Changes

On the [[June 24|night before]] the incident, Ward, 1920, attended an [[East Milton]] party with Sparling, 16. The two became separated at the party. Ward fought and wrestled with other attendees, while Sparling became the subject of aggressive sexual advances by one of the party's hosts, [[Nick Cote]]. According to Sparling's testimony, she "gave in" to the advances because "it felt good."<ref name="teen">"Teen changes story." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 22, 2007.</ref> When Ward discovered Nick Cote attacking his girlfriendthe pair engaged in a sex act, he came to her rescuebecame enraged. Ward was ejected from the party, by several partygoers, to include convicted Felon Shane Gavaghan, after Sparling told partygoers that he struck her. Though her story was corroborated by other witnesses, she later testified that it was a fabrication to conceal her embarrassment.

After being comforted by others at the party,she Sparling was driven to her [[Munson Highway]] home by Ruinato, Hall and another teenage girl(, [[Lacey Moores)]]. When they arrived, Ward's car was present though Ward was no where to be seen. Hall saw A fight ensued, during which Ward standing by his car produced a butterfly knife and approached Ward yelling and cursing. As stabbed both Hall ran towards him to attack him with a knife and a straight razor, Ruinato ran around to attack from the side with Brass Knucklesthree times. When Hall(who out weighs A major issue of contention at Ward by over 100 lbs) got close enough Ward produced a butterfly knife,in hopes that Hall would back off, after Hall attacked Ward,by punching him in the side of 's subsequent [[#Trial|trial]] was whether the head, Ward used defensive strikes to get Hall off of him, and ended up cutting him stabbings were unprovoked or in the arm and abdomenself-defense. ) Hall continued to come forward and fell on was pronounced dead at the knife and received a fatal injury to scene from the chest. As Ward was going to get help Ruinato came from behind and attacked Ward, again Ward used evasive strikes and Ruinato received three cutsinjuries.

Thomas portrayed the fatal altercation as being instigated by Hall and Ruinato, citing the former's MySpace page — which had the address "joehallwillkillyourfamily"<ref>http://myspace.com/joehallwillkillyourfamily</ref> and featured a violent music video by the band Waking the Cadaver<ref>"Networking sites play new rols in legal battles." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 19, 2007.</ref> — as an alleged indicator of Hall's violent tendencies. The prosecution claimed Prosecutors argued that the attacks were unprovoked, citing testimony from witness Lacey Moores, who said Ward was had been hiding in the bushes when before emerging and stabbing the others arrivedtwo men. This contradicted her initial sworn statement in which she claimed Hall and Ruinato "ran after" Ward.<ref>"Ward said 'he had messed up.'" ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 17, and that the stabbings were unprovoked2007.</ref>

A jury found Ward guilty on [[May 24]], [[2007]]. <ref>"Ward guilty." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 25, 2007.</ref> On [[July 19]], [[2007]], Ward was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge [[Ron Swanson]] to serve life in prison for the murder of Hall. He received an additional 25-year sentence for the attempted murder of Ruinato, which Ward will serve concurrently.<ref>"Ward gets life" ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 19, 2007.</ref>

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