To be fair, the Dolphins did actually beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 19, 2006.
But considering the 24-20 victory improved Miami's record to just 4-6, and the Fins managed all of -3 rushing yards, accused killer Vivens Delorme might have figured "I was watching the game" wouldn't not sound like a prelude to homicide.
But it was indeed Delorme's defense at trial this week, according to the Miami Herald, where he unsuccessfully fought charges in a rare federal case -- that of murdering, through conspiracy, a confidential FBI informant.
Mahmoud "Mark'' Elchami, then 54, was working undercover as a drug informant to avoid deportation when he took part in a setup that earned Delorme a drug charge. As Delorme's trial loomed, Elchami prepared to testify against him if necessary -- and was gunned down in Central Miami-Dade before the trial or Delorme's eventual plea deal could occur.
The accused was indeed watching the game when the murder happened, but considerable cell phone contact between Delorme and the convicted triggerman, Joshua John Laing, plus three other co-conspirators convinced the jury that Delorme was behind it all. That the others and a fourth government witness testified against him didn't help, either.
"We all agreed the evidence was there,'' said a juror of the cell phone records. "When there are too many coincidences, they're usually not coincidences.''
One thing Delorme probably wishes was a coincidence? That he fled Miami along with Nick Saban at the end of that 6-10 season.
