Overcharged?

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The attorney for Cara Murphy is speaking out on behalf of her client. Cara Murphy is one of the defendants in the beating of Victoria Lindsay.

Her attorney, Melodie Lopez, doesn’t think the defendants should have been charged as adults and doesn’t think her client should have been charged at all.

She insists that Murphy never hit the victim, Victoria Lindsay, and in fact tried to stop the beating by telling her friends, “Enough is enough.”

“She (Murphy) didn’t call police I know that, but she did make some attempts to stop the incident at some point” Lopez said.

Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the fact that she was present at the time of the crime and did nothing to prevent it make her an accessory?

And as far as the adult charges go, a wise man once said ‘Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.’

Comments

40 responses to “Overcharged?”

April 29, 2008

pareidoliac

I agree… I can’t imagine she would get away with claims such as ‘enough is enough’ constituting an attempt to stop the beating. Further, she would clearly have been party to the entire planning of the beating.

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April 29, 2008

navigator

And FYI, they all pleaded “not Guilty” today in court. LOL… Please… it’s on VIDEO!!! HOW ON EARTH do they think they are going to ge out of this as NOT GUILTY!!!!

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April 29, 2008

truthteller

It is outrageous that none of these girls have any remorse and don’t even appear to understand that they did anything wrong, and the attorneys are out of their minds if they think that they can get these girls off with a smack on the wrist.

Going by the actual definition of kidnapping, it is not an inappropriate charge. It would be one thing to be hearing remorse and humility from these girls. The fact that they think they can plead not guilty, when the whole thing is on video tape, and then just wait for it all to go away is remarkable to me. What kind of sheltered, privileged world are these girls living in? It is time for a major wake up call, perhaps even a life long one…after all, if they get away with it now, who is to say that the next person that pisses this posse off doesn’t wind up dead?

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April 30, 2008

Rachel Pirry, Glasgo

“It is outrageous that none of these girls have any remorse and don&rsquot even appear to understand that they did anything wrong”…..well, maybe their seeming lack of comprehension’s got something to do with them being *juveniles* and not *adults*. That’s some sick, mixed up system you guys have in America maybe some day you’ll realise that it’s your society that’s got some issues with its value system, and not the kids that grow up within it and then get treated as adults whenever an elected public official come police officer decides that they need some self-serving publicity to demonstrate how hard they are on crime.

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April 30, 2008

Trench

Oh yeah, kids in the UK are so much more well behaved.
http://tinyurl.com/4ks4f9

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April 30, 2008

navigator

LOL Trench! Rachel, this WORLD needs to come to terms with the desensitization that we hammer into our youth daily with violent video games (that are supposed to be sensored but we all know that adults can buy them for kids-just like beer)/ violent tv shows (not to mention the over kill of sexual content – no wonder why so many teens getting pregnant WORLD WIDE)/ the fact that MANY offenders get off with a slap on the wrist, sent back to society to do it again and again… Kids think this behavior is NORMAL and have no reason NOT to do it themselves. We need to stop this NOW. We have got to show these children that WE CAN enforce this because it will only get worse if we do not. If they want to do adult crimes or harm, they do adult time.

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April 30, 2008

Laurie

What a bunch of garbage. Kids desensitized by violence?

We have always had violence in our society in one shape or form. Kids cartoons back in the day were extremely violent. Snuff movies…true detective magazines….

Give me a break – parenting is the key. What have the parents been teaching their children? This is not new – it just seems that more of this is happening because we have access to global information, and there are now a lot more people.

But then again, maybe some are just born evil? I do believe they have proven that serial murderers brains are different than the so called ‘normal’ people.

You heard about the guy in Australia that held his daughter captive? For over 20 years? Well guess what, Australia was founded as a penal colony. So, I guess punishment does work, eh?

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April 30, 2008

navigator

Well, it is obvious that Mercedes mother doesn’t know how to raise her kid… that is a fact, she believes that this was no big deal and has passed this belief to Mercedes. And from what I have been hearing in alot of these related blogs, there are alot of other parents or potential parents out there who think this is no big deal either. Parents need to teach kids respect and compassion for others, and if they teach that this is no big deal, then OF COURSE this will happen again and again. But if society did not condone violence in every form of media and bombard kids from every angle with violence, it would help the NORMAL parent in teaching what is right and wrong!!

