New Evidence Delays Trial For Convicted Child Killer

FORT LAUDERDALE - The robbery trial of convicted child killer Lionel Tate was delayed several months Monday after defense attorneys said they have a witness and DNA evidence that proves Tate did not hold up a pizza delivery man.

Tate attorney Jim Lewis said DNA taken from the mask used in the 2005 robbery belongs to another man. A new witness claims Tate never committed the robbery nor carried the gun, Lewis said.

Circuit Judge Joel T. Lazarus granted Lewis and prosecutor Chuck Morton the delay they requested, setting a Sept. 4 date for jury selection.

Tate, 20, initially pleaded guilty to robbery and gun possession in the holdup in return for a sentence of 10 to 30 years. He withdrew the plea in the robbery but was sentenced to 30 years on the gun charge.

Tate was the youngest person in modern U.S. history to get a life prison term before an appeals court intervened.