News Five Year Old To Be Charged With Murder?

[AngelaMarie]

freakofnuture:
[DLMURL]http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7362976n&tag=contentMain;contentBody[/DLMURL]

This is the link.

 

[Reclusive]

Okay, so I read the article online. I think we're forgetting that we all have a "mental disorder" (that's the wording in the article I read). I know I do, and I probably did when I was 16, too. I was fully competent to take care of 4 kids back then, still am, just would be a lot more worn out by it. So I don't think we can make any judgements there.

The article I read also said that things like this happen a lot more frequently than people realize. I just hope that everyone involved gets the help that they need - the parents, the babysitter, and the 5 year old as well. This is a horrible tragedy and all I can see is all the sorrow and pain that this family is going to be going through. Even if the 5 year old is found inculpable, that family is going to have to deal with mourning and stigma and judgements from everyone.

 

[Kintsugi]

Watch the video I recommended. It tells you alot.

This is a very informative video of the Casey Anthony trial. I know, there are two child murder threads up here. I just wanted to let you know in case you have a good link for the 5-year-old story.

 

[Nicolette]

I know, there are two child murder threads up here. I just wanted to let you know in case you have a good link for the 5-year-old story.

Is there anyone who can point me the direction of initial discussion as the link I clicked on refers to a separate matter - Casey Anthony?

 

[Reclusive]

Here's a short article from CBS. [DLMURL]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20070536-504083.html[/DLMURL]

This article uses the term 'mentally handicapped', which is more specific but still doesn't tell us anything about the teenager's level of functioning.

 

[Nicolette]

Thank you Reclusive.

 

[anni]

So, in the eyes of the government this child isn't considered to have the ability to form an opinion worthy of a vote until he's 18, can't function on our roads until the age of 16, and couldn't gain control over his own bank account or affairs until what-18 also? He wouldn't be allowed to go get shot at legally in a war until that age although only has to wait until 12 until heading off to bag a deer. Somehow the age of responsibility for a charge of murder plumets to the low single digits when there's blame to be had and the finger could be pointed back at a culpable society tolerating the obliteration of social services across the board. There's an awful lot to this story with none of it cumulating in the need to highlight the obscenity of 5 year old babies limping in ankle shackles into our country's courtrooms. There used to be a Juvenile Justice System, which was at least able to deal with underaged offenders and these horrific instances of very young children who kill but that is rapidly declining in services and effectiveness thanks to cuts. Children are being left more and more to the mercy of the adult system, and wow- this one would take the proverbial cake.

I do not think the point would be 'did he have intent'. That's for the experts. The point is to see what new lows of barbarism we could possibly sink to, were this country to seriously tolerate the spectacle of a 5 year old child being charged with murder.

 

[Nicolette]

Dare I throw flames on the fire and ask how the child knew that putting her sibling's head under water would quieten him?

What has the child been exposed to in order to know this as it does not form what I would consider normal child like behavior?

 

[Beautiful Butterfly]

Nicolette

I thought the same thing. What could this child possible be seeing in order for her to think like this. But look at it like this. When my youngest was a baby my oldest was three years older. My baby would get fussy in the evening time and nothing but a warm bath with her ducky would calm her down. I'm not saying this as an excuse, but the little girl could have thought when the mommy saw baby crying she would give the baby a bath to relax and calm the baby. I don't know, that's all I could come up with, I'm still in shock after hearing about this case.

 

[Dove]

I also wonder what this child has been exposed to. TV, Video games and maybe what has been done to her. I know I sound old fashioned , but I have seen games with really bad violence in the hands of my 4 year old nephew- like grand theft auto or something like that. Parents are responsible for this. It is the parents job to protect their children!!

 

[Girl3]

I began babysitting in 1970 when I was ten. I would feed, bathe, put to bed children not much younger than me. I remember being five - looking after my cousins 4 and 2. I think it depends on the 5 year old as to what they know and don't - but if the five year old was left alone, with no real backup resources - the adult is responsible, the 5 year old needs help, and the 16 year old needs intervention as well as this will/should weigh on her/his conscience.

 

[Deaf Global Nomad]

I could not find any updates on this report since the original reports Jun 9-12. It's as if the story has been quieted. What I did find, however, is that under the law of the state of Missouri a child under age 12 CANNOT stand trial. Not being able to find anything else about the case and that piece of Missouri law, I don't think anything came of the investigation or potential trial. It is probably in the hands of the county providing services for the child and family.