[bloodrayne]

Florida Teen Gets 45 Years For Killing Friend

Pensacola, Florida — A 15-year-old girl was sentenced to 45 years in state prison Thursday for slitting the throat of a longtime friend in a fight over fireworks.

Christine Rogers, who was 13 when she was arrested in the July 2003 death Ashley Harvey, was tried as an adult and was convicted in February of second-degree murder.

She had faced life in prison but Circuit Judge Nick Geeker said he took her age into account in deciding on 45 years.

"This is not an easy case," he said. "The court wants to temper justice with mercy."

Rogers showed little reaction after hearing the sentence, which allows her to spend the rest of her youth with other young-adult offenders.

Witnesses testified that Rogers chased the 15-year-old Harvey with a butcher knife because she believed she was shooting fireworks at one of Rogers' younger sisters. The victim bled to death after being stabbed in the neck.