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Thursday, July 31, 2003

The Florida Third District Court of Appeal on Wednesday threw out the murder conviction of a Miccosukee man who is accused of killing his two young boys.

The court said the jury should not have heard information about Kirk Billie's past. Prosecutors characterized his history as one of abuse and violence.

The court ordered a new trial for Billie, who denies knowingly killing his children. The boys were in the back seat of a car he drove into a canal.

The accident occurred off the reservation. The Miccosukee Tribe would not allow state and federal law enforcement to come on tribal land without tribal approval. Witnesses who lived on reservation were subpoenaed.

Get the Story:
Dad wins new trial in deaths of 2 sons (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 7/31)
Miccosukee wins retrial in drownings (The Miami Herald 7/31)
Murder conviction thrown out in drowning of young boys (AP 7/30)

Get the Decision:
Billie v. State (July 30, 2003)

Related Stories:
Billie given two life sentences (4/20)
Billie plans appeal of murder conviction (2/23)
Fla. murder trial winds up (2/22)
Mother testifies about death of sons (2/8)
Murder trial begins in Florida (2/7)
Feds dispute tribe's brand of justice (10/16)
Miccosukee tribe tries to protect sovereignty (9/26)

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