Comments on: Nick Van Exel’s son confesses to murder

By: jrd8523

jrd8523 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:42:47 +0000

Like the previous poster alluded to; just because he admitted to involvement doesn’t mean his recap of the events is true. The “I accidently killed someone while horseplaying with a shotgun, than disposed of the body and the evidence, and now that i’m cornered i’m sorry” defense should be heavily scrutinized.

By: clsr67

clsr67 — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:44:54 +0000

It was not a confession it was an admission. A confession is when you tell police that you committed the crime. An admission is when you tell the police that you committed a particular act which may meet one of the elements of the crime. He admitted to the shooting that is all. It should be involuntary manslaughter at the most without some further evidence of his intent (DA will say he tried to hide the evidence because he knew he was guilty and invented the story later). The issue may center on whether he had reason to know the gun was loaded or failed to take precautions or had reason to believe the gun was unloaded. His lawyer will hope that a lot of people (on the jury)have seen the video on youtube showing a DEA agent bragging about how only a trained professional can handle a gun and then shooting himself in the foot to show how anyone, even a professional can make a mistake like that. It it was simply an accident, not arising to criminal negligence, then it will be a complete defense.

By: jpeetey

jpeetey — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 05:34:59 +0000

What he’s been charged with and what he’s confessed to are, of course, two different things. Nothing in the article to which the writer links supports a claim that he’s confessed to murder.

By: Kurt Helin

Kurt Helin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 04:40:09 +0000

He has been charged with murder now. That may well get pled down to manslaughter, but as of now the charge is murder (moving the body post shooting probably not helping his cause there).

By: frankvzappa

frankvzappa — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 04:13:50 +0000

lets keep Florio, and his horse, out of here

By: jarrod600

jarrod600 — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:19:00 +0000

Um, I’m no lawyer, but isn’t that “Manslaughter” not murder? According to your story, he confessed that he accidently shot his friend. Murder is when you kill someone on purpose. Again, not a lawyer, but you could always go ask Florio…