A jury in Florida deliberated for four hours on Friday before finding a member of the Miccosukee Tribe guilty for murdering his two young songs.

Kirk Billie was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder. He drove an SUV carrying his sons, ages 3 and 5, into a canal in 1997.

Billie claimed he didn't know the boys were in the back of the car. But some jurors said they didn't believe him.

The incident took place off the reservation but state investigators tried to go on tribal lands to interview witnesses and seek evidence. The tribe refused to allow state law enforcement onto the reservation.

Billie had been found guilty of second-degree murder but an appeals court set aside the conviction and ordered a new trial because the jury heard testimony about his criminal past.

Get the Story:
Billie convicted in deaths of sons (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 2/5)
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Father guilty in death of sons (The Miami Herald 2/5)
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Court Decision:
Billie v. State (July 30, 2003)

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Billie given two life sentences (4/20)
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