Beta[Mn] » Golden State had a 49-40 edge on the boards ... The Magic scored

MIAMI -- A jury has convicted a man of second-degree murder in the in the killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor, who was shot outside his bedroom after witnesses said he confronted a group of young men who broke into his home. Discount Balenciaga . The jury deliberated about 16 hours over four days before returning the verdict Monday in the trial of 23-year-old Eric Rivera Jr., who admitted in a videotaped confession to police days after Taylors death that he fired the fatal shot after kicking in the bedroom door. But at the trial, he said on the witness stand that his confession was given only under police pressure and amid purported threats to his family. Rivera sat quietly at the defence table with his lawyers after the verdict was announced, showing no reaction or emotion. The courtroom was packed with Taylor and Rivera family members -- and about two dozen security personnel -- but there were no outbursts. Rivera was also convicted of armed burglary. Although Rivera did not get the maximum first-degree murder conviction, he still faces a potential life prison sentence. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy did not immediately set a sentencing date but will hold a related hearing Dec. 10. Neither prosecutors, Taylors family nor the family of the football players girlfriend would comment afterward. Riveras parents, sisters, lawyers and friends also left without comment, as did the 12 jurors. In the confession, Rivera said the group of five young men, all from the Fort Myers area, drove to Taylors house planning to steal large amounts of cash he kept inside. They thought Taylor, 24, would be out of town at a game against Tampa Bay, but didnt realize until it was too late that he was home with a knee injury. Taylors then-girlfriend, Jackie Garcia Haley, and their 18-month-old daughter, were also home at the time but were not hurt. Four other men were also charged in the case and three will be tried later. Venjah Hunte, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary charges in a deal that calls for a 29-year prison sentence. Testifying in his own defence, Rivera claimed it was Hunte who brought the 9mm handgun and who shot Taylor. Rivera insisted he was not told about the burglary plot until the group was driving toward Miami, and that he stayed in the car outside Taylors house the whole time. The gun was never found. Police say it was stuffed in a sock and thrown into the Everglades. Legal experts said Mondays verdict appeared to be a compromise, with at least some jurors doubting the confession and questioning whether Rivera, who was 17 at the time, truly pulled the trigger -- but not that he played a role in the burglary plot. "They believed that he was part of the burglary and was present when it occurred," said David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. "There was no eyewitness to put the gun in Riveras hand and that is what at least one juror needed to convict him of first-degree murder." Taylor, a Pro Bowl safety who had starred at the University of Miami, was shot in the upper thigh, damaging his femoral artery and causing massive blood loss. Witnesses say Taylor was shot when he confronted the group with a machete outside his bedroom. A medical examiner said he was essentially dead on arrival at a hospital on Nov. 26, 2007, although doctors did manage to restart his heart for a while. Aside from Riveras confession, police found shoe prints outside Taylors home that matched sneakers some in the group were wearing that night. Witnesses testified Rivera was seen driving a rented black Toyota Highlander believed used in the crime, and another witness said the group of five had burglary tools when they came to her house after Taylor was shot. Taylor, a first-round Redskins draft pick in 2004, signed an $18 million contract with the team and was becoming one of the NFLs top defensive players when he was slain. Several witnesses, including Garcia Haley, testified that he liked to keep large amounts of cash around his Miami house. One of the men charged in the slaying, 25-year-old Jason Mitchell, attended a birthday party a few weeks earlier at the house for Taylors half-sister, Sasha Johnson -- who lived in Fort Myers and knew Rivera. She testified that Taylor gave her a purse containing $10,000 in cash at the party, which was witnessed by all the guests. That event put the wheels in motion for the burglary plot, witnesses said. Rivera himself testified that some in the group thought they would get between $100,000 and $200,000 to split up. Also charged and awaiting trial are Mitchell, Charles Wardlow, 24, and 22-year-old Timothy Brown. Cheap Air Max 95 Australia . Amid a rain of confetti, Shabazz Napier basked in the celebration on the court after being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four following the 60-54 win over Kentucky. Fake Sneakers Melbourne . - UFC 178, previously announced for Sept. http://www.discountaustraliashoes.com/cheap-air-max-1-fake.html . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3.Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Stephen Currys 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left lifted the Golden State Warriors to a 98-97 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. With Golden State trailing by two, Elfrid Payton missed a wild layup attempt and Draymond Green pulled the rebound down with 6.9 seconds on the clock. Green then quickly found Curry, who calmly dribbled up court, gave a shake of the shoulders as he gained separation from Tobias Harris and canned the winning 3. Orlando called a pick for Harris on the final play out of a timeout, but Green batted the inbounds pass down court and time expired. From my view of what I was seeing, I just wanted to make a move and create some space, Curry said. I wanted to go to my left and go down the middle, go to the basket and maybe get fouled. (Harris) kind of bit on the in-and-out move and I was able to get a rhythm shot. Golden State has now won 10 straight games, which is the longest streak in franchise history since an 11-game run from Dec. 29-Jan. 22, 1971-72. The Warriors (15-2) have also tied Memphis for the best record in the NBA. Curry scored 22 points and fellow sharpshooter, Klay Thompson, netted 20 in the win. Harrison Barnes posted 14 points and 12 rebounds. Victor Oladipo poured in a season-high 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting for the Magic, who have lost four straight to the Warriors. Kyle OQuinn chipped in with 21 points and 11 reebounds starting in place of Nikola Vucevic, who was a late scratch due to back spasms. Vans Outlet Store. Its part of sports. There is going to be one winner and one loser, said Magic coach Jacque Vaughn. I appreciate the effort. Earlier in the fourth, Payton drove the lane and kicked out to Oladipo, who nailed a contested 3-pointer for a 93-84 lead with 4:11 left. Curry countered with a 3-pointer, then Thompson knocked down two straight treys to tie the game at 93-93. The game remained tied before Harris made an acrobatic layup out of the timeout to give the Magic the lead at 97-95 prior to a missed alley-oop attempt by Andrew Bogut. The Magic overcame a 12-point third quarter deficit by limiting the hot- shooting Warriors to 6-of-23 shooting in the period. Harris three-point play capped an 18-4 run that gave Orlando a 71-69 lead with 1:57 left in the quarter. OQuinns free throws to close the third gave the Magic a 75-73 lead. Orlando led 25-24 after 12 minutes, then Golden State converted 15-of-19 shots in the second quarter to grab a 56-46 lead at the break. Game Notes The Magic had a season-high 11 steals ... Bogut had a season-high five blocks to go along with his 12 rebounds ... Green had 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists ... Golden State had a 49-40 edge on the boards ... The Magic scored 18 points off 15 turnovers. ' ' '