Murder Suspect, 13, Appears In Court

A 13-year-old Florida middle school student accused of fatally shooting his teacher remained silent in court Tuesday as a judge set June 19th as the date for his arraignment.

The parents of defendant Nathaniel Brazill also were silent during the teen-ager's first court appearance, in West Palm Beach.

It was supposed to take place Tuesday morning, but was delayed until Tuesday afternoon because the boy's parents failed to show up.

Prosecutors say they were appearing instead on a talk show. They say the parents knew about the scheduled hearing. The parents appeared early Tuesday morning on the CBS News Early Show and were scheduled to appear on at least two other talk shows afterwards.

Brazill was indicted Monday on a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm. He would face life in prison with no chance of parole if convicted in the May 26th gunshot slaying of middle school teacher Barry Grunow

If convicted as a juvenile, he could only be held until he turned 21.

Speaking on the CBS News Early Show, the boy's attorney, Robert Udell, said he fully expected the grand jury decision. "The grand jury does the best they can with what they're told," he said. "and when they're only told one side of the case, the result should not be surprising."

He said Brazill "is looking at a significant term of imprisonment," even if he is convicted of a lesser offense.

Asked about his defense strategy, Udell said, "We intend to go into court and prove to the citizens of Palm Beach County and to prove to this country that this was nothing but a tragic accident, because that's the truth and that's what occurred."

The teen-ager's mother, Polly Powell, was in court for the indictment and said she was a little stunned" by the grand jury's decision. "There was really no surprise," she explained, "but you always have hope that it didn't go that way."

She said her son knew about the indictment but she wasn't sure that he understood its significance.

Both parents said the teen-ager should be punished for his actions but that the punishment should come in juvenile court.

Powell said she and her family will "just let him know they love him and we're praying and everything's going to be OK."

Asked by CBS News anchor Russ Mitchell how he keeps himself from getting too discouraged, Nate Brazill, the boys' father, said, "I have got my Bible, and I have got my faith. When you've got that, Russ, you don't need anything else."