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'''Brandon Michael Ward''' is a former U.S. Marine convicted of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for a [[June 25]], [[2006]] incident in which he stabbed two men, [[Joseph Hall]] and [[Joseph Ruinato]]. Hall died from the injuries. Ward was sentenced to life in prison on [[July 19]], [[2007]].

On the night before the incident, ==Background==Ward, 20, was at an began dating [[East MiltonSamantha Sparling]] party with , four years his 16-year-old girlfriendjunior, [[Samantha Sparling]]. Ward met Sparling when he was in San Diego for basic training; when . When Ward was transferred to northwest Florida, Sparling moved to Milton to live with her mother, where . Ward stayed at her house on weekends.

At ==Party and killings==On the [[June 24|night before]] the incident, Ward, 20, attended an [[East Milton]] partywith Sparling, the 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 the pair engaged in a sex act, he became enraged. Ward was ejected from the party after Sparling told people partygoers that Ward he struck her; . Though her story was corroborated by other witnesses, she later testified this that it was a lie fabrication to conceal her embarrassment.

Ward was forcefully chased from the party by several attendees who were told he hit Sparling. Ward testified that, as he drove back to Sparling's home, he received several threatening cell phone calls from partygoers.<ref name="scared">"I was scared to death." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 23, 2007.</ref>

After being comforted by others at the party, Sparling was driven to her [[Munson Highway]] home by Ruinato, Hall and another teenage girl. When they arrived, Ward's car was present. A fight ensued, during which Ward produced a butterfly knife and stabbed both Hall and Ruinato three times. Ward's defense has portrayed the fight as instigated by Hall and Ruinato, while was pronounced dead at the prosecution claims scene from the stabbings were unprovokedinjuries.

==Trial==Ward's trial began on [[May 14]], [[2007]]. His defense attorney, [[Leo Thomas]], has stated he will invoke Florida's "[[Stand Your Ground]]" law, passed on [[October 1]], [[2005]], as Ward regularly stayed at Sparling's house. According to Thomas, "This is a tragedy for everyone involved. There's no question about it. But the evidence will show it was an honest case of self-defense."<ref>"'I thought he punched me.'" ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 16, 2007.</ref>

A jury found Attorney [[Leo Thomas]] defended Ward guilty under Florida's "[[Stand Your Ground]]" law, passed on [[May 24October 1]], [[20072005]], on the grounds that Ward regularly stayed at Sparling's house and was justified in using deadly force. "This is a tragedy for everyone involved. There's no question about it," Thomas said. "But the evidence will show it was an honest case of self-defense."<ref>"'I thought he punched me.'" ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 16, 2007.</ref>

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 that Ward was hiding in the bushes when the others arrived, and that the stabbings were unprovoked. A jury found Ward guilty on [[May 24]], [[2007]]. On [[July 19]], [[2007]], Ward was convicted sentenced by Circuit Court Judge [[Ron Swanson]] to serve life in prison for the murder of Hall. He received a 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>