current case.
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The family asked the judge to reject the deal. He did it.
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A murder case in Florida took an unexpected turn when a judge refused to accept a plea deal after hearing from the victims' family.
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Former assistant principal Ernest Roberts is accused of killing Camilla Russell, a 41-year-old teacher and mother of two, in 2019.
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Russell disappeared after visiting her sister. Surveillance footage reportedly showed her entering Roberts' home but not leaving.
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Her body was discovered in a canal in Miami Gardens days later.
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At a recent hearing, Roberts was willing to plead guilty to second-degree murder as part of a deal that includes a 30-year prison sentence.
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But the Russells opposed the deal.
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Her daughters and other relatives approached the court and explained why they did not want the proposed decision to be accepted.
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The judge ultimately rejected the agreement and recused himself from further proceedings.
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The case remains unsolved, and Roberts has not been convicted.
⠀ Watch the discussion in the courtroom and the family's statements ⠀.