By The Associated Press | 10-11-18 06:40:00A federal judge on Monday ruled that Florida prosecutors must provide more information to defense attorneys about a death penalty case involving the son of the slain teen in the death.
The judge rejected arguments from prosecutors and defense lawyers that the public had a right to know how the case was being handled, as well as how much money prosecutors were charging the family of James Byrd Jr. and whether the family was given any assistance.
The family, including Byrd’s mother, Carol Byrd, sued the state for wrongful death and retaliation.
They say prosecutors had lied to them about how they were going to be charged and were violating Byrd’s civil rights by withholding information from the defense.
Prosecutors say Byrd was killed in 1997 by an armed robber who threw him through a window in a car after the two had been arguing in a Tampa apartment.
The case has been in the state’s appellate court since 2004.