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Prosecutor Tells Jury Motorcyclist's Death Was No Accident

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2008

Updated: 07/09/2008 02:58 pm

TAMPA - John Michael Meek, a 52-year-old motorcyclist known to friends as Uncle Ugly, was run down purposely and killed by a man driving a white work van, a prosecutor told a jury this morning.

Harry Brian Taylor, 38, is charged with second-degree murder – and not for the first time. Taylor was released from prison in 2001 after serving 12 years of a 40-year sentence for second-degree murder. In that case, Taylor was convicted of stabbing a 60-year-old man while trying to steal the man's pickup.

Meek, a former professional wrestler with the stage name "Iron Mike," died in the early morning hours of Aug. 29 after leaving James' Place bar in Riverview.

Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Spradley asked the jury to be critical of the witnesses but offered no alternate theories on how Meek's died.

Assistant State Attorney Kim Seace told the jury that Taylor seemed friendly to many of the bar patrons that night. He played pool, spoke with people and briefly left with a woman. When Taylor returned, Meek was sitting at the bar.

"This particular night, he was quiet, as he normally was, sitting at the bar sipping his beer," Seace said.

Taylor did not know Meek.

Meek wore bluejeans and a black leather vest. This seemed to irk Taylor, and his demeanor changed, Seace said. Taylor tried to engage Meek in conversation. Meek ignored Taylor, and that made Taylor angry.

Witnesses heard Taylor say: "He's no biker. I could take him," Seace said.

About 3 a.m. in the parking lot, Meek started to leave on his motorcycle. Taylor was getting ready to leave in his van.

Taylor looked to bar patron Curtis DuBoise, a guy he had met that night at the pool tables, and told him "I ought to" -- or "I'm going to" -- run over Meek, DuBoise testified.

Bobby O'Conner testified that Taylor made the same comment to him.

O'Conner and DuBoise also testified that they saw Taylor drive off in the same direction as Meek.

"Less than five minutes later, less than a mile from the bar, the defendant did exactly what he said he was going to do," Seace told the jury.

Taylor, Seace said, struck the motorcycle with his van. The tailpipe broke; the motorcycle fell to the ground. Taylor's van ran over Meek, Seace said. He died about an hour later at Tampa General Hospital.

Seace acknowledged that Meek tested positive for cocaine and alcohol. He was, in all likelihood, committing a crime by driving under the influence, Seace said. Still, she told the jury, Meek's impairment was not a factor in the collision.

At 3:07 a.m., someone found Meek and called 911. At 3:12 a.m., Taylor called his girlfriend

"He told me that he had been at a bar and there was a man there that had disrespected him," Lisa Campbell testified.

Taylor told her he followed closely to the man's motorcycle but didn't actually strike it with his van, she said.

"He told me the biker had begun to lose control," Campbell testified. "He kept going, and he didn't see anything else."

Days later, after arresting Taylor, investigators found human blood and hair under the van, Seace said.

Defense attorneys questioned witnesses about their alcohol consumption on the night Meek died. Several said they had consumed alcohol and were intoxicated when they heard Taylor discuss his intention to run down Meek.

Taylor is charged with second-degree murder, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death. If convicted, Taylor faces up to life in prison.

Since Taylor's 12-year stint in prison, Florida law has changed. Prisoners now must serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. In Florida, there is no parole for a life sentence.

Taylor's trial is expected to conclude Thursday.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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