14 year old Lionel Tate cries as Judge imposes life sentence

Lionel Tate is the youngest person in the U.S. to be sentenced to life in prison. At 12, he killed a 6 year old playmate while wrestling with her.

Lionel's mother turned down a deal for him to get three years in a juvenile facility, thinking he would be acquitted. He was tried and convicted as an adult, and sentenced to life. He is now 16.

Lionel lost his appeal. Jeb Bush turned down his first clemency petition because he had had behavioral problems in jail. His second clemency petition is now under consideration. The Warden at his prison supports it and says he has made marked improvements. So do his lawyers:

''We're proud as can be of someone who was in a terrible situation,'' said Fort Lauderdale attorney Richard Rosenbaum, noting that the teenager with a reputation for ''a big mouth'' and ''talking back'' is now earning A's and B's on his report card and wants to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Lionel has a lot of support. His backers have brought his cause to the Pope and the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The NAACP is supporting him. So is a police group in East Orange, NJ.

In the end, Lionel's future will be decided by one man--Jeb Bush--with advice from a three member Board of Executive Clemency. Bush has until September to decide whether Lionel gets a clemency hearing.

Here's more about Lionel and his case.