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May 1, 2008

Rachel Pirry, Glasgo

Trench, there will always be isolated examples of criminality within any society. However, sensationalism aside, it’s a simple fact that despite the US imprisoning a far greater percentage of its population than the UK, and despite your society entertaining far harsher penalties for your youth than British society does (for example, life without parole for crimes committed by people that couldn’t legally vote, get married or drink alcohol), our rates of serious crime are much, much lower than yours. Sooner or later maybe, as a society, you’ll realise that demonising kids like the ones in this case, charging them as adults and presenting them with the possibility of life imprisonment for what, frankly, amounts to no more than a nasty incident of bullying, is total overkill, and just a way of avoiding dealing with the real injustices and real problems in your society.

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May 1, 2008

Trench

Isolated incident? I don’t think so. And it’s funny because most of my friends from the UK wish that the British courts would sentence juvenile offenders to harsher sentences because whatever they’re doing now is obviously not enough. I’m not saying that the US is any worse or better than the UK but people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

And if you really want to play oneupsmanship at least the US won our independence from England. How’s that coming along for you Scotland?

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May 2, 2008

Rachel Pirry, Glasgo

Trench, nothing about the emotive and isolated examples you’ve focused upon, or the questionable anecdotal opinion you’ve expressed changes the fact that your society is significantly more violent and crime-ridden than the one I live in, despite having greatly more draconian stance on punishment of offenders in general, and your treatment of juveniles as adults in particular. I don’t rely upon a biased and limited sample of my US-based friends, or even upon individual and sensationalised news reports, to tell me this it’s right there, in agreed statistics published by reputable bodies, such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and even the US’s own Justice Department. You can go on blaming the boogyman if you find comfort in doing that it just doesn’t bear analysis in the cold light of day, though. As for the English well, coming from an Irish/Swedish heritage (born in Scotland), though, I may be less pre-disposed to blame my ills on

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May 2, 2008

Trench

I hardly consider Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reputable organizations considering they want a convicted cop killer freed but that’s another topic. Maybe you’re right. Maybe the US isn’t doing enough. Maybe we should have cameras everywhere and live in an Orwellian state. Now which country does that again?

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May 2, 2008

Rachel Pirry, Glasgo

The thing is, Trench, your comment on the comparative history of Scotland and the US with England isn&rsquot actually a relevant issue within the context of the current discussion it&rsquos merely an ad hominem insult of no consequence to the issue being discussed. Similarly, nothing about the emotive and isolated examples you’ve tried to focus upon in preference to the big picture, or the unverifiable anecdotal opinion you’ve expressed in the form of a hypothetical straw-poll opinion of your British friends, actually changes the fact of what I&rsquove said. Your society is at this time demonstrably and significantly more violent and crime-ridden than the one I live in, despite having a greatly more draconian stance on the punishment of offenders in general, and the treatment of juveniles (whom in the US are regularly charged as adults) in particular. I don’t rely upon a biased and limited sample of my presumably like-minded US-based friends, or upon individual and sensationalised news reports, to tell me this this information is freely available, in agreed statistics published by reputable bodies such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and even the US Justice Department’s own figures on the extraordinarily high levels of the US prison population. The US, for example, is now the only country that still sentences juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole (essentially &lsquodeath by prison&rsquo, for kids) other countries that did so until relatively recently included luminaries in the field of human rights field such as Israel, Tanzania, and South Africa. The main difference between those countries that did so until recently and the US, however, isn&rsquot the fact that they at least no longer entertain the practice, it&rsquos the statistics all of the other countries that had people serving such sentences had actual numbers incarcerated that way in the low single figures the US, by contrast, currently has around 2400 prisoners serving life sentences without parole for offences committed whilst they were juveniles. Feel any safer tonight your side of the pond?

