Tay-K of "The Race" fame is officially on trial. Tay-K has pleaded not guilty to an additional count of aggravated
robbery, as well as one charge of capital murder. He has, however,
pleaded guilty to two charges of armed robbery, with his defense
attorney Jeff Kearney claiming that Tay-K indeed "agreed to participate
in a robbery," though he did not possess awareness that a murder was to
be committed. Unfortunately, the robbery ultimately went sour when Tay's
associate Latharian Merritt claimed the life of Ethan Walker, a
21-year-old father who died from a gunshot wound to the stomach.
According to Kearney, the guilty plea is a sign that Tay "accepts
responsibility" for committing the robbery. Still, he maintains that
Tay-K had no inclination that Merrit “was going to go in and
intentionally kill for no reason, intentionally kill Ethan Walker.”
Moreover, he maintains that no amount of evidence could suggest
otherwise.
Opposition counter by suggesting Tay K was eager to
involve himself in the robbery, claiming that he expressed willingness
to "take care of" the situation upon learning there might be a gun in
the place. He also claims that Tay-K and his associates entered the
house with a pair of guns and brass knuckles, with the logic therefore
being, "what else might he have expected."
If Tay-K is indeed
charged with capital murder, the punishment is life with the possibility
of parole. Seeing as he has pleaded guilty to a pair of aggravated
robbery charges, he's requesting probation. Unfortunately for Tay-K,
he's also facing a second capital murder charge, which occurred during
his "Race" when he allegedly shot and killed 23-year-old Mark Saldivar.
Not only that, but he rounded things out with a reported assault on a
65-year old man named Skip Pepe.
