Lauderdale Lakes Murder Suspect Granted Bond
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – In a bit of legal wrangling, a man accused of a triple murder in Lauderdale Lakes earlier this year has been granted bond.
In return, 21-year old Lineten Belizaire signed away his rights Tuesday to a speedy trial. During the proceeding, the judge set Belizaire's bond amount at $75,000 which is something his family has been waiting for.
"I'm very grateful for that, I'm thankful for that. The family is thankful for that. Hopefully this will get this resolved soon. With them having no speedy trial I feel like the state will linger on this case for years," said Belizaire's uncle Earnest Baldwin.
Belizaire is charged with three counts of second degree murder for the January 15th slayings of Natasha Plummer, 25, her son 6-month old Carlton Stringer Jr. and his ex-girlfriend 21-year old Octavia Barnett. He reportedly spared the child he and Barnett had together.
Investigators said Belizaire had a troubled relationship with Barnett and he post on a social media website that he was outside her apartment door just before the murders.
Belizaire, a former standout cornerback for Miami's Northwestern Senior High, was first arrested back in January on first degree murder charges. However, in March, the Grand Jury declined to indict him on first degree murder charges and recommended further investigation into the murders.
He was re-arrested in July and charged with second degree murder.
While first degree murder charges require a review by a grand jury with a finding of premeditation, second degree murder charges don't require a grand jury.
Belizaire's attorney Alexander Michaels originally tried to have the charges dismissed because prosecutors had waited to long to bring his client to trial after the January arrest. The state claims the clock didn't start ticking until the second arrest in July.
During Tuesday's proceeding Michaels once again asked the judge to dismiss the charges because his client had been denied his right to a speedy trial.
"They missed the speedy deadline by 5 days and that means in reality if we prevail the case gets dismissed forever," said Michaels.
Belizaire has maintained he's innocent.
