NFL Notebook: Accused killers denied bond

Three of the four men charged in the death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor were denied bond early Saturday in Lee County Circuit Court at Miami.

Venjah Hunte, 20, Eric Rivera, 17, and Charles Wardlow, 18, were charged with felony murder, home invasion and armed burglary.

A fourth man, Jason Scott Mitchell, 19, faces the same counts although he did not appear in court. He will make his first appearance this morning.

Under Florida law, anyone who commits a violent felony in which a death occurs can face a murder charge.

Wilber Smith, an attorney representing Rivera, called the incident a tragedy.

“This is my take: There is going to be a speedy resolution to this. Obviously, police have gotten some statements from some of the defendants and so they will testify against those who haven’t,” Smith said

Miami-Dade police say the four men broke into Taylor’s Palmetto Bay home, intent on stealing, not killing.

At least one of them, Mitchell, had attended a birthday party at the home for Taylor’s sister in recent months. Also, Wardlow is a cousin of the man dating Taylor’s sister, who had been staying at the home off and on.

Miami-Dade homicide detectives believe the men did not know Taylor was home. He would have played in Tampa earlier in the day had he not injured his knee.

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