Former Seminoles Star Travis Rudolph Finds Familiar Face In Courtroom

Travis Rudolph In A Hug With Bo Paske

Photo: CBS 12

Former FSU football star Travis Rudolph is expected to testify in his own defense on Monday as he stands trial for murder.

His brother, Darryl Rudolph, supported the defense's claims that four men showed up at the family's Palm Beach County home over two years ago with the intent to kill.

"I was like traumatized 'cause not only were we being physically assaulted, but now we got firearms like...I thought we was gonna die that night, like it was my last day on Earth."

He told jurors on Friday that one of the men told Travis Rudolph that he was "going to die tonight."

Instead, it was one of those four men who died after Travis ran inside his house and came back out with a rifle. He fired nearly 40 shots at the car they were driving.

Rudolph claims the man who was killed had been pointing a gun at him from the vehicle, but prosecutors say that was not the case.

Among the people in that West Palm Beach courtroom is a teen who once went viral in a photograph with the former FSU wide receiver.

Bo Paske, an 18-year old with Autism, was just eleven when Rudolph visited his Tallahassee middle school, saw him eating lunch alone and sat down with him.

Bo and his mother tell CBS 12 News they had to be there.

Leah Paske: "We support Travis and we support his family and we want the truth to come out."

Bo Paske: "I'm just here for Travis' support."

Travis says he can use all the support he can get.

"Oh man, it means a lot. As much support as I can get going through this process is everything to me. I haven't seen Bo in years and just seeing him put a big smile on my face. You know, he grew up into a man and I'm happy to see him."

Rudolph faces life in prison if convicted.


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