Jul 24, 2008 10:40 pm US/Eastern
"Joe Cool" Murder Suspect Changes Plea To Guilty
Prosecutors Won't Seek Death Penalty
He'll Be Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole
Guillermo Zarabozo Has Pleaded Not Guilty, Trial Starts August 18th
MIAMI (CBS News) ―
One of two men accused in a high profile case of murder at sea has changed his plea to guilty and the decision will spare him his life.
Kirby Archer, 36, who had previously pleaded not guilty to the September boat hijacking and murders of four people aboard the "Joe Cool" fishing charter boat pled guilty in Federal court Thursday to, among other things, four counts of 1st degree murder, kidnapping and piracy.
In exchange, prosecutors will not seek the death penalty but he is guaranteed life in prison without parole.
In his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Archer admits to participating in the murders of the 'Joe Cool' crew. He admits to having shot and killed the captain and his wife, Jake and Kelly Branam, but says that his co-defendant, 20-year old Guillermo Zarabozo, shot and killed crew members, Scott Gamble and Samuel Kairy.
Archer's defense attorney Alan Kaiser explained his client's decision as a life-saving decision. "We saved his life. That was the most important thing. We saved his life."
Archer didn't say anything in court except to reply, 'yes sir' and 'no sir' to questions by the judge. Archer will be officially sentenced before Federal Judge Paul Huck on Thursday October 2nd.
Afterwards, the murdered captain's cousin, Jonathan Branam told CBS4's Gary Nelson, "This doesn't bring anyone back, but justice to some extent has been served. It's comforting to know he'll never get out of prison."
The sister of murdered crew member Scott Gamble isn't satisfied with the life sentence. "It's not enough. I would have preferred death," Amie Gamble told Nelson.
Zarabozo, meantime, is scheduled to stand trial August 18th. He has denied shooting any of the crew members and in previously filed court papers, has alleged Archer killed all four.
The two men originally hired the 'Joe Cool' charter boat to go to the Bahamas, and then tried to divert it to Cuba. When the crew refused, they were shot, killed and dumped overboard. The bodies were never recovered.
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