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Trial Date Set For Sean Taylor Murder Suspect

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – A May trial date has been set for man accused of taking part in a 2007 burglary which led to the murder of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

During a hearing on Thursday, a judge set the May 27 date for 26-year-old Jason Mitchell. Trial dates will be set later for the remaining two suspects; 24-year-old Charles Wardlow and 22-year-old Timothy Brown. All are charged with first-degree murder and face possible life in prison.

The three are accused of taking part in the burglary along with the alleged shooter, 23-year-old Eric Rivera Jr., and a fifth man who pleaded guilty.

They tried to burglarize the Pro Bowl player's house in an effort to make off with tens of thousands of dollars in cash they believed they would find there.

The group also mistakenly believed that no one would be home, because Taylor had a football game that Thanksgiving weekend. An injury, however, kept him away from the game.

Rivera was sentenced last month to 57 years in prison after he was convicted at trial of second-degree murder and armed burglary, although he denied shooting Taylor.

Taylor was an all-pro safety with the Redskins who also starred at the University of Miami.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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