State has to present.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16I need to take more time to review what has been presented
0:54:16 > 0:54:18from both sides.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22And what I intend to do is contact the parties as to when
0:54:22 > 0:54:23I will announce sentencing.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26So we will be adjourned on this case until that time.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30All rise.
0:54:38 > 0:54:40'Of course it's a difficult decision and heavy decision
0:54:40 > 0:54:42'and a big responsibility.'
0:54:46 > 0:54:48You're dealing with people's lives and...
0:54:50 > 0:54:54..I think most people, if they ever lost a loved one to a crime...
0:54:56 > 0:54:59..would want the person responsible for that crime
0:54:59 > 0:55:03to be punished extensively or to the maximum.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06Most people would feel that way.
0:55:06 > 0:55:07I would feel that way.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28I probably would have thought that if the sentencing structure
0:55:28 > 0:55:34got more severe and the sentencings became longer,
0:55:34 > 0:55:36we would see a reduction in crime.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42But it hasn't worked out that way.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48I've given the maximum sentences many times.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52I've given lenient sentences many times.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56I admit, sometimes you enter sentences and...
0:55:57 > 0:56:00..you hope that you've done the right thing.
0:56:10 > 0:56:11All rise.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14Court will now come into order.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17You may be seated.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23Mr Townsend, if you'd come forward with your attorneys, please.
0:56:39 > 0:56:45It is important that you not confuse mitigation with justification,
0:56:45 > 0:56:48or mitigation with forgiveness,
0:56:48 > 0:56:51because there is no justification for your conduct.
0:56:53 > 0:56:57The mitigation explains why, in your young mind,
0:56:57 > 0:57:00you were impressed by guns and violence.
0:57:00 > 0:57:05It explains why you were on the streets, living in an abandoned home
0:57:05 > 0:57:09and associated with others of a like mind.
0:57:09 > 0:57:13It explains why you had a lack of respect for authority,
0:57:13 > 0:57:16or may have a lack of empathy for the pain of others.
0:57:21 > 0:57:22But what it doesn't explain...
0:57:25 > 0:57:30..was your conscious decision to point a gun and pull the trigger
0:57:30 > 0:57:31and take the life of Thomas Trent.
0:57:33 > 0:57:35That was a decision you made on your own.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45Accordingly, it is the judgment and sentence of this court
0:57:45 > 0:57:48that you be sentenced as an adult to 30 years
0:57:48 > 0:57:49in the Florida State Prison.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54That will conclude the case.