Getting back to the specifics of this case, my view is that treating 6 teenage cheerleaders that engaged in some bullying (not kidnapping, not false imprisonment – just ask Patty Hearst or the family of Daniel Pearl what the difference between what the defendants in this case did and those offences as committed by adults is, if in any doubt) for the wider violence inherent in US society, as some of those involved in the prosecution appear to be doing, just doesn’t bear rational analysis in the cold light of day. Whilst the kids that are the defendants in this case might provide a convenient set of scapegoats for lawmakers and internet tough-talkers to point at and vilify as wholly abhorrent and undeserving of more civilised resolution, the fact is that, whilst nasty, what the alleged perpetrators in this case did just wasn&rsquot all that bad (bad? – in my opinion, yes bad enough for them to be sent to an adult prison if convicted and when first charged? &ndash absolutely no, not even close). Proportional punishment appropriate for juveniles was what was required in this case, and that&rsquos not what&rsquos been delivered. If you want to create 8 future criminals rather than fix what is at present a rectifiable issue of unacceptable adolescent behaviour, go right ahead and send these six girls and two boys to an adult prison excuse me, though, if I don&rsquot sing Land of The Free in salute at the rationale and wisdom of that approach.

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May 2, 2008

Rachel Pirry, Glasgo

PS: Don’t know how I managed to post two responses above, I only meant to leave one. The comment at 1:39 wasn’t what I meant to say or wanted to post, it was what I wrote at first then had a read through and decided it didn’t contain what I wanted to get across the one at 2:53 is what I intended to post.

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May 2, 2008

xxqsme70

Trench for president!!!

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May 2, 2008

Mary Ma Gill

Rachel,
I’ll hand it to you-, you’ve got some language skills there, girl! You sure aren’t shy about using them either. You’re obviously pretty good at looking up statistics to back up that high opinion you have of yourself–more power to you, you should be proud and voice your opinion. However, don’t think that this loud and proud, violent, American is too stupid to catch the slurr you cast at our entire society. Although, it’s not like you really worked all that hard to hide it.

Now y’all can bicker back and forth and site factoids all you want, but it still remains those girls were all old enough to know better. Even at 14, I knew that six on one wasn’t a fair fight and I really can’t see how a potentially serious head injury, loss of sight in one eye and hearing loss “amounts to no more than a nasty incident of bullying”. If that is nothing more than a school yard scrap where you live, I would hate to see what you call true violence.

Now, perhaps, how did you so eloquently put it, “death by imprisonment” is a trifle harsh. Maybe we should give each of them exactly, lick for lick, what that girl received and call it square. Oops, there is that pesky violent, draconian, value lacking, American spirit raising it’s dang ugly head again. I am curious though, what is vision or hearing worth in Scotland? Tell me, in your Irish-Swedish, born in Scotland opinion, what do you really think should happen? Enlighten me.

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May 3, 2008

drkel007

Well, well, well. The Scots are blaming the americans. Nice.

Where does that leave Victoria. Healing slowly from her physical wounds. Probably always having emotional scars from being betrayed by her friends who set her up for a 6 on one fight where she was knocked unconscious. And, when she woke up, she was beaten some more. And some more. I feel she could easily have been beaten to death.

Now, we can argue about scotish society, etc etc etc. But, what the hell does that have to do about a girl who was visciously beaten. We must support the victim. That is what is important.

Next, we punish the perpetrators so this will not happen again. And we make a crime with penalties for anyone who posts criminal activity on the internet. (Kind of an oxymoron, is it not?). But, there has to be a deterant to posting videos of a person getting beaten so that person would even feel more humiliated and beaten when they see it again in cyberspace. Indeed, that was the original intent of the group that beat Lindsay–to post the beating video on the internet.

I am of scotish descent, but please don’t hate.

If violence is somehow thwarted from reaching the internet (or at least slowed down in some fashion), then some good might possibly come out of this very tragic affair.

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May 3, 2008

Steve W

Buncha ugly little whores is what they are. Someone should take em all and slice their throats. Along with their parents. Pleading not guilty??? If they get off with a slap on the wrist, I’ll chip in for anyone that wants to cause some physical damage to them. I think alot of people would. Hey you ugly little bitches, why don’t you come to my town and bring those gay little punk boyfriends with you, see what you get…

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May 4, 2008

Laurie

Yeah Steve – that’s the answer. Violence on Violence – that will teach ’em.

