Hearing Set On Retrial Of Maddie Clifton Murder

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lawyers met Wednesday to discuss a hearing scheduled by the Florida Supreme Court for whether a man convicted of killing his 8-year-old neighbor in 1998 should get a new trial.

At a status conference about the motion for a retrial of Josh Phillips in the murder of Maddie Clifton, the state attorney's office confirmed that a hearing would be held Dec. 21 at the Duval County Courthouse.

Lawyers for Phillips, now 21, do not dispute he killed Maddie Clifton, but contend that a second-degree conviction would have been more appropriate.

Phillips, who was 14 at the time, told police he accidentally hit Clifton in the eye with a baseball as they played in his back yard. He said he panicked at her screams and was scared his father would punish him and hid her under his waterbed.

Phillips was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole. The state attorney's office filed its response, saying the conviction should stand given the evidence presented at trial.

Previous Stories:

• December 16, 2004: New Trial Sought In 1998 Slaying Of Maddie Clifton
• December 13, 2004: Man Accused Of Killing 8-Year-Old As Teen Wants New Trial
• February 6, 2002: Conviction, Sentence Upheld For Maddie's Killer

WJXT.com Coverage Archived By MaddieClifton.org (Not All Images Or Links Within Archived Stories Are Active)

• October 7, 1999: Why Did Joshua Philips Kill?
• August 20, 1999: Joshua Earl Patrick Phillips Sentenced To Life In Prison
• July 9, 1999: Some Evidence Released At End Of Trial
• July 8, 1999: Jury Finds Phillips Guilty Of First-Degree Murder
• July 8, 1999: Phillips Trial Goes To Jury
• July 7, 1999: Prosecution, Defense Rest
• July 7, 1999: The Trial: Day One July 7, 1999: Trial Begins For Teen Charged In Slaying
• July 6, 1999: Jury Seated In Phillips Murder Trial
• July 5, 1999: A Snap Shot Of Maddie Clifton
• July 5, 1999: Boy To Go On Trial For Maddie's Murder
• November 12, 1998: Neighborhood Remembers Maddie
• November 11, 1998: Neighbor Boy Held On Charges Of Killing Maddie Clifton
• November 10, 1998: Maddie Search Ends In Tragedy
• November 9, 1998: Search For Missing 8-Year-Old Girl Intensifies; FBI To Get Involved
• November 7, 1998: After Three Days, Girl Still Missing
• November 6, 1998: Lakewood 8-Year-Old Missing; Last Seen Tuesday In Her Yard