Stark Crewman Gets Two Life Terms

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A sailor convicted in two hammer slayings despite claims that he was driven insane by the 1987 Iraqi missile attack on the frigate Stark was sentenced Monday to two consecutive life terms.

Walter Thomas Taylor Jr., 24, must serve 50 years before he is eligible for parole. Taylor was convicted Feb. 8 of two counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 8, 1987, slayings of Paula Smits, 21, and her daughter, Amanda, 3.

During the trial, the defense argued that the slayings were the result of post-traumatic stress syndrome. They said Taylor developed the syndrome after 37 shipmates died when two Exocet missiles fired by an Iraqi jet hit his guided missile frigate while it was on patrol in the Persian Gulf.