Beating case moves to alleged accomplice Kayla Manson

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FORT LAUNDERDALE, Fla., July 24 (UPI) -- Prosecutors, fresh from the conviction of a Florida teenager of first-degree attempted murder, shifted focus to the girl who told the teen where his target was.

Wayne Treacy, 17, was convicted as an adult last week in Broward County of first-degree attempted murder for savagely beating Josie Lou Ratley, a student at Deerfield Beach Middle School, March 17, 2010.

Kayla Manson, 15, is charged as a juvenile with principal to first-degree attempted murder. Prosecutors say Manson, who was 13 when the incident occurred, identified Ratley as the person who engaged in a heated text message exchange with Treacy hours before she was beaten. Manson, prosecutors and witnesses said, led Treacy to Ratley, identified her, then walked away as Treacy began beating Ratley.

The charge against Manson hinges on whether she knew Treacy intended to kill Ratley, the South Florida Sun Sentinel said.

"Nobody took [Treacy's threats] seriously," said Regina Tsombanakis, one of Manson's lawyers. "She feels horrible that something like this happened to her friend."

The case against Manson will be tried in juvenile court in August.