Blades Faces Trial For Manslaughter

Seattle Seahawks receiver Brian Blades was formally charged with manslaughter Wednesday by state prosecutors in the shooting death of his cousin.

The 29-year-old former University of Miami player had been charged by police in July with the death of Charles Blades, 34.

But after further investigation by the Broward County state attorney’s office and Plantation police, a formal charge of manslaughter with a firearm was filed, said Peter F. Magrino, an assistant state attorney in the homicide division.

Police need only probable cause to bring a charge, but prosecutors must “have a good faith belief that there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction by a jury,” Magrino said.

“Brian’s feeling right now is one of disappointment and surprise,” his Miami-based agent Drew Rosenhaus said late Wednesday. “He was fairly confident … that after the state attorney’s office investigated this they would either drop the case out-right or feel there was enough of a question to put it before a grand jury.

“He had planned on speaking to the grand jury and give his side of the story. At this stage, he’ll now have that opportunity in a trial.”

Charles Blades was fatally shot in the head with Brian Blades’.38-caliber semiautomatic handgun at the player’s home in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Plantation on July 5.

Blades planned to file a written plea of innocent within two days, Rosenhaus said.

He is free on $10,000 bond.