12 year old to be charged as adult in double homicide

[Ooh La La]

I do apologize, I forgot that many states had not updated their laws in accordance with the 2005 ruling in Roper v. Simmons. So while Pennsylvania doesn't specifically cite an age where the death penalty may be used, they still have to abide by federal law.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Ooh La La

I do apologize, I forgot that many states had not updated their laws in accordance with the 2005 ruling in Roper v. Simmons. So while Pennsylvania doesn't specifically cite an age where the death penalty may be used, they still have to abide by federal law.

Ah I wasn't aware of that case. Looking it up now.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by honeychile

The way I heard it on the news is not that he protested his innocence, but feels absolutely no remorse that his father's fiance and the coming baby are dead. He had made many negative remarks to friends that he didn't want a baby in the house.

I don't know the whole story, but that's what I was thinking.

Honestly, I don't think he should be tried as an adult because he does not have the mental capability of an adult. However, even at 11 kids know that a) killing is wrong and b) you apologize when you do wrong. It's been a year and he's still showing no remorse for having taken 2 lives? There's more going on here than just immaturity. Have any psych assessments been done on this kid?

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

I don't know the whole story, but that's what I was thinking.

Honestly, I don't think he should be tried as an adult because he does not have the mental capability of an adult. However, even at 11 kids know that a) killing is wrong and b) you apologize when you do wrong. It's been a year and he's still showing no remorse for having taken 2 lives? There's more going on here than just immaturity. Have any psych assessments been done on this kid?

Yeah there were. But the thing is, do they have iron clad proof that he actually did it? He might not be showing remorse because he didn't do it.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Yeah there were. But the thing is, do they have iron clad proof that he actually did it? He might not be showing remorse because he didn't do it.

That is what I keep thinking. You can't really feel bad about doing something you didn't do.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

That is what I keep thinking. You can't really feel bad about doing something you didn't do.

That's why I was kind of WTF. They are trying him as an adult, because he is not showing remorse. But how do you show remorse and not admit guilt. It seems to me to be awfully close to punishing him because he is maintaining his innocence.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Yeah there were. But the thing is, do they have iron clad proof that he actually did it? He might not be showing remorse because he didn't do it.

I thought that for a second, too. But I felt a little naive saying it. If they didn't have the evidence, why would he have been in a facility for the last year? But looking at the justice system, that sounds a little naive, too.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Yeah there were. But the thing is, do they have iron clad proof that he actually did it? He might not be showing remorse because he didn't do it.

They found the shotgun and the shell casings all with his prints.

Prosecutors have suggested the boy was jealous of Houk and her unborn son. Police had said Jordan hid the weapon under a blanket so Houk's 7-year-old daughter wouldn't see it as he entered her mother's room. Later, authorities say, he threw the spent shell casing along a path on his way to a bus and went to school.

A state trooper testified that tests showed the shell was fired from Jordan's youth-model 20-gauge shotgun.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_1...98-504083.html


also see this link

Dr. Paul Friday, a clinical psychologist, says an 11-year-old with access to a gun took what he calls a simple solution to a complex problem.

"In this particular case, I am sure that Jordan saw himself in an impossible situation with no way out because that's what an 11-year-old brain would do," Friday said.

Prosecutors contend that Brown harbored resentment and felt he was treated unfairly when asked to move out of his room before the birth of his half-brother who was going to be named for his father, Christopher.

http://kdka.com/local/Jordan.brown.case.2.1600462.html

[cheerfulgreek]

Just keep it even.

[Prettyface08]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

I don't know the whole story, but that's what I was thinking.

Honestly, I don't think he should be tried as an adult because he does not have the mental capability of an adult. However, even at 11 kids know that a) killing is wrong and b) you apologize when you do wrong. It's been a year and he's still showing no remorse for having taken 2 lives? There's more going on here than just immaturity. Have any psych assessments been done on this kid?

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?

[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?