04-18-2011, 12:30 PM
SARASOTA - The 16-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting two British men to death this weekend in Newtown had a detention hearing in a Sarasota court this morning and so far is being charged as a juvenile.
The boy did not appear in court; he and his mother were represented by Public Defender Rebecca Wilson. The boy is being held in the juvenile assessment center, and his name has not been released because of his juvenile status.
The judge in the case set a 21-day timetable during which prosecutors can decide whether to try the boy as a juvenile or as an adult. They have until May 8 to make that determination.
If handled as a juvenile by the courts, the boy would be held in a juvenile jail rather than the adult jail while awaiting trial, and it could affect sentencing if found guilty.
For example, if convicted as a juvenile, he would not qualify for the death penalty.
The boy did not appear in court; he and his mother were represented by Public Defender Rebecca Wilson. The boy is being held in the juvenile assessment center, and his name has not been released because of his juvenile status.
The judge in the case set a 21-day timetable during which prosecutors can decide whether to try the boy as a juvenile or as an adult. They have until May 8 to make that determination.
If handled as a juvenile by the courts, the boy would be held in a juvenile jail rather than the adult jail while awaiting trial, and it could affect sentencing if found guilty.
For example, if convicted as a juvenile, he would not qualify for the death penalty.