11-year-old Pennsylvanian is youngest person in world to face life without parole

11-year-old Pennsylvanian is youngest person in world to face life without parole

www.rawstory.com

A Pennsylvania boy who was 11 years old when he allegedly shot and killed his father's pregnant fiancee could find himself being the youngest person ever sentenced to life without parole.

Human rights campaigners have said the case shows the US' justice system to be unusually harsh towards juvenile offenders, and argue that a life sentence for the boy could violate international law.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Eesh...

This is a case that I really don't know what is the right thing to say or not to say, as it is controversial and disturbing on multiple levels.

So this 11 year old kid commits an unthinkable murder, of his dad's pregnant fiance.

Who knows what the heck is wrong with him, but obviously there was some short-circuiting of proper thought processes, to the Nth degree.

But the crux of the issue is this was an ELEVEN YEAR OLD CHILD.

Doesn't take away the horrible crime he commited, but I want to get other's takes here on whether sentencing such a young kid to life in prison is the right step, or should he be subject to some sort of reform and psychiatric program to see if whatever went wrong with him as a child can be figured out?

I don't know, I'm torn on this one due to his age.

The youngest kid on earth serving a life sentence?

Thoughts?

www.rawstory.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

i think 1. why were their guns out where he could reach them and get ahold of them.. and 2. he should be shot bc hes old enough to know what he did was wrong. its no different than if a 25 year old walked in a shot her. i personally dont think age matters on this bc he knew was he was doing

Damn third world with all of their backward laws... The West has to bring them the principles of freedom and justice. Oh wait, this is the U.S.A.

surprise surprise another big 'gun got out of the bag' case being covered....

*sits back and watches the constitution burn*

*not for/against*

11 yr olds can kill in cold blood just like adults can.
If you don't believe me, just ask the soldiers coming
back from Vietnam.

Shoe shine mister, please shoe shine for you
cheap cheap

BOOM !!!!

Seems like they should give him some sort of treatment or punishment, based on principle. Otherwise 11 year olds would be able to legally murder.

Originally posted by boondock-saint
11 yr olds can kill in cold blood just like adults can.
If you don't believe me, just ask the soldiers coming
back from Vietnam.

Shoe shine mister, please shoe shine for you
cheap cheap

BOOM !!!!

You got it. Eleven year olds can be convinced to kill, be it by a trained military specialist or by violent images.

I've always said that the young offenders act should be revamped. If you commit an adult crime, expect to do adult time. Period. No exceptions.

Originally posted by rsronce9
i think 1. why were their guns out where he could reach them and get ahold of them.. and 2. he should be shot bc hes old enough to know what he did was wrong. its no different than if a 25 year old walked in a shot her. i personally dont think age matters on this bc he knew was he was doing

He's 11. An every day average Joe age 25 could kill someone and plead insane and not get sentenced to life. Or sentence is reduced from the maximum. Or he's given parole. This kid is going to spend the next 70 years in jail with no chance of freedom. Not saying what he did was right but adult rapists and murderers get out after a while while this kid will have no chance in "The Land of Opportunity" and "Second Chances."

Edit: Spelling

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


No one wins this argument do they!

Do you treat a horrific crime like this differently because of the kids age?
I guess that is what we have to do if we consider the penalty too harsh.

I think we have a tendency to pass sentence on the crime and not the criminal, I think this is an example of that.

I think the sentence will be passed, appeals will be launched and the sentence will eventually be reduced. Then, I think the spectrum of opinions relating to the matter will be served, if you see what I mean.


On a side issue, where did the 11 year old get the gun from?
I would be interested in the motive too! I guess that will relate to the harsh sentencing. Did he get a psych evaluation, and what did it recommend? I guess all these things relate to sentencing.

Obviously theres something going on in this kids head.
I really don't think jail is the answer, I think the right people need to help this kid out.

This is most certainly a tough one to comment on. What this kid did was very horrible and he deserves punishment for it. But at the same time this kid is clearly disturbed and needs help. Help that he probably wont get if he is locked up in prison for life...

I think that in some cases there is a push to just lock people away and keep them away from society, even though perhaps they could be helped.... I don't know...

Perhaps this kid is beyond help.... But I just feel like, how will we know if we don't try? Again, he needs to be punished for this horrible act.... I just hope he can get the help he needs.

A child is an undeveloped biological entity; it is solely up to the parents (guardians) to nurture, provide, and identify any instabilities or deviant behavior in a child..period. If you bring them into this world, you are responsible as a parent to ultimately formulate that child's thought process until they exceed an acceptable age of awareness.

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


This is a tough one, but I have to agree with the father. This boy was too young to understand the consequences of his actions. Furthermore, why did an 11 year old have access to a gun? I'm not one of those people who believe we shouldn't have guns, but why is the father not being held accountable as well? Guns need to be locked up, with kids in the house!

