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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Court Reviewing Blades’ Verdict

Associated Press

An appeals court will review whether a trial judge was justified in overturning the verdict of a jury that found Seattle Seahawks receiver Brian Blades guilty of manslaughter.

Blades was charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence after his cousin, Charles Blades, was shot at Brian’s condominium in Plantation in July 1995.

Prosecutors said the gun went off as Charles was trying to break up an argument between Brian and his brother Bennie Blades, a safety with the Seahawks who played for the Detroit Lions at that time.

A Broward County jury found Brian Blades guilty in his cousin’s death. Two days later, Circuit Judge Susan Lebow overturned the verdict and freed him.

The 4th District Court of Appeal agreed to hear the case Oct. 14 at the request of the Attorney General’s office, which is seeking to have the verdict reinstated.

“It is undisputed that (Blades’) actions set the stage for the tragedy which ultimately ended with Charles’ death,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. “(Blades) is criminally responsible even though he had no intention of killing Charles.”

Blades’ attorneys said the judge was right to overturn the verdict because prosecutors did not prove Blades caused the shooting or even held the gun.