Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday in the trial of one of the suspects in the 2007 murder of of NFL star Sean Taylor in his Palmetto Bay home.
Jason Scott Mitchell, 26, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Taylor.
Taylor, 24, a Pro Bowl safety for the Washington Redskins and former University of Miami star, died from the injuries he received in the botched invasion of his home in November 2007.
Prosecutors say 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 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.
Eric Rivera was found guilty of second-degree murder in the case in November and was sentenced to 57 years in prison in January. Venjah Hunte has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges and faces a 29-year prison sentence. Charles Wardlow and Timothy Brown also face trials in the shooting death.
