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→Party and killings
==Party and killings==
On the [[June 24|night before]] the incident, Ward, 20, 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 the pair engaged in a sex act, he became enraged. Ward was ejected from the party after Sparling told partygoers party goers that he struck her. Though her story was corroborated by other witnesses, she later testified that it was a fabrication to conceal her embarrassment.
Ward testified that, as he drove back to Sparling's home, he received several threatening cell phone calls from partygoersparty goers.<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. Hall was pronounced dead at the scene from the injuries.
