Time for a Judicial Change? Teen gets away with murder.

[badshotbob]

Yeah ok, stories like this are in the news nearly daily and while they all make my blood boil, something should be done. Short story: A 13 year old teenage girl gets off of murder charges for a technicality after shaking a 19 month old to death.

[link]http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002557685_babysitter13m.html[/link]

At the request of prosecutors, King County Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts yesterday dismissed a second-degree murder charge filed against the 13-year-old in the death of Freya.

The judge had ruled earlier this week that prosecutors could not use half of the statements the baby-sitter had made to police while her parents were not present. Much of the case against the girl had hinged on the statement she gave officers shortly after Freya was found unconscious in a West Seattle home Jan. 16.


Hershman, the baby-sitter's lawyer, said nearly a dozen officers interrogated the girl over a 36-hour period while denying her request to see her parents. State law says that a parent or other adult must be present during the police questioning of a child under 12, but does not provide for children between the ages of 12 and 16.

...the baby-sitter told police in a videotaped statement she shook Freya while giving the toddler a bath because she was kicking and squirming. The little girl was "listless" and had trouble standing up after the teen took her from the tub, and went to sleep immediately, she reportedly told police.

...the baby-sitter told police she'd shaken the girl after she had been crying inconsolably for about five minutes.

An autopsy later confirmed that Freya suffered brain damage, burst blood vessels and bruising caused by internal bleeding.

Deputy Prosecutor Kathleen Van Olst said prosecutors recently reviewed the police reports and other evidence and believe that they could have won a conviction at trial had they been allowed to use the baby-sitter's statements to police, but since they could not, prosecutors had little choice but to dismiss the case.

You have to be one sick *%$@ to defend a murderer that has confessed to the crime freeing them on some crap technicality. Cheers to all you lawyer freaks that believe this to be just part of the law and doing your duty defending the law - I hope you rot in hell.



So you think it's time for a change to our deplorable perverse fallacious judicial system? I for one do. I can clearly understand why some people wind up dead and chopped up only to be found rotting in some remote ravine.

[david m]

edit: nevermind. i reread it.

more research is needed.

[MikeVT]

I think that little kid's parents ought to "technically" look at that Girl down the barrel of a gun. Send a message to other minors that they can get away with murder. IMO, there is a special little corner in Hell reserved for those who prey upon and hurt defenseless children.

[Charlie P]

The article you linked states the girl never confessed to shaking the baby.

Bet I could question a 13 yr old for 36 hours and get out of her what I wanted too.

The baby-sitter's attorney, Bryan Hershman, said his client never confessed to shaking Freya, but only talked about "wiggling" the toddler. He also said that the medical examiner could not say with certainty when the fatal injuries had occurred and police had never investigated other suspects.

[badshotbob]

ORIGINAL: Charlie P

The article you linked states the girl never confessed to shaking the baby.

Sure does...

the baby-sitter told police in a videotaped statement she shook Freya while giving the toddler a bath..

...the baby-sitter told police she'd shaken the girl after she had been crying inconsolably for about five minutes.

That's rather cut and dried to me. That's the problem with this case though - they couldn't use that against her. Idiots.

[david m]

13 year old children, regardless of what they have done,should notbe treated as adults. they are children.

[Cougar Mag]

IMO a 13 year old girl should not have been allowed to babysit a toddler anyway.

[Champlain Islander]

Girl was guilty and got away with murder. Cops fault for botching the case. What the heck would they do with a 13 year old if they found her guilty? Keep her in Juvy until she is 21? tragic for everyone concerned.

[North Texan]

You have to be one sick *%$@ to defend a murderer that has confessed to the crime freeing them on some crap technicality. Cheers to all you lawyer freaks that believe this to be just part of the law and doing your duty defending the law - I hope you rot in hell.

I like how you divert the attention to the lawyers. No seriously, I'm a big fan of forced confessions, especially from 13 year olds. Procedural due process and Constitution be damned. Nothing like pronouncing judgment without a trial and with an illegal confession as apparently the only evidence.

Let's just grab a rope and have a lynching right now. Yeehaw!

[CalHunter]

ORIGINAL: North Texan

I like how you divert the attention to the lawyers. No seriously, I'm a big fan of forced confessions, especially from 13 year olds. Procedural due process and Constitution be damned. Nothing like pronouncing judgment without a trial and with an illegal confession as apparently the only evidence.

Let's just grab a rope and have a lynching right now. Yeehaw!

I didn't see where the 13-year-old's confession was "forced." According to posts about this law, parents are not required to be present when a 13-year-old is questioned. It sounds like the court is clearing up some confusion about 13-year-olds.