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Polk Man Gets Life For Killing Gay Man

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The Associated Press

Published: February 27, 2009

BARTOW - A Polk County man has been convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in the death of a 25-year-old gay man.

After nearly two days of deliberation, jurors returned a guilty verdict on Friday for 23-year-old Joseph Eli Bearden. Prosecutors had been pushing for a first-degree murder conviction. Bearden's defense attorney called the verdict a partial victory because the death penalty is now off the table.

Bearden is one of two men charged with the 2007 murder of Ryan Skipper. Prosecutors say Bearden and 22-year-old William David Brown Jr. fatally stabbed Skipper and stole his Chevrolet Aveo. Brown is still awaiting trial.

Skipper's death received much attention from gay rights advocates, many of whom believe the murder was a hate crime.

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