And we wonder why this stuff happens? HA!

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May 4, 2008

navigator

Steve W. … You are a great example of the reason these girls/boys did what they did. You think that everything should be solved with some form of violent behavior. I want them to be punished, Yes, but I do not believe that showing brutality toward them will solve the isssue though. We do need to be hard on them, because we have shown such a lack in our criminal punishment. Why else would some of these girls and boys LAUGH when put in front of the judge. They have (and many others as well) total disrespect for authority. We need to show ALL criminals that they should fear going to prison, because it is not a vacation vacility for criminals. Hell, they get to work out, watch tv, learn about new ways to do or get away with their crime of choice(… they call it college for criminals) and they get free food…. Great punishment. I wish I had an answer to this, If we gave them solitary confinment maybe, no tv.. no work out… no frills jail… (then they would claim cruelty)… but were they not cruel to the victim, shouldn’t the punishment fit the crime… eye for an eye… you take a life your life ends as well. In this case, solitary confiment for a year with anger management classes and working with victims of violent crimes and their families so they learn what COULD have happened, probation for 5 years working with children from abusive homes (so they don’t turn into abusive parents) and they need to learn compassion. We need to regulate the violent games,movies and music that is SO abundant in this society. Yes, when we were kids we had some violent cartoons and movies… Tom and Jerry and Starwars and Shout at the Devil… WOW!!!! Back then it was 25%violent, maybe a little more or less … but today it is closer to 90% violence in all forms of media, even Disney is getting bad… promoting young girls to take barley nude photos… that is a SEXUAL PREDS dream… soon it will be the he will no longer have to go to child pron sites to get off… he just goes to the Disney channel…

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May 4, 2008

navigator

Oh, and by the way.. with the new release of Grand Theft Auto… the crime rates should go down, right? ….LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!

I believe it was Laurie who had said that “What a bunch of garbage. Kids desensitized by violence?” have you SEEN this video game… and they are selling it to KIDS…. You can kill people in it…. are you now getting my drift…. Parents can only control what happens when they are around and you can not be with your kids 24/7… and you can only hope you have taught them well. You can not control others kids, they may have this game at their house… they all play it, someone looses and gets pissed off… and soon your kid, who thought it was just a game, has been killed by one who couldn’t tell the difference. This “game” should never have been released…. it is sick and will only promote violent crime further in this country and world wide.

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May 4, 2008

Laurie

Navigator – look at the bigger picture.
Do you think a kid, who has played this video game maybe once or twice, would commit a crime? How would this particular game in and of itself, cause someone to commit violence? How would an exposure to this game, encourage a kid to commit a crime?

In my opinion, it is not the games’ influence, but the time the kid has to sit around, with no other hobbies, games, or interactions with others – that is to fault here. Where are the parents that allow their kids to play these violent video games?

Parents must teach their kids respect for life and empathy for others. If people are taught respect for life, (taking care of the tiniest creatures we have on this planet, and everyone and everything in between)
in a ideal world, these games would not have the popularity they have and would never be created.

But we live in the ‘real’ world. It is highly unlikely that the kids were wonderful, loving, generous, kind, community minded people to begin with. Chances are they have a dysfunctional family that subjects them to neglect, physical abuse and/or emotional abuse for whatever reason.

In our quest to stop this type of behavior in our society, the real question becomes, how do we ensure that our children will be taken care of?

In this particular situation, these girls, all of them, have serious issues that need to be addressed and will follow them for the rest of their life. Hopefully they will get the services they need for healing. That is where our focus should be.

I can’t imagine the girls who committed the crime will have very rosy futures, if this is how they have learned to resolve their problems.

Many say serves them right, but I wonder what they have been served in the past, to want to do this to someone else?

There are no winners in this situation – they have all lost.

