I can't believe this news. Click here to read article: http://news.aol.com/article/pregnant-woman-killed/353423?icid=200100397x1218973403x1201314349
In short, an 11 year old boy is being charged as an adult in Pennsylvania. Apparently the boy shot and killed his father's pregnant girlfriend. Pennsylvania law allows children (as young as 10!) to be charged with criminal homicide. As of now, the 11 year old boy is in a normal jail facility and they don't even have a uniform that fits him. He can't receive any visitors except his attorney. This is tragic. What is becoming of our moral structure? Forget Britain -- we're talking Pittsburgh PA! Any thoughts? --- Rebecca
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Monday, February 23, 2009
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4 comments:
Okay, so I'll be the first to stir the pot. I read about this in our local paper, and they said the boy did kill his soon-to-be step-mother execution style, with a shot gun blast about one foot from the back of her head. I am just dumb-founded by it all. I think that he should be charged as an adult, although his defense attorney will most likely have the case moved to juvenile court at which time he will be charged with a lesser crime. He had been fighting with the girlfriend and her daughter in previous weeks, and shot her while she was lying down, so I doubt it was a crime of passion as she probably hadn't done anything to provoke him at that time. It really sounds to me like it was premeditated. If he is capable of committing such a heinous act at 11, shouldn't he be made to pay the price? She was some one's daughter, and she had 2 kids that will now grow up without their mother, not to mention the trauma the 4 year old will suffer after having found her mother's dead body. And let's not forget the 8 month old fetus that died as well. Should he really be able to hide behind his age and walk the streets once he turns 21? Thoughts?
You've raised some interesting points; and I don't have many of the facts that you provided,but like you, they are alarming.
I would just add to this "mix" as we stir it up .... at what point is the boy's father (and where was his "biological mother") responsbile too? At what point can we say that this boy is truly responsible for his acts if he has never (& I don't know if this is the case here) been in a stable home, given education, received love and all the other foundational points of "growing up and maturing". How can you hold him 100% responsible? If you throw a kid into the woods - he's going to be wild. I want to know what the family was like prior to this tragic event --- was it a good, stable, blended family or was it chaos? You can't just throw kids around in and out of a parent's relationships and not expect serious consequences.
And, yes, I agree totally that this is tragic beyond belief. The woman's children (and the death of her nborn child) are terrible. Her children will suffer with this their entire lives.
It's certain the boy will undergo thorough psychologiocal evaluation. Based on what I've read and both you're comments, it's tragic for eveyone involved. I'm sure more details will evolve in the next few weeks. My initial reaction is charge the boy as an adult for TWO murders. However, if we find out he lived in an abusive environment, that will change the scenario.
I couldn't agree more!
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