Miree suspects denied youthful offender

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Just over a year ago, police said Bo Taylor, Earnest Wiggins, Jamal Lang and Michael Lee followed someone from an ATM to the midtown home Kyser Miree was living in.

The four are accused of forcing their way into the home, demanding money and shooting Miree in the head.

Thursday, one by one, the men charged with the capital murder were brought before Judge John Lockett. Each was represented by an attorney and sought youthful offender status. All four were denied the request. Judge Lockett cited the nature of the crime as reason for denying the request in all four cases.

Miree's father, Benjamin Miree, came from Birmingham for the hearings.

"Of course we have an abiding interest in what's going, and we are glad that the judge denied the request for the youthful offender status," he said.

Mr. Miree said there is not a day that passes that he does not think about his son.

"I'm going miss him everyday. Whether its Christmas or his birthday or whatever, I'm going to miss him everyday," Miree said.

District Attorney Ashley Rich said her team has not decided whether or not to seek the death penalty for Bo Taylor, Earnest Wiggins, and Jamal Lang.

"We are trying Michael Lee first," said Rich, "and we are seeking the death penalty in that case."

Lee's case is set for December 5, 2011, but Rich said she is not counting on that date to stand firm.

"The chances that a capital murder trial actually going to trial on the first setting are very, very slim because of the magnitude of the evidence and experts that are involved in capital cases," she said.

Rich said Thursday's rulings were critical to the case.

"This hearing today was very important that the judge deny youthful offender," said Rich. "Extensive criminal histories, the nature of the offense - all these things pointed to really specific reasons why youthful offender status should not have been granted in this case, and we are very pleased that the judge did not grant youthful status on all four of the defendants."

Had any of the four been granted youthful offender status and convicted, they would have served three years maximum in the penitentiary, and the crime would have been cleared from their record.

Michael Lee's mother, Felicia Lee, is also still in the Mobile County Metro Jail. Lee is charged with intimidating a witness in her son's case.

Rich said at this time there has been no discussion on plea deals and that she plans to try each and every one of the defendants.