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May 4, 2008

navigator

Laurie, I can agree to some of what you are saying. The parents need to know what is going on with there kids today… ALL OF THEM… in order for this to change. You are right.. not a perfect world and if we as a society can control just a LITTLE of what influences children today, we can possibly make a difference in some of these childrens lives. I have been on a local newspaper site to where this case took place. The relatives and friends of these boys and girls come on and say that this is normal behavior and want to know what the big deal is. THIS is exactly the reason these kids have turned out the way they are, the parents and community around them think this is normal and are only upset that it has made national news. I understand that this is not an isulated case of a girl getting beatin, but by ALL means I will never say this should be concidered NORMAL behavior! I am trying to raise my daughter to be kind to all she meets, she has been treated by some kids with violent behavior and she has no understanding as to why they act this way. I agree that it is a parents responsibilty to teach compassion, but it could only work in that instance if ALL parents understood that violence does not solve a problem. Some kids are left to learn on their own because of bad parenting, you are right, and they inturn will turn to outside sources to get what knowledge they can and we just FORCE violence on them with all these sick video games, movies, songs… all about violence and taking care of a situation with violence and how rewarding it can be. You get points for murdering a prostitute after you can have sex with her in the … (very graphic)… new grand theft auto. How would you think a kid, whose parents care little about what they do or watch or play, will see women in his future. And this game was one of the highest selling games ever. I am not saying that all our problems are because of media games/movies/songs… I am just saying that if they did not exist.. it would be easier for parents to raise kids to show and feel compassion.

And you are right – there are NO winners here. These girls were probably raised in abusive and/or mentaly abusive homes. It is the “kick the cat” situation. I can’t take it out on them, I’ll take it out on others around me. Like I said earlier, they need to be in a situation that will teach them compassion that was not learned in childhood or they should not be let back into society until they do.

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May 8, 2008

rfa77

Just for the record – the nut who held his daughter for 20 years is from Austria, which is in Europe, south of Germany. Australia’s on the other side of the globe.

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May 14, 2008

KC

It really doesn’t matter where anyone, that posts here, is from. The fact of the matter is, that 8 people conspired (permeditated) an attack on an unsuspecting person, they even cut off the routes of escape, and the had a watch so they they could disperse and monitor the noise level of the crime which was in progress.

Now, if these conspirators were just two years older they would be legally “adults” and they would have the same if not harsher charges levied against them. I my opinion here, this is a crime and it should be treated as a crime. This is a crime that was well planned and orchestrated to a close to deadly result. The fact the the victim will have permanent sight and hearing damage is a testament to that, not only that but these people who were involve totally disrupted her quality of life.
Now to the part were none of the girls show remorse, all I can say is, what can you expect? Look at the crime that they committed. As for the look outs and the cameraman? Yes, they are accountable, because they knew about this act and choose to attend the act in person and take part in it. They may not have thrown the blows, but they helped to make sure the blows landed and they didn’t attempt to halt it, and the cameraman saying, “enough is enough,” and continuing to record the crime is not trying to stop anything.

Now to the regard of harsh or “draconian” sentencing. Those involved in the crime, know that they are minors and were banking on the fact that they were minors to get them off the hook with a slap on the wrist. Age is not a get out of jail free card. The fact they premeditated this atrocity, then trying to play and being minors is ridiculous.

People know the difference between right and wrong very early, even before your teen years. Age should not play any factor in this case. They performed an intelligent and cunning plan, executed it and then were caught. They should be tried as adults and they should be convicted as adults.
I would rather have the 16 year old miscreants off the street now, than wait for two years until they are “adults”.

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May 15, 2008

navigator

Right on KC!!

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May 15, 2008

M Ma Gill

KC,

I agree with you in large part with most everything you are saying. I think we differ on one point–I think they made a plan and executed it–I just don’t think the consequences ever entered in to their arena of thought. I don’t think they gave any consideration past posting the video.

I believe they should be given way more than a slap on the wrist, but I don’t feel they should be given a life sentence. What do you think? As for the ones that didn’t land any blows, but were there, I think their crime is only slightly less abhorrent.

We can blame video games, television, music, any number of media–that isn’t the problem. Bottomline, if our children are not taught, by US, the value of life and respect for themselves and others–this situation could be one any one of us could face, no matter what part of the world you live in. Personally, I think we could all stand a healthy dose of social stigmatism. I remember growing up that a lot of what I would or wouldn’t do stemmed from a) how would I ever explain it to my mother, and b) was I about to do something that would embarass my family.

