Teen to be freed

Miami

Lionel Tate, the youngest American ever sentenced to life in prison, has struck a deal to win his release this month, after just three years behind bars. Tate beat Tiffany Eunick, 6, to death in 1999. He was 12. A Florida appeals court overturned his first-degree murder conviction in December, saying he was too young to understand how risky his defense strategy was. Tate had turned down a lenient plea deal, and his defense was that he killed the girl while trying out wrestling moves he’d seen on TV. Rather than face a new trial, Tate agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a promise that he would serve no more time in prison. “It’s about time he comes home,” his mother said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up