Judge Orders Teens Held In Hallandale Beach Murder
FT. LAUDERDALE BEACH (CBSMiami) – Two teen cousins charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of a man in Hallandale Beach will remain in juvenile detention.
On Thursday a judge ordered that Jose Carlos Llano, 14, and Juan Xolo, 17, be held there until at least a January 10th hearing when state prosecutors will announce whether they will be charged as adults.
"The state will review all facts and circumstances that are relevant to this case and we will make a filing decision regarding what charges should be filed and whether they should be filed in juvenile or adult court," said prosecutor Maria Schneider
Public defender Gordon Weeks is representing Llano.
"To my understanding, the young man has had minimal contact with the system, if any," said Weeks. "The family is very concerned about this incident, so is the young man. This is a very serious charge that is pending against him."
Llano and Xolo are accused of killing the man behind an Advance Auto Parts store on North Federal Highway early Wednesday morning.
Hallandale Beach Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy said the teens confessed to the crime and told investigators a chilling tale.
"They used a pen to puncture or create wounds to the deceased," Flournoy said.
According to an arrest report CBS4 News obtained from the Broward State Attorney's office, the two killed 32 year old Gregory Hyppolite in a dispute over money.
The arrest report states the cousins offered Hyppolite $40 in cash if he introduced them to a female prostitute. When Hyppolite found the woman, she refused to have sex because they only had ten dollars between them.
At that point police say 14 year old Llano ran home to get a computer. But when he brought it to Hyppolite, he refused to take the computer.
A fight started which quickly escalated. That's when, police say, Hyppolite was stabbed with a pen.
"It seemed to be more of a situation that occurred rapidly," Flournoy explained. "It didn't seem to involve any sort of premeditation."
Police said they received a 911 call about three males in a fight. When an officer arrived he found the teens standing over a bloody man lying on the ground. When the teens spotted they cop they took off, but were rounded up by other officers arriving on the scene.
Police said the man was stabbed and beaten so severely, he died of his injuries on the scene.
