More of this Feature • Part 1: Paying the Price for Murder, On Shelves, and more • Part 2: Sibling Revelry, Remaking a Mint, and more
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Paying the Price for Murder
The bandits who shot and murdered New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake (right) during a botched robbery last year will have plenty of time to reflect on their deeds in prison.

In June a Brazilian judge found all six members of the "pirate" gang guilty of murder. The stiffest sentence fell on the gang's leader and triggerman, Ricardo Colares Tavares, who will sit in jail for at least 36 years and nine months. The other five each face sentences of no less than 26 years and eight months in prison, according to New Zealand's Daily Telegraph.

On December 5, 2001, the gang boarded Blake's exploration yacht Seamaster with the intent of robbing her while she was anchored at the mouth of the Amazon River. Blake confronted the bandits, however, and it cost him his life. The 23-year-old Tavares admitted to firing two fatal shots into Blake's back. The gruesome crime sent shockwaves through the boating community and sparked public mourning worldwide for the beloved 53-year-old adventurer.

During the trial, the defense claimed that Tavares was mentally ill when he shot Blake, but the judge disallowed the argument. The defense also argued that it was Blake who fired the first shot. The judge struck down the claim as well, citing evidence from the crime scene and the sequence of events that came to light during courtroom testimony. Moreover, he implied that it was ludicrous for the defendants to claim self-defense, since they were the ones who perpetrated an armed robbery. Instead, all six defendants were found guilty of latrocinio, "armed robbery resulting in death."

On Shelves: The Fisherman's Ocean
If you're tired of relying on patience and luck to catch those prized saltwater fish, maybe it's time to let science work for you. The subtitle of David Ross's The Fisherman's Ocean says it all: "How marine science can help you find and catch more fish." By breaking down the myriad factors that affect fish in a variety of saltwater environments, the book presents a refreshingly logical approach to the seemingly chaotic sport of deep-sea angling. Everything from oceanic tides and currents to fish migration and feeding patterns is explained clearly to help you catch more fish. Ross, an oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, lays off the science jargon and even injects some humor into the subject. His book is a perfect tool for those tired of merely fishing and ready to do some catching.

$19.95, paperback. Stackpole Books.

September
5-8. The In-Water Powerboat Show in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (757) 727-1276. www.acinwaterboatshow.com.
7-15. The Pacific Powerboat Expo in Oakland, California. (510) 834-1000. www.ncma.com.
12-15. The Boat Show in Tampa, Florida. (305) 531-8410. www.discoverboating.com.
12-15. The Fall Boat Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. (317) 546-4344. www.renfrosportshows.com.
12-15. The International Boat Show in Newport, Rhode Island. (401) 846-1115. www.newportboatshow.com.
19-22. The International In-Water Boat Show in Norwalk, Connecticut. (212) 984-7018. www.discoverboating.com.
22-23. The Antique Classic Boat Show in Hampton, Virginia. (757) 727-1276. www.downtownhampton.com.

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