Changes

On the [[June 24|night before]] the incident, Ward, 2019, 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 actNick Cote attacking his girlfriend, he became enragedcame to her rescue. 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, Sparling she was driven to her [[Munson Highway]] home by Ruinato, Hall and another teenage girl, [[(Lacey Moores]]). When they arrived, Ward's car was presentthough Ward was no where to be seen. A fight ensuedHall saw Ward standing by his car and approached Ward yelling and cursing. As Hall ran towards him to attack him with a knife and a straight razor, during which Ruinato ran around to attack from the side with Brass Knuckles. When Hall(who out weighs Ward by over 100 lbs) got close enough Ward produced a butterfly knife and stabbed both ,in hopes that Hall would back off, after Hall and Ruinato three times. (A major issue attacked Ward,by punching him in the side of contention at the head, Ward's subsequent [[#Trial|trial]] was whether used defensive strikes to get Hall off of him, and ended up cutting him in the stabbings were unprovoked or in self-defensearm and abdomen.) Hall continued to come forward and fell on the knife and received a fatal injury to the chest. As Ward was pronounced dead at the scene going to get help Ruinato came from the injuriesbehind and attacked Ward, again Ward used evasive strikes and Ruinato received three cuts.

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. Prosecutors argued The prosecution claimed that the attacks were unprovoked, citing testimony from witness Lacey Moores, who said Ward had been was hiding in the bushes before emerging when the others arrived, and stabbing that the two 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, 2007stabbings were unprovoked.</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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