Posted on Sep 8, 2004                         <<BACK TO NEWSBOARD By Anthony DeBlasi                                              <<BACK TO 3e6r.net

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Remember Lionel Tate? (Wrestling Related Death Later Released) He's Back In Jail   Remember Lionel Tate? This was the boy from Florida who had killed a young girl a few years back and claimed it was an accident. He claimed that he was imitating pro wrestling moves he saw on TV and later had his murder conviction reversed. Here is what was released only hours ago online: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Lionel Tate, the teen who walked out of prison eight months ago after his life sentence for the killing of a 6-year-old playmate was overturned, was arrested on charges of violating his probation. Officials found Tate, 17, and a friend walking near Tate's Pembroke Pines home last Friday, sweating and panting as though they had been running, the Broward Sheriff's Office said. Tate, who gave a false name, and his 18-year-old friend told sheriff's officials they had been "chasing girls," though no girls were seen in the area, according to a sheriff's office report. Tate agreed to a search, and deputies found a folding knife with a four-inch blade in his front pocket and identification cards with his real name. A probation officer determined Tuesday that Tate was in violation of the terms of his probation and he was arrested at his home. He was being held without bail at the Broward County Jail. Calls to Tate's appellate attorney Richard Rosenbaum were not returned late Tuesday. Tate was 12 when he killed 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick more than five years ago. He served three years of a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder before the 4th District Court of Appeal overturned his conviction, clearing the way for a plea deal to second-degree murder. Before the deal won Tate his freedom, he had claimed he accidentally killed the girl while imitating professional wrestling moves he had seen on television. His life sentence stirred national debate over Florida's treatment of juvenile criminals.