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May 15, 2008

navigator

M MA GILL said “I remember growing up that a lot of what I would or wouldn&rsquot do stemmed from a) how would I ever explain it to my mother, and b) was I about to do something that would embarass my family.”

Exactly.. we had RESPECT for our families and parents… there is a HUGE lack of that today…. lack of respect for anyone , even thereselves. But then you also have to consider that the role models today have no respect for themselves either.

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May 28, 2008

Sunflower

1) I think anyone who’s parents have signed for them to drive a car should be considered an adult…I believe that is the parent’s saying ‘I believe my kid is able and adult enough to handle this responsibility and I trust in their judgement’
2) There should be a punishment just for posting videos like this…This is a CRIME… A MAJOR BEATING, A MINDLESS ASSAULT BY A MINIATURE MOB! It wasn’t a little slapfight, or a minor scuffle. It seems to me that this attack and posting of the video is only slightly less damaging to Victoria Lindsay’s psyche than if she had been filmed while being raped and the subsequent video posted….With the way things are headed, that could be next!

My gosh people, pull your heads out of the sand! Where did out family values go? We have to get them back!

Sadly, despite all the hoopla and public outcry, I am positive that these ‘abominations’ as someone else called them will not get a stiff enough punishment. Even worse, I am sure that they, nor their families, will ever believe that they even deserve to be punished for their behavior.

Before anyone wonders, yes, I have a child and he knows that if he does something wrong, while his father and I WILL support him, we will not try to shield him from the consequences of his actions. I have told him since he was very small that ‘consequences are the price you pay for the actions you take’ good or bad.

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May 31, 2008

Wussyboy

Interesting discussions here people…my question is this: Does anyone know how I can get 6 pretty girls to hide in my house and beat me mercilessly when I come home one evening? Thanks!

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June 4, 2008

cali chick

I think that the charges are good its bull that they girls are out of jail at all,And now they want easier house arrest,, COME ON even if Cara Murphy isnt on tape hitting Victoria she did nothing to help eather and she IS an accessory, And I cant wait to see what happens when these girls go to court.. And all of these parents are (of course) definding there children BUT WHO DEFINDED VICTORIA????

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June 9, 2008

J

Law enforcement lied &mdash if you look at the sworn statements from the victim and her ride, it is clear that 1) they did NOT &ldquolure&rdquo her into the house, they in fact kicked her out and she was let back in only because her ride insisted on it 2) Two of the girls never hit her 3) it was all impromptu, not planned 4) there is NO evidence against the &ldquolookouts&rdquo.

Tori was probably NEVER unconscious and the girls probably never even realized she suffered a concussion. The new video directly contradicts the “knocked out” allegations.

The media will NOT tell you the truth about any of this.

The supposed lack of remorse is also bull, 3 of the girls apologized soon after the beating

and Kayla cried every night in jail. And they have not been allowed by the judge to even

publicly apologize (not to mention tell the truth about what happened).

Yes the girls have done something very wrong, but it boils down to a *misdemeanor* battery. Now they will become felons for life (it can never be erased).

And that&rsquos assuming they will survive until the trial starts &mdash there have been numerous death threats by phone and innumerable threats against them posted on the Internet. Law enforcement released their home addresses so that any lunatic can find them there alone under home arrest. And law enforcement refused to protect them.

All this lying and misinformation in the media may yet get them killed. Judging by the comments here I guess many of you will be very happy then.

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June 9, 2008

navigator

J,

So you fear for the life of these BRATS, Kinda like Tori probably felt when she was being beatin…. Maybe you should think about HER shoe being on YOUR FOOT! CARMA will get them, no matter what!

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June 12, 2008

navigator

J,

I find it very funny how you have commented back on everything I have said through every forum, but this.

I think it is because you are AFRAID to put yourself in her shoes, or put your own daughter in her shoes. But you need to think hard and long about this because someday, if criminals keep being released because someone is “afraid they may get hurt in jail”, this WILL happen to you or your daughter/ son or granddaughter/son and then what … the criminals will have had won so many cases and gotten off so many times that the lawyers will have ALL KINDS of ways to get them out of serving time. We are so easy on criminals today that they laugh it off when they get into trouble. We NEED to start with our youth and set an example at some point to break the patterns that are beginning, before it ends up being my daughter, or your daughter who is getting beatin, and I’m afraid it could turn out alot worse if kids think they can get away with it. Would you then be so apt to worry about the outcome of such a criminal… no, I don’t think you would.

