Academic

Suspect in homeless man's murder allowed to leave his house for one hour a day

Joel Boner (center) was attacked outside his tent at an Ocoee homeless camp and stabbed in the back as many as seven times.

For three months, murder suspect John Hawthorne has been confined to his family's Ocoee home, forbidden to go even on the front porch.

Now Orange-Osceola Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry has eased up on his restrictions -- a little.

Hawthorne, 19, is allowed to leave his house, but only an hour a day and only up to 50 yards away.

When making his decision, Perry mentioned that inmates at the Orange County Jail are allowed outside in a recreation yard for an hour a day.

Read the Orlando Sentinel report here. And check out the post at Willoughby Mariano's Orlando Homicide Report.

See previous posts here and here. And don't miss Justice for Joel Boner.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on November 27, 2009 (boomark / email).