da12no
11-12-2008, 03:15 PM
Less Jail Time Asked for Witness
Prosecutor says Gamble helped convict three in police officer's murder.
By Jason Geary
THE LEDGER
Less Jail Time Asked for Witness | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL (http://www.theledger.com/article/20081111/NEWS/811110339#)
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
TAMPA | A federal prosecutor wants to get rid of the life sentence for the key witness who helped convict three men in the fatal shooting of Haines City police Officer Christopher Todd Horner.
Christopher Gamble
Related Links:
Reduction Memo for Gamble
Reduction Memo for Gamble
Horner Killer Gets Life In Prison
Jury Convicts Fowler In Slaying of Officer
Jury's Out in Horner Killing
Man Found Guilty in Haines City Officer's Death
Trial Witness 'Tired of Doing Wrong'
3 Inmates Refuse to Testify in Murder Trial
Horner Slaying Trial Begins
Christopher Gamble was the linchpin in cases against three men now serving life sentences on federal charges related to the officer's death.
Gamble, 31, was indicted, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Nov. 12, 2004, to life plus a consecutive term of 107 years in prison for his participation in the officer's death.
In his motion, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Muench requested that Gamble be sentenced to 24 years in prison. Muench was blunt about what other evidence existed against Gamble's co-defendants.
"Without Gamble, the government had nothing," Muench wrote.
A hearing on Muench's request is scheduled for Thursday at the federal courthouse in Tampa.
Horner, 35, a father of six children, was found dead March 3, 1998, inside Oakland Cemetery in Haines City.
For years, Horner's death was a mystery, with some investigators speculating that the rookie officer might have committed suicide. He had been shot behind the left ear with his own service weapon, which was found under his body.
Muench wrote that Gamble's help was essential to solving the case and bringing those responsible to justice.
"If not for Gamble's testimony, three men involved in the execution of Officer Horner would have escaped prosecution and Officer Horner's children would have grown up wondering whether their father had taken his own life," Muench wrote.
Andre Paige, 29, was sentenced Jan. 25, 2006, to life in prison and a consecutive term of 60 years in prison.
Robert Winston, 28, was sentenced Sept. 24, 2007, to life in prison and a consecutive term of 10 years in prison.
Charles Fowler, 29, was sentenced Sept. 18 to life in prison plus a consecutive term of 10 years.
Muench filed his request to reduce Gamble's sentence on the same day Fowler, who was identified as the one responsible for shooting Horner, was given his sentence, according to court records.
Defense lawyers for Paige, Winston and Fowler have argued during separate trials that no physical evidence linked their clients to Horner's shooting.
The crucial question was whether jurors believed Gamble's testimony.
The career criminal was something of an enigma. He testified that he underwent a spiritual conversion while in prison for robbery, and his religious aunt encouraged him to confess.
Gamble has testified that he was the leader of the robbery crew that was preparing in the early morning hours for a bank robbery later that day. He said they were using the cemetery as a staging area.
Federal prosecutors were able to build cases against the defendants by arguing Horner was killed to prevent him from reporting information to authorities about past and planned robberies.
Gamble testified that he attempted suicide last year by wrapping a sheet around his neck and trying to hang himself inside his cell. He wrote a letter that he was tormented by the memories of participating in Horner's murder.
Gamble's lengthy punishment was used to bolster his credibility in the trials of his co-defendants.
Muench has argued before juries that Gamble did not receive any help from the government for his testimony.
Prosecutor says Gamble helped convict three in police officer's murder.
By Jason Geary
THE LEDGER
Less Jail Time Asked for Witness | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL (http://www.theledger.com/article/20081111/NEWS/811110339#)
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
TAMPA | A federal prosecutor wants to get rid of the life sentence for the key witness who helped convict three men in the fatal shooting of Haines City police Officer Christopher Todd Horner.
Christopher Gamble
Related Links:
Reduction Memo for Gamble
Reduction Memo for Gamble
Horner Killer Gets Life In Prison
Jury Convicts Fowler In Slaying of Officer
Jury's Out in Horner Killing
Man Found Guilty in Haines City Officer's Death
Trial Witness 'Tired of Doing Wrong'
3 Inmates Refuse to Testify in Murder Trial
Horner Slaying Trial Begins
Christopher Gamble was the linchpin in cases against three men now serving life sentences on federal charges related to the officer's death.
Gamble, 31, was indicted, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Nov. 12, 2004, to life plus a consecutive term of 107 years in prison for his participation in the officer's death.
In his motion, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Muench requested that Gamble be sentenced to 24 years in prison. Muench was blunt about what other evidence existed against Gamble's co-defendants.
"Without Gamble, the government had nothing," Muench wrote.
A hearing on Muench's request is scheduled for Thursday at the federal courthouse in Tampa.
Horner, 35, a father of six children, was found dead March 3, 1998, inside Oakland Cemetery in Haines City.
For years, Horner's death was a mystery, with some investigators speculating that the rookie officer might have committed suicide. He had been shot behind the left ear with his own service weapon, which was found under his body.
Muench wrote that Gamble's help was essential to solving the case and bringing those responsible to justice.
"If not for Gamble's testimony, three men involved in the execution of Officer Horner would have escaped prosecution and Officer Horner's children would have grown up wondering whether their father had taken his own life," Muench wrote.
Andre Paige, 29, was sentenced Jan. 25, 2006, to life in prison and a consecutive term of 60 years in prison.
Robert Winston, 28, was sentenced Sept. 24, 2007, to life in prison and a consecutive term of 10 years in prison.
Charles Fowler, 29, was sentenced Sept. 18 to life in prison plus a consecutive term of 10 years.
Muench filed his request to reduce Gamble's sentence on the same day Fowler, who was identified as the one responsible for shooting Horner, was given his sentence, according to court records.
Defense lawyers for Paige, Winston and Fowler have argued during separate trials that no physical evidence linked their clients to Horner's shooting.
The crucial question was whether jurors believed Gamble's testimony.
The career criminal was something of an enigma. He testified that he underwent a spiritual conversion while in prison for robbery, and his religious aunt encouraged him to confess.
Gamble has testified that he was the leader of the robbery crew that was preparing in the early morning hours for a bank robbery later that day. He said they were using the cemetery as a staging area.
Federal prosecutors were able to build cases against the defendants by arguing Horner was killed to prevent him from reporting information to authorities about past and planned robberies.
Gamble testified that he attempted suicide last year by wrapping a sheet around his neck and trying to hang himself inside his cell. He wrote a letter that he was tormented by the memories of participating in Horner's murder.
Gamble's lengthy punishment was used to bolster his credibility in the trials of his co-defendants.
Muench has argued before juries that Gamble did not receive any help from the government for his testimony.