Blades Guilty -- Seahawk Convicted Of Manslaughter In Shooting Death Of His Cousin Last July

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Seattle Seahawk receiver Brian Blades was convicted today on manslaughter charges in the shooting death last July of his cousin and close friend, Charles Blades.

Blades showed no emotion as the verdict of the six-member jury was announced to a hushed court after seven hours of deliberation.

Circuit Judge Susan Lebow deferred setting a sentencing date pending a hearing Monday for post-trial motions. The standard sentencing range is six to 10 years. The judge allowed Blades to remain free on $10,000 bond.

The defense said it would file a motion bringing up the fact that less than an hour after the verdict, the judge informed both sides that a juror had asked to change her vote, said defense attorney Bruce Zimet.

The judge "expressed the juror's opinion that she was unhappy with the verdict and that the verdict was, in fact, something she wanted to change," Zimet said.

Prosecutors contended that Brian Blades was criminally negligent July 5 when his gun fired as he scuffled with his cousin. Charles Blades was trying to stop an argument between Brian Blades and his brother Bennie, a safety for the Detroit Lions.

The defense argued that the shooting was a tragic accident.

After the verdict was announced, the Blades brothers and a large entourage of family members and friends left the Broward County Courthouse. Some in the entourage shouted: "Keep your head up, Brian! Keep your head up!"

Both Blades brothers declined to answer reporters' questions.

"Brian was very surprised," said Blades' agent, Drew Rosenhaus. "He was confident that he would be acquitted. But he's strong. He's hanging in there."

The verdict was televised at Seahawk headquarters. The atmosphere was hushed, and one female employee fought back tears.

Seahawk Coach Dennis Erickson said he had expected Blades to be acquitted but that "we'll have to wait to see what happens Monday."

"We've supported Brian from the start of this whole thing, and we continue to support him and always will support him," Erickson added. "Obviously, we're not happy with the decision of the jury. . . .We're concerned about him and his mental health and the things he's been through the last year have been unbelievable."

Fellow wide receiver Ricky Proehl, reached at his home in North Carolina, said, "I'm shocked. My thinking is he's gone through enough with it being an accident and the death of his cousin. . . . If you know Brian, you know it's not something he would do on purpose."

Attorneys defending Blades, 30, presented no witnesses.

The defense may have been buoyed by Wednesday's mock scuffle between prosecutor Peter Magrino and a gun expert over the death weapon. As they pretended to struggle, Blades' unloaded semiautomatic pistol inadvertently fired.

That seemed to support the defense contention that Charles Blades was shot by accident while trying to intercede in an argument between the two brothers.

Jurors began deliberating just after noon yesterday. Three alternates spoke with reporters after being dismissed.

"I felt the state proved their case," alternate Stephen Brewer said. "You don't pull a gun if you're not going to use it."

But the other alternates disagreed.

"I had my doubts," Doreen Hixon said. "I can see how it happened. . . . I think it's a very, very tragic accident."

"There's nothing to prove Brian Blades was culpably negligent," Susan Paris added.

In their first four hours of deliberations, jurors made three requests, seeking a copy of Brian Blades' 911 tape and the ammunition from his gun; the weapon itself - which they weren't allowed to have while in possession of the bullets - and its manual; and photos of the area at Brian Blades' home in suburban Plantation where the shooting took place early last July 5.

Blades is second on the Seahawks' all-time receiving list with 493 catches for 6,561 yards. He has been with the team for eight years.

The Seahawks signed Blades to a three-year, $4.5 million contract extension this spring. The contract doesn't have a signing bonus and the team doesn't have to pay him if he is unable to play because of incarceration.