Sean Taylor case granted closed hearing

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MIAMI -- A Florida appeals court has ruled against several media companies seeking to open a key pretrial hearing in the slaying of former Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

The appeals judges sided with Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy, who closed Friday's hearing to avoid undue publicity that might influence potential jurors. The hearing involved whether statements made by suspects in Taylor's November 2007 killing can be used a trial.

Taylor was shot during a burglary attempt at his Miami-area home. Four Fort Myers-area men are charged in the slaying, while a fifth has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against the others. A trial date has not yet been set.

Taylor was a star safety at the University of Miami and later with the Redskins.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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