Did you see the girld get beat up by her ex-friends?

[Zippa D Doodah]

They kept running a 15-20 second clip on the CBS Early Show this morning. Since I was at the gym, I didn't hear it but only saw it. I had no idea of the context, but my only thought was that the kids who did that need to be accountable for their actions. Just ridiculous... and to videotape it!? Excuse me, but that was just stupid.
Being stupid and cruel is a bad way to go thru life; I hope something changes for those kids.

 

[horseshowmom]

Darn that Constitution for providing the right to be represented in court by a "scumbag" lawyer.

The defendants' inability to recognize the gravity of what they did is precisely why they should not be tried as adults, but as juveniles. But hey, what do I know, I just train and teach the future "scumbags" of America.

I understand your perspective completely, but I guess I don't look at is as being a case of their not understanding the gravity of it. What I see is that they flat do not care. And I very strongly suspect that these girls will be the same the day they turn 18 as they are now. That's a very scary thought.

 

[imsorry]

Darn that Constitution for providing the right to be represented in court by a "scumbag" lawyer.

The defendants' inability to recognize the gravity of what they did is precisely why they should not be tried as adults, but as juveniles. But hey, what do I know, I just train and teach the future "scumbags" of America.

Sorry, but the mother of one girl had the exact same attitude - would she be defended as a juvenile because of her "inability to recognize the gravity" of what was done?? One girl was 18, several were 17 - these are not "children". I think they are just sure they will get away with it because of lawyers who think like you.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Darn that Constitution for providing the right to be represented in court by a "scumbag" lawyer.

The defendants' inability to recognize the gravity of what they did is precisely why they should not be tried as adults, but as juveniles. But hey, what do I know, I just train and teach the future "scumbags" of America.

Remember, this incident occurred in Florida. Our court system thrives on charging kids as adults. Remember Lionel Tate, who at 12 was the youngest American to be charged for and convicted of murder as an adult? Yep, that happened in the Sunshine State.

 

[agnes!]

Darn that Constitution for providing the right to be represented in court by a "scumbag" lawyer.

The defendants' inability to recognize the gravity of what they did is precisely why they should not be tried as adults, but as juveniles. But hey, what do I know, I just train and teach the future "scumbags" of America.

Didn't the mother of one of the perpetrators defend her little darling? One of the so-called adults in this situation does not recognize the heinous nature of the beating, being a teenager has nothing to do with this inability. Does anyone connected with this beating, other than the victim and her family, think they did anything wrong? Do *any* of them recognize the gravity of their actions?

And let us just say that these teenagers should indeed be tried as juvenile offenders. If you were the judge (I doubt there will be a jury trial - pesky juries sometimes have a tendency to let their emotions sway their decisions), what do you think would be an appropriate sentence? These "juveniles", with malice and forethought beat another teenager almost to death, they will get their records expunged when they become of age in how many years...2 or 3, maybe 4?
Their victim will live with the evidence of their brutality for the rest of her life. *She* already has a life-sentence.

agnes!

 

[imsorry]

Remember, this incident occurred in Florida. Our court system thrives on charging kids as adults. Remember Lionel Tate, who at 12 was the youngest American to be charged for and convicted of murder as an adult? Yep, that happened in the Sunshine State.

One was 18; several were 17 - that is a huge leap from 12!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Sorry, but the mother of one girl had the exact same attitude - would she be defended as a juvenile because of her "inability to recognize the gravity" of what was done?? One girl was 18, several were 17 - these are not "children". I think they are just sure they will get away with it because of lawyers who think like you.

Excuse me, but having a juvenile record is not "getting away with it." Should the defendants be held accountable for what they did? Absolutely. Should their accountability be through the adult criminal justice system? I don't know for sure, but probably not. The adult system has one method of dealing with convicted defendants: incarceration and probation. You do your time and that's it. The juvenile system, on the other hand, has a much broader base of penalties to use.

