Judge Reverses Blades’ Verdict Seahawks Star Receiver Acquitted In Shooting Death Of His Cousin

Seattle Seahawks receiver Brian Blades sat motionless, only blinking as a judge ended a family nightmare Monday.

A manslaughter conviction in the shooting death of his cousin was erased. Broward Circuit Judge Susan Lebow in effect ruled the case should never have reached the jury.

Prosecutors simply hadn’t proved the NFL star acted recklessly or negligently in a struggle for control of his gun, which fired a fatal shot into the chin of his best friend, Charles Blades, last year.

When the shock of the judge’s ruling wore off, Brian Blades raised his arms in the air in a “praise God” gesture as he was hugged by relatives.

“The victory is not mine, it’s the Lord’s. It is a tragedy, a tragedy I’ll have to deal with the rest of my life. I do have faith in the Man above, and I’m going to keep serving Him,” Blades said as he left the courthouse.

Lebow’s surprise ruling erased a verdict reached Friday that could have sent Blades to prison for 10 years.

The directed verdict of acquittal means he cannot be tried again on the same charge. It came on a motion filed by his lawyers even before the case went to the six-member jury last Thursday.

“The judge recognized that it should never have gone to the jury,” defense attorney Fred Haddad said after Lebow’s decision. “She’s going to get crucified for this, let’s face it. She’s going to get massacred.”

Lebow said her review of case law during the weekend led her to accept the defense contention that the prosecution had not proved its case.

Assistant State Attorney Peter Magrino said he was shocked and disappointed by the judge’s intervention but is confident an appeals court will reinstate the verdict.

“I’ll take the conscience of the community, and I’ll rely on their judgment,” he said.

Charles Blades, 34, was shot to death when he tried to defuse an argument between Brian, 30, and Brian’s younger brother, Bennie, also an NFL player, after the three went drinking to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Bennie Blades, a safety for the Detroit Lions, said outside the court that the family was elated and thankful the case was over.

“God shows up just when you want him,” he said.

Bennie said his older brother had never lost hope and in fact had predicted the acquittal after the jury verdict Friday.

“I know I’ve got a good God,” he quoted his brother as saying. “When it comes Monday, I know I’m going to be a free man.”

Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said he was “extremely happy” for Brian, saying he believed the judge would recognize the shooting as an accident.

“He’s going to have to live with it the rest of his life,” Erickson said. “It’s always going to be there.”

The judge had been expected to discuss a woman juror who said shortly after the verdict she had changed her mind. But Lebow made no mention of that part of the case Monday.

Miami attorney Neal Sonnett, former president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said directed verdicts are not common but also not extremely unusual.

“While it’s not an everyday occurrence, it’s certainly not unprecedented or so unusual that it should create great waves about the criminal justice system,” he said.

In the shooting, an argument erupted between Bennie Blades and his ex-girlfriend, Carol Jamerson, over the care of their daughter after Bennie, Brian and Charles Blades returned to Bennie’s townhouse in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Plantation.

When Brian Blades tried to intercede, the brothers fought and Brian said he was going home a few doors down to get his gun, according to testimony.

The two cousins scuffled over the gun at Brian’s townhouse, and Charles Blades died of a single gunshot wound.

Lead defense attorney Bruce Zimet called the shooting “a tragic accident without criminal responsibility.”

Brian Blades, who caught a career-high 81 passes for 1,086 yards in 1994, has played for the Seahawks for eight seasons. Both he and Bennkie played for the University of Miami.

Blades, 30, originally pleaded no contest to the shooting May 1, hoping to spare his family the ordeal of trial. He changed his mind May 17.