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Couey's lawyers file motion for new trial

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 22, 2007

INVERNESS

Defense attorneys for John Couey are asking for a new trial.

In a new motion, the Public Defender's Office says prosecutorial misconduct contributed to Couey not receiving a fair and impartial trial.

Couey was found guilty by a Miami jury earlier this month for burglary, kidnapping, rape and murder in the death of Jessica Lunsford. Days later, jurors recommended a death sentence.

Couey's attorneys argue a number of points where they say the judge erred, such as wrongly denying defense challenges of jurors in the jury selection process and refusing to grant the defense additional peremptory challenges.

Defense attorneys said the verdict was contrary to the law and evidence and is against the weight of evidence.

The filing is a perfunctory step in the appeals process of a capital case.

TAMPA

Hillsborough okays Child Safety Zones

It will soon be illegal in Hillsborough County for convicted sexual predators to linger near schools, playgrounds and other places where children gather.

Hillsborough commissioners unanimously passed a new law Wednesday creating so-called Child Safety Zones, 300-foot buffers around child gathering spots where sexual predators are prohibited.

"We need to do everything we can to protect our children," said Commissioner Ken Hagan, who proposed and pushed for the protection zones. "We have created a unique, effective way to give our children the protection they deserve."

Commissioners passed the ordinance after a public hearing at which no one showed up to speak.

The Tampa City Council is scheduled to discuss a similar measure today.

LAND O'LAKES

Nudist resort sues over stolen e-mail

A day before 41 home buyers sued Caliente Resorts, alleging a bait-and-switch scam, the nudist community's management had filed its own lawsuit to find out who stole and published confidential information from its computer server.

In January, an "unknown e-mail user" had allegedly stolen an internal, confidential e-mail from Caliente's computer server and sent it to Caliente homeowners, the lawsuit said.

Elsewhere

WHOOPER SUCCESS: The project to reintroduce a migratory whooping crane flock to the Eastern United States has come full circle. This week, the so-called first family arrived safely in the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. Last year, the pair was the first to hatch and raise a chick and lead it to Central Florida without the aid of humans or their ultralights.

[Last modified March 22, 2007, 01:31:27]