12 year old to be charged as adult in double homicide

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Prettyface08

Remorse for what? He's trying to get off, if he shows 'remorse' isn't that a hint at guilt? How would that help his defense?

If what I'm gathering is correct, and the real issue is that he demonstrates no sorrow that the father's fiancée and her unborn child are dead rather than feeling no remorse for killing them, then we seem to have a word-usage problem. The media uses the word "remorse," but remorse means sorrow for one's own wrongdoing. You don't feel remorse for something someone else did; you feel sorrow, sadness or the like.

Like you said, he's pleading not guilty -- a right guaranteed him by the Constitution. Why would he be expected to show remorse for something that he says he didn't do and that the government hasn't yet proven in court that he did do?

[Prettyface08]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

If what I'm gathering is correct, and the real issue is that he demonstrates no sorrow that the father's fiancée and her unborn child are dead rather than feeling no remorse for killing them, then we seem to have a word-usage problem. The media uses the word "remorse," but remorse means sorrow for one's own wrongdoing. You don't feel remorse for something someone else did; you feel sorrow, sadness or the like.

Like you said, he's pleading not guilty -- a right guaranteed him by the Constitution. Why would he be expected to show remorse for something that he says he didn't do and that the government hasn't yet proven in court that he did do?

Right. What if he really didn't do it, but still doesn't feel sorrow for their deaths? Not saying that it's right or that it doesn't mean that he may have deeper issues, but will they punish him because he doesn't feel bad that they are dead? They have already established that he didn't like her or the idea of having a new baby sibling, maybe he just doesn't care.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

If what I'm gathering is correct, and the real issue is that he demonstrates no sorrow that the father's fiancée and her unborn child are dead rather than feeling no remorse for killing them, then we seem to have a word-usage problem. The media uses the word "remorse," but remorse means sorrow for one's own wrongdoing. You don't feel remorse for something someone else did; you feel sorrow, sadness or the like.

Like you said, he's pleading not guilty -- a right guaranteed him by the Constitution. Why would he be expected to show remorse for something that he says he didn't do and that the government hasn't yet proven in court that he did do?

I think this is the problem and it's got everyone's La Perlas in a bunch. If he didn't do it, why's the little bugger gotta show any remorse?