But, he's 11 for crying out loud! I do think that he should serve some time and have counseling, but no chance of parole? That's insane! This child isn't old enough to know what he wants out of life... in 10 years, he could be a completely different person. If he does get life without parole, he'll never have a chance to better himself or become a productive member of society. If he were older, I would feel differently, but IMO an 11 year old is FAR too young to be tried as an adult. The article says that he is being tried as an adult because he wouldn't admit guilt. Well, duh! He's 11! He probably wouldn't admit to something as simple as stealing another kids lunch money, much less to killing someone!

Murder is bad and wrong and unacceptable, but someone this young deserves a chance. I know it was a BAD decision to shoot and kill somebody, but I just don't think he was old enough to realize what he was getting himself into. They need to try to help the kid, instead of just locking him up for the rest of his life.

reply to post by Portugoal


well america isnt perfect even though everyone in the general public seems to think so.. but i think rapists shoudl b shot as well but thats beside the point. i guess its a win/lose argument.

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


Some people are just sick... even at a young age. Guns aren't needed. See: Robert Thompson and Jon Venables

karisable.com...

On Feb. 12, 1993, in Liverpool, England, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables murdered 2 year old James Bulger after kidnapping the toddler from a butcher's shop in a shopping center with his mother, Denise who was momentarily distracted as she conducted business.

Two ten year old boys skipping school took the young child on a 2½ mile walk culminating at the railroad tracks. At a canal, on the way, he sustained head and face injuries from being dropped to the ground.

They were seen by at least 38 people, some noticed head injuries on the little boy. It was reported that he seemed upset and distressed, yet other's reported he was also seen laughing happily.

Once they reached the tracks, blue paint was thrown in James's face, they kicked him, battered him with bricks, stones, and a 22 lb iron bar; shoved batteries in his mouth; and sexually assaulted him before covering his lifeless body with bricks and stones on train tracks. A train severed his body. The boys went home afterwards to watch cartoons.

Several days later, James's mangled body in two pieces was discovered on a rail embankment. At the place his body was found, James was honored with floral tributes, including one from Thompson.

Originally posted by LipanConjuring86
A child is an undeveloped biological entity; it is solely up to the parents (guardians) to nurture, provide, and identify any instabilities or deviant behavior in a child..period. If you bring them into this world, you are responsible as a parent to ultimately formulate that child's thought process until they exceed an acceptable age of awareness.

Well said.

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


Ehhhhh... yeah... Life without Parole is a problem, and I am not entirely sure how I feel on this. On the one hand, he commited 2 counts of murder. On the other hand he was 11 at the time. While I agree with expanded protection for minors, could too much protection lead to a system where minors can kill adults with minimal repercussions?

This case though, the judge needs to be taken to task for his decision being based off the minors refusal to admit guilt. The Supreme court has been very clear on presumed innocense when it comes to minors. The certify him as an adult because of his refusal to admit guilt is BS.

There needs to be something in place for minors who commit murder. I am not sure life without parole will fix the problem though. If nothing else, all it does is takes the problem and hides it, without ever addressing it.

As far as International law goes, personally speaking, they need to eff off. If we used Intrnational law in this country, as a Law enforcement Officer I would not be allowed to handcuff a person behind their backs, and I would have to tell the suspect what all of his charges are at the moment they are placed in handcuffs. The problem with that is the PA's office can modify, drop and add charges at a later time. Since they were arrested under one charge, per international law, we would not be able to amend those charges.

Anyways, I digress.. Life without parole for a minor is excessive, and it needs to be looked at. There should be alternatives available

just my 2 cents.

Reading alot of how a 11 year old can be responsible like an adult

Here is a mental exercise...if a 11 year old should face adult consequences, should they also be able to have the benefits of adults?

Should the age of sexual consent be lowered to 11?

Should a 11 year old be able to drive? to operate heavy machinery? to drink at bars?

Explain why you can punish a 11 year old like an adult because they know what they are doing, yet they cant go off and have a 45 year old boy/girlfriend if they want, or get liquored up.

Ya, thought so...nothing like hypocracy to get things back into perspective.

The kid needs therapy..the crime is horrible...there is some flawed parenting going on here, and it needs to be sorted.
Vengence imprisonment of a child is not doing our justice system or our country as a whole any good.

The only way this would be morally acceptable would be for a citizenship test for all.... Regardless of age...

You pass your test... you can vote, drink,smoke,drive, and join the military... otherwise this is purely a case of conviction hungry prosecutor, who wants the big win in the news....

Hey i am allowed my opinion.. if you want them to serve time with adults sentences then they have the right to be treated as adults...

which also mean all those elven year old loafers can quit living off their parents and society and go get a real job...

stoned face smiley....

They can do time for murder as an adult they can all be treated like one... otherwise it is a violation of equal treatment crap in the amendments...