Teen pleads guilty to second-degree murder, released after 3 years in prison

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The teen whose life sentence for killing a playmate stirred national debate over Florida's treatment of juvenile criminals, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Thursday, finalizing his release after three years in prison.\nLionel Tate, who was 12 when he beat 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick to death almost five years ago, declined to speak, but offered through his attorney to meet with the girl's mother.\nBefore the plea, the mother told the court Tate committed a "brutal murder" but said she forgave him. Tate, wearing a tan suit and an open collar, showed little reaction as he listened to her.\n"This was not child's play. This was not roughhousing. This was a brutal murder," Deweese Eunick-Paul said.\nEunick-Paul also said she wanted Tate, 16, to publicly acknowledge her daughter's death was not an accident.\nHis attorney, Richard Rosenbaum, said Tate was remorseful for Tiffany's death and had looked at her photograph earlier Thursday.\n"By entering the guilty plea, Lionel has accepted the responsibility for Tiffany's death," Rosenbaum said.\nAn appeals court threw out Tate's first-degree murder conviction last month, ruling he might not have understood the criminal proceedings against him four years ago.\nInstead of holding another trial, prosecutors offered Tate a plea that would sentence him to the three years he has already served. He was released earlier this week and had to enter the plea to finalize the deal.\nAs part of the deal, Tate will be under house arrest for a year and probation for ten years. He must also complete 1,000 hours of community service and receive regular counseling.