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June 14, 2008

J

Navigator,

I did not reply because I considered what you wrote silly and inconsiderate to the victim.

If one of the accused gets killed or maimed, it would make the whole thing even more of a nightmare for Tori. If she was my daughter or if I was in her shoes it would be the last thing I’d want.

This case could have been handled easily without all the lies — lies that disrespected the *victim* because law enforcement *lied* about what the victim said — and without endangering children.

The guilty, especially children, can be punished without any need to lie or to endanger their lives. It’s simple as that. I’d want for me or my daughter to know the guilty kids are serving safe and just punishments, ideally tailored so that they can help them become better persons, not crush their souls by being raped or maimed, not make them hardened criminals.

I consider Tori to be a victim of law enforcement and prosecution who mishandled the case so badly. And if any of the accused gets maimed or killed, I’m sure it will be a nightmare for Tori as well.

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June 14, 2008

J

Trench wrote:
“Correct me if I&rsquom wrong but doesn&rsquot the fact that she was present at the time of the crime and did nothing to prevent it make her an accessory?”

Actually, NO. That’s how adults made the rules for themselves — in fact in most states she could not be convicted of anything for just being there and doing nothing.

I’m not saying that’s right, I’m just saying if you want her to be judged as an adult, you get adult results.

I bet had this has stayed in juvenile court she’d get probation for culpable negligence or something like that. There would have been no jury and the judge would find something just to teach her a moral lesson.

And note that

If you just see through all the lying you’ll realize there really was no silly conspiracy and Cara had no clue what’s going to happen. And for all she knew, Brittiny could have turned on her too. Cara reportedly DID try to help several times, even by physically pulling a girl away from Tori. That was not enough, but it was probably more than many “respectable” adults would do in such a situation — and they, unlike a white trash kid, would never get charged with anything.

People say it’s all on the video but in reality they mainly rely on lies supplied by law enforcement.

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June 14, 2008

J

One more note for Trench:

In Florida there is no such thing as an accessory to a misdemeanor — only to a felony! This is one reason they are charged them all with kidnapping, so they can get Mercades who never hit Tori.

More example of stupid laws made by stupid adults. For juveniles, aiding or abetting a misdemeanor, especially a beating, should be a major deal and punished accordingly. Instead, Florida lets 999 such kids go without any punishment at all and then decides to make 1 a felon for life — but only because it’s been shown on TV!

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June 14, 2008

navigator

J,

DO NOT ASSUME you know what the victim would want. So to you, the protector of the criminals, it was ok for these criminals to maime and maybe even almost kill Tori, but it would be a tragedy for them to have to suffer the same fate as Tori! You think that it would upset Tori in someway for these girls to get the same treatment they granted her…. NO, you do not know the victim and you have not yet put yourself in her shoes… she WANTS justice for this…. Like I said before… Carma will kick all their little butts!!!

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June 14, 2008

J

Navigator,

You really are psychotic, and a liar. You must have been desparate when you wrote “So to you … it was ok for these criminals to maime and maybe even almost kill Tori” — evidently you just raped your six-year-old son and tortured your four-year-old daughter and then felt your mind will be more at ease if you accuse someone with an outrages lie.

BTW, Tori was not maimed (permanently injured) — the kids would not be charged with a mere *misdemeanor* battery otherwise.

I only have to assume the victim is not a psycho like you and would not want to see the accused get killed. Not much of an assumption, especially when you actually read her testimony.

Now go back to your sorry psychotic life, I’m done with you.

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June 15, 2008

navigator

J,

You truely are sick in the head! These girls are not going to be killed in prison, but Tori does have permanent damage to her eye and her hearing, READ and you will know that. And if anyone here is a sorry excuse for a himan being it is you and NO ONE HERE WANTS YOU HERE!!!!!! This will be MY last statement to YOU! DON’T BREED and if you already have, I hope your offspring see doctors now for the future disappointment of having you as a partent will bring!

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