A 23-year-old man was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2007 killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor, according to ESPN.
A jury deliberated roughly 16 hours over four days before finding Eric Rivera Jr. guilty of the crime stemming from a botched burglary. Rivera admitted his role in the crime to police in a videotaped confession that he later claimed was coerced by officers who made threats against his family.
Rivera, who was 17 at the the time of the crime, was also convicted of armed burglary and could face life in prison. ESPN reports Rivera sat quietly at the defense table with his lawyers after the verdict was announced, showing no reaction or emotion. The courtroom was packed with Taylor and Rivera family members, but there were no outbursts.
None of the prosecutors, nor family members involved would comment after the hearing.
In the confession, Rivera said a group of five young men, all from the Fort Myers area, had driven to Taylor's house planning to steal large amounts of cash he kept inside. They thought Taylor, 24, would be out of town at a game against Tampa Bay, but didn't realize until it was too late that he was home with a knee injury. Taylor's then-girlfriend, Jackie Garcia Haley, and their 18-month-old daughter, were also home at the time. They were not hurt.
Three other men are slated to soon be tried, while a fourth, 25-year-old Venjah Hunte has already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges in a deal that calls for a 29-year prison sentence.
Taylor, a Pro Bowl safety who had starred at the University of Miami, was shot in the upper thigh, damaging his femoral artery and causing massive blood loss. Witnesses say Taylor was shot when he confronted the group with a machete outside his bedroom.
A 2004 first-round draft pick, Taylor signed an $18 million contract with the team and was becoming one of the NFL's top defensive players when he was slain. The murder weapon used was never recovered.
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