News flash: it can be much harder to fulfill the requirements that a court sets out for a juvenile defendant than it is to fulfill an adult sentence.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

One was 18; several were 17 - that is a huge leap from 12!

Just making a point. You know, knee-jerk jumping to charge kids as adults isn't always the correct response. I do though think that after looking at the video that these kids should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The 18 year old should definitely be charged as an adult for the same crimes as the others involved, as well as a number of additional charges, such as contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

 

[Jennasis]

I know the two boys outside playing "llokouts" were 18. I didn't know any of the girls were.

 

[imsorry]

I know the two boys outside playing "llokouts" were 18. I didn't know any of the girls were.

It's in the news that the OP posted in the first post.

 

[mysticIT]

Those are some rough lookin' cheerleaders.

 

[imsorry]

Those are some rough lookin' cheerleaders.

Nah, just some sweet juvenile delinquents.

 

[agnes!]

Excuse me, but having a juvenile record is not "getting away with it." Should the defendants be held accountable for what they did? Absolutely. Should their accountability be through the adult criminal justice system? I don't know for sure, but probably not. The adult system has one method of dealing with convicted defendants: incarceration and probation. You do your time and that's it. The juvenile system, on the other hand, has a much broader base of penalties to use.

News flash: it can be much harder to fulfill the requirements that a court sets out for a juvenile defendant than it is to fulfill an adult sentence.

Hmmmm...so if it's harder and let's say they *don't* fulfill their juvie requirements, does that mean that convicted juvenile offenders incur more jail time as punishment and that they are somewhat set-up to fail from the beginning?

Maybe they should all plead an insanity defense. After all, John Hinckley is still in the system. If he had just pleaded "Guility", maybe he would have been out a long time ago.

agnes!

 

[Jennasis]

It's in the news that the OP posted in the first post.

I AM the OP ahahha!! I just didn't recall hearing Matt Lauer this morning say if the girls were 18. I did remember him saying that the boys were. Also consdiering charges of unlawful imprisonment.

 

[wowsmom]

Yea, I saw it.

That mom is stupid....."yea, my dd should have called the police....blah, blah, blah...but she told the girl not to go in the house.....blah, blah, blah..."

And she didn't seem to answer even one of Matt Lauer's questions.

 

[harleyquinn]

I AM the OP ahahha!! I just didn't recall hearing Matt Lauer this morning say if the girls were 18. I did remember him saying that the boys were. Also consdiering charges of unlawful imprisonment.

One boy is 18, the rest are younger.

Facing charges of battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping are Mercades Nichols, 17, Brittini Hardcastle, 17, April Cooper, 14, Cara Murphy, 16, Britney Mayes, 17, Kayla Hassell, 15, Zachary Ashley, 17, and Stephen Schumaker, 18.

 

[harleyquinn]

And she didn't seem to answer even one of Matt Lauer's questions.

I thought that was weird too.

I can't believe she would even agree to be interviewed.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I don't even know what to say about this. What a sad, sad situation!

 

[princesspumpkin]

Now I'm not trying to defend the mother in the interview in any way, but I saw her sort of saying "My daughter knew of the planned attack and tried to warn the girl (as witnessed by a neighbor), my daughter wasn't one of the girls who actually hit the girl, and my daughter wasn't doing the videotaping. She also was the one who handed over the tape". I didn't think that the mom thought that her daughter was totally innocent, especially since she didn't call 911, just not as "guilty" as some of the other girls. Kind of saying that if she gets prosecuted, her daughter's should be a lesser charge than the others.

Just my opinion.

 

[chris1gill]

Those kids who are 16 or 17, should all be charged as adults. A 16 or 17 year old is old enough to know the consequence of their action...

One girl held that door closed while the girl begged to get out, that's unlawful imprisonment....

The 14 & 15 year olds? I'll let the Prosecutor determine if they're adults or not, but for anyone to suggest that a 16 or 17 year old is not old enough to understand what they were doing wrong, well, they are drinking some type of tea I'm not familiar with.

As for the mother who tried to defend her daughter? Did that daughter dial 911?