Alex, the youngest of the brothers, claimed that the murder was done intentionally but was a result of years of abuse, both physical and emotional, by their father. The two were found guilty and were sentenced a serve less than ten years in prison. Alex King could have also been charged with first degree murder, or charged as an adult, as Tate was. According to Florida law, this would have carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The best defense that could have been used, and ultimately was used by Alex's defense team, was that he acted out of self-defense. Further, he could have used the defense that he was only an accomplice to the act since it was his brother who actually used the blunt object to pummel his father.

Clearly, this punishment does not violate the Constitutional provision against cruel and unusual punishment, although it does bring up questions about the fairness of the laws application between similar cases among the various races.

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Cass, Ronald (2001). Rule of Law in America....

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of Profiling. Barnes and Noble Books.

Sims, Barbra (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment with Correctional Clients. London: Hawthorn Press.

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