4 suspects charged in Taylor slaying

Four suspects were charged Saturday in the shooting death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor, with two of their lawyers confirming that some have confessed.

Charles Wardlow, Eric Rivera and Venjah Hunte were denied bond during a brief court appearance via videoconference in Fort Myers, Fla. The fourth suspect, Jason Mitchell, was charged Saturday afternoon and had not made a court appearance.

All four are charged with unpremeditated murder in Taylor’s death, a killing police said was unplanned and arose out of a burglary at the player’s home. They’re also charged with armed burglary and home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon.

The four were arrested Friday in southwest Florida, about 100 miles from Miami.

Miami-Dade County police Director Robert Parker said the suspects didn’t expect Taylor to be home when they broke in early Monday, but the Redskins Pro Bowl safety was recuperating from a knee injury and had returned from Washington. When Taylor surprised them, he was shot.

“They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone,” Parker said. “They were expecting a residence that was not occupied. So murder or shooting someone was not their initial motive.”

Authorities said they had more than one confession, but Parker would not elaborate.

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WINTER SPORTS

Vonn wins World Cup downhill at Lake Louise

Lindsey Vonn of Vail, Colo., won a World Cup downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, with temperatures plunging to 18 below zero.

Vonn, formerly Lindsey Kildow, was followed by Renate Goetschl and Britt Janyk in a race run on the men’s Olympic downhill course.

This was the fourth downhill victory at Lake Louise for Vonn, who was timed in 1 minute 48.69 seconds. She married U.S. skier Thomas Vonn in September.

Goetschl finished in 1:49.77 and Janyk was timed at 1:49.96 in her first top-three result on the World Cup circuit.

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BOXING

Forrest keeps WBC title with knockout

Vernon Forrest successfully defended his World Boxing Council super-welterweight title at Uncasville, Conn., stopping Michele Piccirillo (48-4) at 2:21 of the 11th round after landing two solid right hands.

It was the first title defense for Forrest (40-2), who won the WBC crown in July with a unanimous decision over Carlos Baldomir.

On the undercard, Nonito Donaire (19-1) successfully defended his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization flyweight titles, stopping Luis Maldonado (37-2-1) at 1:16 of the eight round

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SOCCER

Chelsea gains second place in Premier League

Chelsea’s Joe Cole scored against his former club in the 76th minute to give the Blues a 1-0 victory over visiting West Ham, a win that moved them into second place in the English Premier League.

Chelsea moved a point ahead of defending champion Manchester United, which plays Fulham on Monday. First-place Arsenal extended its lead to five points with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.

David Beckham scored on a penalty kick and set up three other goals as the Galaxy beat Wellington Phoenix, 4-1, in an exhibition game at Wellington, New Zealand.

The Galaxy completed its tour of Australia and New Zealand in front of a sellout crowd of 35,000 -- the largest for a soccer match in New Zealand.

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GOLF

Rose, Immelman tied for lead at Sun City

Trevor Immelman and Justin Rose shot five-under-par 67s to share a five-stroke lead after the third round of the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City, South Africa. They are at 16-under 200. Three-time champion Ernie Els (69) was next at 205, four strokes ahead of Henrik Stenson (72).

Frank Lickliter II shot an even-par 72 to take a three-stroke lead after the fourth of six rounds in the PGA Tour qualifying tournament at Winter Garden, Fla. He is at 24-under 264.

Jane Park shot a four-under 68 to take a six-stroke lead after the fourth round of five rounds of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament at Daytona Beach, Fla. She is at 14-under 274.

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MISCELLANY

Lochte sets another American swim mark

Ryan Lochte set his second American record in three days, winning the 200-yard backstroke for his fourth victory at the U.S. short-course national swimming championships at Atlanta.

Lochte led all the way, touching in 1 minute 36.81 seconds to lower his old mark of 1:37.68 set in March 2006.

Jordan Hasay of Mission College Prep and German Fernandez of Riverbank won the Foot Locker cross-country West Regional at Mt. San Antonio College. Hasay, who won the West Regional for the third consecutive year, becomes the second athlete to win three in a row. Nicole Blood did it from 2003 to 2005.