Teen charged with killing stepsister on Carnival Cruise might be jailed till trial
A federal choose on Wednesday allowed an adolescent charged with sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship to stay free for now because the choose considers arguments following a listening to in Miami.The suspect is referred to in court docket paperwork by his initials “T.H.”T.H. was initially arrested and charged as a juvenile, and U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Edwin Torres dominated in February that the 16-year-old may stay with an uncle and be electronically monitored. However after the case was transferred to grownup court docket, prosecutors wished T.H. in custody.Minors are not often prosecuted in federal court docket, and this case landed there as a result of Kepner apparently died in worldwide waters, outdoors any state’s jurisdiction.The choose ended Wednesday morning’s listening to with out making a last resolution, saying he wished to talk with the U.S. Marshals Service in regards to the logistics of detaining T.H. in central Florida, nearer to his household, relatively than South Florida, the place the trial is happening.It is unknown when Torres will announce his resolution. Within the meantime, T.H. walked out of the courthouse after the listening to, relatively than being instantly taken into custody.T.H. has pleaded not responsible to fees of first-degree homicide and aggravated sexual abuse. His federal public defenders have declined to touch upon the costs.T.H.’s stepsister, Anna Kepner, had been touring on the Carnival Horizon ship in November together with her household, together with T.H. Earlier than the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, her physique was discovered hid beneath a mattress in a room she was sharing with T.H. and one other teen, a felony grievance mentioned.The reason for Kepner’s Nov. 6 demise was decided to be mechanical asphyxia, which is when an object or bodily drive stops somebody from respiration.Assistant U.S. Lawyer Alejandra Lopez argued Wednesday that the crimes T.H. is accused of are so critical that the court docket shouldn’t danger one other violet assault. An post-mortem decided that Kepner had been pinned down and violently raped, the prosecutors mentioned. She additionally famous that it doubtless took 3-5 minutes for T.H. to strangle Kepner till she was lifeless.“I consider there may be clear and convincing proof that this defendant is a hazard to the group,” Lopez mentioned.The prosecutor additionally argued that T.H. was a a lot higher flight danger as a result of he now faces a potential life sentence if convicted of the grownup fees. As a juvenile, he would have been launched at age 21, no matter what counts he was discovered delinquent on.Evan Kuhl, with the Federal Public Defender’s workplace, informed the choose that T.H. has abided by the circumstances of his launch for months with out subject.The choose acknowledged that an grownup dealing with these fees would nearly actually be detained till trial, however he nonetheless wanted to contemplate the fact of T.H.’s age, regardless of the grownup fees. Whereas the choose mentioned he agreed with the protection that T.H. was a low flight danger, he nonetheless hadn’t determined whether or not the teenager posed a menace to the group if sure pre-trial restrictions remained in place.Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, beforehand launched a press release, saying the household was putting “belief within the justice system to pursue the reality with care and integrity.”“The state of affairs is deeply painful and complicated for all the household,” Kepner mentioned.Anna Kepner was a highschool cheerleader at Temple Christian College in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles east of Orlando. At her memorial service in November, relations inspired folks to put on brilliant colours as an alternative of the standard black “in honor of Anna’s brilliant and delightful soul.”
A federal choose on Wednesday allowed an adolescent charged with sexually assaulting and killing his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival Cruise ship to stay free for now because the choose considers arguments following a listening to in Miami.
The suspect is referred to in court docket paperwork by his initials “T.H.”
T.H. was initially arrested and charged as a juvenile, and U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Edwin Torres dominated in February that the 16-year-old may stay with an uncle and be electronically monitored. However after the case was transferred to grownup court docket, prosecutors wished T.H. in custody.
Minors are not often prosecuted in federal court docket, and this case landed there as a result of Kepner apparently died in worldwide waters, outdoors any state’s jurisdiction.
The choose ended Wednesday morning’s listening to with out making a last resolution, saying he wished to talk with the U.S. Marshals Service in regards to the logistics of detaining T.H. in central Florida, nearer to his household, relatively than South Florida, the place the trial is happening.
It is unknown when Torres will announce his resolution. Within the meantime, T.H. walked out of the courthouse after the listening to, relatively than being instantly taken into custody.
T.H. has pleaded not responsible to fees of first-degree homicide and aggravated sexual abuse. His federal public defenders have declined to touch upon the costs.
T.H.’s stepsister, Anna Kepner, had been touring on the Carnival Horizon ship in November together with her household, together with T.H. Earlier than the ship was scheduled to return to Florida, her physique was discovered hid beneath a mattress in a room she was sharing with T.H. and one other teen, a felony grievance mentioned.
The reason for Kepner’s Nov. 6 demise was decided to be mechanical asphyxia, which is when an object or bodily drive stops somebody from respiration.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Alejandra Lopez argued Wednesday that the crimes T.H. is accused of are so critical that the court docket shouldn’t danger one other violet assault. An post-mortem decided that Kepner had been pinned down and violently raped, the prosecutors mentioned. She additionally famous that it doubtless took 3-5 minutes for T.H. to strangle Kepner till she was lifeless.
“I consider there may be clear and convincing proof that this defendant is a hazard to the group,” Lopez mentioned.
The prosecutor additionally argued that T.H. was a a lot higher flight danger as a result of he now faces a potential life sentence if convicted of the grownup fees. As a juvenile, he would have been launched at age 21, no matter what counts he was discovered delinquent on.
Evan Kuhl, with the Federal Public Defender’s workplace, informed the choose that T.H. has abided by the circumstances of his launch for months with out subject.
The choose acknowledged that an grownup dealing with these fees would nearly actually be detained till trial, however he nonetheless wanted to contemplate the fact of T.H.’s age, regardless of the grownup fees. Whereas the choose mentioned he agreed with the protection that T.H. was a low flight danger, he nonetheless hadn’t determined whether or not the teenager posed a menace to the group if sure pre-trial restrictions remained in place.
Kepner’s father, Christopher Kepner, beforehand launched a press release, saying the household was putting “belief within the justice system to pursue the reality with care and integrity.”
“The state of affairs is deeply painful and complicated for all the household,” Kepner mentioned.
Anna Kepner was a highschool cheerleader at Temple Christian College in Titusville, Florida, about 40 miles east of Orlando. At her memorial service in November, relations inspired folks to put on brilliant colours as an alternative of the standard black “in honor of Anna’s brilliant and delightful soul.”
