Brandon Ward

Brandon Ward

Brandon Michael Ward is a former U.S. Marine convicted of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for a June 25, 2006 incident in which he stabbed two men, Joseph Hall and Joseph Ruinato. Hall died from the injuries. Ward was sentenced to life in prison on July 19, 2007.

Background

Ward began dating Samantha Sparling, four years his junior, when he was in San Diego for basic training. When Ward was transferred to northwest Florida, Sparling moved to Milton to live with her mother. Ward stayed at her house on weekends.

Party and killings

On the night before the incident, Ward, 20, attended an East Milton party with Sparling, 16. The two became separated at the party. Ward fought and wrestled with other attendees, while Sparling became the subject of aggressive sexual advances by one of the party's hosts, Nick Cote. According to Sparling's testimony, she "gave in" to the advances because "it felt good." When Ward discovered the pair engaged in a sex act, he became enraged. Ward was ejected from the party after Sparling told partygoers that he struck her. Though her story was corroborated by other witnesses, she later testified that it was a fabrication to conceal her embarrassment.

Ward testified that, as he drove back to Sparling's home, he received several threatening cell phone calls from partygoers.

After being comforted by others at the party, Sparling was driven to her Munson Highway home by Ruinato, Hall and another teenage girl. When they arrived, Ward's car was present though Ward was no where to be seen. Ward approached from behind the victims and drew their attention to him. Holding one hand behind his back while approaching Hall and Ruinato Ward shouted at them and they yelled back and walked towards him as well. As soon as he was close enough Ward produced a butterfly knife and stabbed both Hall and Ruinato three times. Hall was pronounced dead at the scene from the injuries and Ruinato suffered a stab wound to the left shoulder, chest, and lower abdomen.

Trial

Ward's trial began on May 14, 2007.

Attorney Leo Thomas defended Ward under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, passed on October 1, 2005, on the grounds that Ward regularly stayed at Sparling's house and was justified in using deadly force. "This is a tragedy for everyone involved. There's no question about it," Thomas said. "But the evidence will show it was an honest case of self-defense."

Thomas portrayed the fatal altercation as being instigated by Hall and Ruinato, citing the former's MySpace page — which had the address "joehallwillkillyourfamily" and featured a violent music video by the band Waking the Cadaver — as an alleged indicator of Hall's violent tendencies. The prosecution claimed that Ward was hiding in the bushes when the others arrived, and that the stabbings were unprovoked.

A jury found Ward guilty on May 24, 2007. On July 19, 2007, Ward was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Ron Swanson to serve life in prison for the murder of Hall. He received an additional 25-year sentence for the attempted murder of Ruinato, which Ward will serve concurrently.