Should an 8 year old be tried as an adult??? (attorney, poll, death)

[Greatday]

Last week, in a small community in Arizona (St. Johns) two men were shot to death, allegedly by an 8 year old boy. One of the victims was the father of the boy.

Law enforcement is saying this was pre-meditated. The boy has been charged with 2 counts of First degree (pre-meditated) Murder. The County attorney is considering charging the Boy as an adult -

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts -

[Donn2390]

Most mass murders start out torturing small animals as youths, and then graduate up to people. This little B****rd got a head start. He definitely needs help, but with his start, not much chance of saving him...
Reform school until he's 25, then give him a graduation present---prison...
Don't let him out to kill your family next..

[affi]

Yes, He knew what the Hell he was doing!!

[Guero]

Originally Posted by Donn2390

Most mass murders start out torturing small animals as youths, and then graduate up to people. This little B****rd got a head start. He definitely needs help, but with his start, not much chance of saving him...
Reform school until he's 25, then give him a graduation present---prison...
Don't let him out to kill your family next..

Funny thing. You just described why Manson ended up the way he did. Beaten, raped, etc. Great place for an 8 year old!

Thank God we (most of us) have evolved a bit.

There is no way he will be tried as an adult.

[tinman01]

I think an 8 year old child is a child no matter what crime he commits. The criminals are his parents who obviously failed utterly and completely in their jobs as parents.

[arctichomesteader]

I read they were investigating to see if he had been abused. If that's the case he needs some serious help. If not, and there was no reason for him to do such a thing...charge him as an adult. He's too dangerous to be on the streets. Maybe not send him to adult prison until he's older but try him as an adult...

[irspow]

Kill the little bastard. Just because he is eight year old does not mean that he does not know what death is. A crime is a crime. It is a choice, even if it is a poor choice made by a child. There has to be punishment.

You hear the same type of defense for people with mental illness. Just because you do not understand what you have done does not make you any less dangerous to society. If ignorance is a justifiable defense for crime, why can't I go out and kill everyone that I think is a socialist and then claim that I did not know that these people should be allowed to live?

[love roses]

I have to second that. The poll is a little limited in responses. If abuse was happening and he just cracked then that needs to be considered. I agree that he did know what he was doing.

[MIKEETC]

Not enough info for analysis. Any links?

[JoeDaPlumber]

He needs to be helped. That help should include locking him away for at least 20 years without parole.

However for such a harsh punishment I would absolutely need to be convinced he really acted in complete cold blood and not in response to some kind of abuse which ..would be a totally different (lesser) punishment IMHO.