Mar 8, 2007 9:17 pm US/Eastern
No New Trial, Sentencing Hearing For Ryce Killer
Juan Carlos Chavez Requests For New Trial, New sentence Denied
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Juan Carlos Chavez, the convicted killer of Jimmy Ryce
CBS
There will be no new trial for the man convicted of kidnapping 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce as he walked home from the school bus before sexually assaulting the boy and dismembering his body. Thursday morning, a judge denied Juan Carlos Chavez a new trial or a new sentencing hearing.
The judge rejected several claims by Chavez, including allegations that his defense lawyers were ineffective and that numerous legal errors were made during his trial.
His new lawyer also had contended that Chavez, a Cuban native, did not understand the US legal system when he confessed to the crime.
Chavez retracted his initial confession to Jimmy's September 1995 killing and testified in his own defense. He claimed that his employer's son was responsible for the slaying.
Jimmy's parents, Don and Claudine Ryce, were not at Thursday's hearing, but issued a statement following the decision.
"We are not surprised at Judge Schumacher's decision that Juan Carlos Chavez had competent counsel at trail," Jimmy's parents said. "We were there every day. We saw how hard his attorneys fought on his behalf. Nothing in the recent hearing caused us to change our minds. Our son's killer's claims he did not get a fair trail is ludicrous. What isn't fair is that Jimmy did not have a chance to grow up and do all the things he wanted to do."
Jimmy was kidnapped at gunpoint after getting off the school bus near his family's home in rural Miami-Dade. A law was passed bearing Jimmy's name. It keeps sexual predators in custody even after their sentences are completed if they are found to be still a danger to the community.
Chavez's lawyers have 30 days to appeal his decision.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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