Fla. Girl Convicted Of Killing Friend Over Fireworks Dispute

PENSACOLA, Fla.- A 15-year-old girl was convicted of second-degree murder for slitting the throat of a longtime friend over a dispute about fireworks. After four hours of deliberation, the jury returned the verdict Tuesday against Christine Rogers, who was 13 when she was arrested in the July 2003 death of Ashley Harvey, 15. Rogers was tried as an adult and could face up to life in prison at sentencing scheduled for March 23. "It feels like this is at least some kind of closure," said Beverly Harvey, Ashley's mother. "Our family is trying to move on, but it's hard when you have to visit your daughter in the cemetery." Harvey bled to death after being stabbed in the neck by Rogers, who witnesses testified chased Harvey with a butcher knife. Neighbors and others testified that the two girls had fought that day because Rogers believed Harvey was shooting fireworks at one of her younger sisters. Rogers testified that she believed Harvey was among a group of people arguing with her sister. She told police investigators that when Harvey began to call her names, she "clicked." "She didn't mean for it to happen. She was shocked afterward, and she really didn't realize what had happened and how," defense attorney Sharon Potter said during her closing argument. Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer disagreed. "Christine Rogers chased Ashley Harvey down the street that night," Rimmer said. "She had a knife in her hand and evil in her heart."

(AP article here)