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Charges are reduced until they disappear

A murder charge became a burglary charge. Then it was dropped, too.

By CHRIS TISCH
Published July 21, 2005

LARGO - A man once facing a murder charge was released from Pinellas County Jail last week with no charges filed.

In May 2004, Largo police booked Darius Kaigler into the Pinellas County Jail on a murder charge in connection with the March 25, 2004, shooting death of Greg V. Hall, 26. Hall was shot to death during a break-in at a Largo apartment.

Prosecutors elected to charge Kaigler only with burglary, but decided last week to drop charges altogether. Kaigler, 26, spent 14 months in jail before his release July 14.

"There was no evidence whatsoever that my client had anything to do with the murder," said Kaigler's attorney, Cynthia Lakeman.

Kaigler could not be reached for comment this week.

Hall was killed as he and at least two other people broke into a Largo apartment in search of drugs or money. The occupant of the apartment, Cornelius Thomas, began firing a gun at the intruders.

Two men - Henry Echols and Antonio Golden - were hit, but survived. Hall died at the scene.

Echols and Golden were charged under Florida's felony murder law, which allows for people to be charged with murder if they commit a felony robbery or burglary in which someone dies, even if the dead person is their accomplice.

Largo detectives arrested Kaigler under the same law. Detectives said Kaigler admitted to them that he drove Echols and Golden to the apartment, but didn't know they planned a home invasion.

However, police said Echols' mother told them Kaigler had admitted being in the apartment when shots rang out.

Defense investigators later tracked down Echols' mother, who claimed she never told investigators that Kaigler made incriminating statements to her, said Bob Lewis, an assistant state attorney.

"We felt we had a provable case until just recently," Lewis said.

Prosecutors now plan to call Kaigler as a witness in the case. They expect Kaigler will say he was in the apartment when shots rang out and likely will strengthen the case against Golden and Echols, Lewis said.

"We're better off with him as a witness," Lewis said.

Kaigler has a 10-year criminal history, with charges such as armed robbery, drug possession and resisting arrest, according to court records.

Thomas, the shooter, was not charged because prosecutors believe he acted in self-defense.

Echols and Golden are scheduled for trial later this year. Both could face life in prison if convicted.

[Last modified July 21, 2005, 00:56:18]