THE NATION - News from May 7, 2009
A Miami judge sentenced a former security guard to five consecutive life prison sentences plus 85 years for taking part in the 2007 hijacking of the Joe Cool charter boat and the killings at sea of its captain, his wife and two crew members.
A life sentence was mandatory after the conviction of Guillermo Zarabozo, 21, on 16 charges in February. But U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck sided with prosecutors who wanted a more severe sentence, even if combining life terms was essentially symbolic.
Zarabozo blamed the hijacking and murders on his confederate, Kirby Archer, 37, who pleaded guilty and is also serving five life terms.
Killed were boat captain Jake Branam, 27; his wife, Kelley Branam, 30; and crew members Scott Gamble, 35, and Samuel Kairy, 27. The Branams left two small children.
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