The judge who tried the first case against the men who killed a Florida teenager in the most brazen of attacks on the United States, has dismissed the second, dismissing conspiracy charges.
In a ruling released on Wednesday, Judge Stephen Reinhardt said the government’s case against Tealibi Bemidji was too weak to merit a full-blown trial.
The case centered around two teenage boys, 16-year-old Tealiah Bemidas and 18-year old Elijah Bemis, who were found guilty of killing 17-year the father of two, his brother and his cousin.
Tealibi was convicted of conspiracy to kill three other people, but was acquitted by a jury in January.
The judge ruled that the government had a weak case for conspiracy to murder.
He noted that the boys did not use a firearm or carry a firearm on their own.
The government was allowed to present circumstantial evidence that they planned the murder, but it could not show beyond a reasonable doubt that they intended to carry out the murder.
The ruling is significant because it makes clear that while the government has the strongest case for a conspiracy charge, it will be able to present evidence that proves that the defendants intended to kill a number of people.
Bemidas has been in jail since December.
He is expected to receive a sentence of life without parole for his role in the killing of his cousin and his brother.