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Well, assuming it can be proven and they were adults at the time. As it is, it is the law in the US that we don't execute minors.
I suspect that this was a plea bargain case and one of the things in plea bargaining is whether or not the DA can prove the case against them. If he can, easily, then it is being lazy.
If he can't or cannot without tremendous effort, then this is the way to nail them.
Given the variety of opinions here, I'd say that a conviction would be difficult, such as convincing a jury that they should nail them.
Actually, what they did wasn't premeditated murder. It was reckless behavior. They didn't set out to kill anyone. They were some idiotic teenagers who through a sandbag off an overpass. They didn't think about what they were doing. This was the work of reckless, thoughtless youths. This is not the work of cold-blooded killers. You put a cold-blooded killer to sleep. You put a gangbanger to sleep. You don't put reckless youths to sleep. This was a case of "play stupid games, win stupid prizes". It is really bad that someone died because of their recklessness. It is tragic that teen stupidity can result in someone's death. We also need to understand the difference between a cold-blooded killer and stupidity. These teenagers weren't thinking "maybe I shouldn't drop this sandbag. It's heavy and someone could get killed". It likely didn't occur to them. They were looking for amusement. This should be a case of why it's important to think about what you do before you do it. However, it is not a case of cold-blooded monsters. Some bad kids? Yes. Did someone die? Yes. Was this an act of cold-blooded murder? No. It was an act of stupid games = stupid prizes. I would give these teenagers a few years for reckless involuntary manslaughter. This isn't 1st degree murder.
For what it's worth, I do think these persons need to go to prison for what they did. What they did was illegal and they need to do time. I don't think it calls for a life sentence or even 20 years. I do think a suspended sentence is kind of soft.
On the bold, will note that I believe the 13 year old was the one who threw the sandbag. He will be locked up until he is 21.
Also, do you believe that the construction company was also at fault in a way? IMO they were as the location where this occurred is right next to a family public housing development (i.e. the projects). The construction company left a lot of construction debris out that should have been secured IMO based upon the area having lot of children and people in the area. It is literally a block from the projects. It would not surprise me if the family of the deceased received a settlement from the construction company due to their liability/negligence.
Even though they all are not going to jail, I would bet the family, friends of the person they killed are going to make sure their lives are ruined as much as they can, monitoring them, informing places they apply for jobs at, new friends, etc. making sure everyone knows what they did.
On the bold, will note that I believe the 13 year old was the one who threw the sandbag. He will be locked up until he is 21.
Also, do you believe that the construction company was also at fault in a way? IMO they were as the location where this occurred is right next to a family public housing development (i.e. the projects). The construction company left a lot of construction debris out that should have been secured IMO based upon the area having lot of children and people in the area. It is literally a block from the projects. It would not surprise me if the family of the deceased received a settlement from the construction company due to their liability/negligence.
Interesting. You believe the construction company is partially to blame ? SHM...
Somebody is killed and these kids will do a year or two in juvie? That's unacceptable.
I know it's a delicate situation as one of the kids was as young as 13 when committing the crime. But if I'm the father of that 21 year-old killed and some punk teenager does a few years in juvenile detention and then goes on to live a happy life shortly afterwards, I am not okay with that.
On the bold, will note that I believe the 13 year old was the one who threw the sandbag. He will be locked up until he is 21.
Also, do you believe that the construction company was also at fault in a way? IMO they were as the location where this occurred is right next to a family public housing development (i.e. the projects). The construction company left a lot of construction debris out that should have been secured IMO based upon the area having lot of children and people in the area. It is literally a block from the projects. It would not surprise me if the family of the deceased received a settlement from the construction company due to their liability/negligence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scarabchuck
Interesting. You believe the construction company is partially to blame ? SHM...
that mean ol' construction company practically put the sandbag in the poor little tyke's hand and forced him to do it.
that mean ol' construction company practically put the sandbag in the poor little tyke's hand and forced him to do it.
I don't think the construction company is mean, but it is negligence to leave out materials on an overpass that could potentially be thrown from said overpass and kill someone.
It is not uncalled for for construction companies to be sued over stuff like this. I used to be a project manager for construction projects and oversaw lots of employees for the company I worked for along with contractors and subcontractors who worked on construction projects for my company. Par of my job was to insure that the construction site was secured at the close of business. This company was negligent in insuring the above and they are partially to blame. I did work in very close proximity to public housing complexes and residential neighborhoods and leaving out stuff like this causes either potential theft or damage of property or threat to lives when you don't secure it properly. You may be one to like to leave a mess and valuable equipment/material around and think people, especially kids, won't touch it, but IMO that is naive. Theft was more of a concern versus people getting killed but someone can always be harmed from construction material left out in the open.
Interesting. You believe the construction company is partially to blame ? SHM...
See above post. You may think leaving dangerous material out on the street isn't a big deal but I'm not one of those people.
Also note that since this occurred that construction company has been replaced and the new one doesn't leave stuff out overnight on the bridge/overpass.
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