October 16, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The civil
trial in the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson will begin
April 16, a judge ruled earlier today.
Anderson's parents, Robert
Anderson and Gina Jones, are suing the Florida Department of
Juvenile Justice and the Bay County Sheriff's Office for $40
million.
The trial will take place in
the court of Chief Judge Robert L. Hinkle, at the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee.
Anderson died Jan. 6, a day
after he was restrained, hit and kneed by guards at the Bay
County juvenile boot camp. The incident was captured on video.
An initial autopsy performed by
Bay County Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Siebert said the teen
died from sickle-cell trait, or natural causes.
A second autopsy, done by
Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Dr. Vernard Adams, said
Anderson died from suffocation by guards at the boot camp who
forced ammonia tablets into his nose while covering his mouth.
Hillsborough State Attorney
Mark Ober is investigating the Panama City teen's death.
Last month, Ben Crump, who
represents Anderson's parents in the suit, said he was told by
someone in Ober's office that the investigation may take another
six to eight weeks, leading some to believe it was being delayed
for political reasons with elections on Nov. 7.
In a statement Ober said,
"While I cannot give a definitive timeline, the investigation
will not be complete until I am satisfied that we have gathered
and analyzed all relevant information."
