A jury convicted him of murdering his own cousin and a judge could've sentenced Elvis Myers to death by hanging. But the 26-year-old will get to live - and spend the rest of his life in jail. Myers was charged and convicted of killing Winsfield Slusher Jr. on December 26th 2006 in Gales Point, Manatee. Slusher was killed during what is known in the village as a Christmas Sambai, a folkloric tradition reserved for Boxing Day. The killing tore the family and the close knit village apart. Myers was convicted of murdering Slusher, who is his cousin, and of wounding Police Constable Keith Cruz. He was convicted on November 12th.
This afternoon at sentencing Myers asked Justice Troadio Gonzalez for leniency saying that he was sorry for the family. He also said that while he disagrees with the jury's decision, he will respect it. In passing the life sentence, Justice Gonzalez said he would not sentence Myers to death because there are indications that he can reform himself. His father Danna Myers told us that his son is innocent and is confident the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
Danna Myers, Father of Accused
"We didn't get any justice, we didn't get justice but justice will prevail sooner or later because God is not asleep, God is awake and he is alive and anyone who lies, they must suffer. To me the sentence, I don't have any kind of reaction to that because to me it is a minor case and I know my son will get off."
Keith Swift,
What has this done to the Gales Point community because you all are from the same family?
Danna Myers,
"Well we are still together because the family knows. When I go fishing, I give them their fish as usual. I show them the same love as usual and they are sorry about this because they tell me plain that it is them who started the whole thing because my son went to part a fight.
Yes I am sure there will be an appeal and it will be granted and we will win."
For wounding of Constable Keith Cruz, Myers was sentenced to 12 months in prison which will run concurrent to his life sentence. Myers' family says they plan to appeal. They have 21 days in which to lodge that case.
