Murder charges against the 14-year-old, who is accused of fatally stabbing a 14-year-old in St. John s County, Florida have been upgraded from second-degree to first-degree and prosecutors will try
Teen Who Stabbed Cheerleader Tristyn Bailey to Death Will Be Tried as an Adult yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Record asked a panel of experts to weigh in on a number of legal issues surrounding the case, as well as the role social media has played in the investigation.
Chief in that discussion is whether prosecutors will find enough reason to warrant charging the suspect as an adult, which would mean instead of an adjudicatory hearing presided over by a judge in juvenile court there would be a full jury trial.
Suspect charged with second-degree murder
Originally reported missing, the body of Bailey, a popular cheerleader, was found May 9 near her home in a quiet subdivision in northwest St. Johns County. A male classmate of Bailey s at Patriot Oaks Academy was arrested in connection with her killing the following day.
We are forever changed as a family : Cheerleader Tristyn Bailey s mom leads tribute to the 13-year-old murdered by evil classmate - as lawyer for defendant files motion to withdraw as counsel
Each member of the Bailey 7 - referring to Tristyn Bailey s parents and four siblings - spoke at a celebration of her life on Tuesday
They were joined by hundreds of people in the Jacksonville church
Tristyn, 13, was found stabbed to death on May 9 in St. John s County, Florida
Her classmate, 14-year-old Aiden Fucci, has been charged with murder
His lawyer, Anwar Snober, has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel
The suspect lived less than a mile from the victim in this tight-knit community in northwest St. Johns County, and the pair was captured on surveillance video from the subdivision s recreation center at around 1:15 Sunday morning, which is what, according to Hardwick, makes the situation so difficult. This is one of those cases I hate to use the words, but it s our worst nightmare, Hardwick said in an interview with The Record Friday morning. These kids both went to school together. . It s going to be a long process to heal for our community.
The community has been trying to support the Bailey family in any way they can, Hardwick said, including a candlelight vigil on Monday evening that drew thousands.