12-Year-Old Life

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Tue, 2013-05-21 15:32

12-Year-Old Life

Watched a programme last night entitled ’12-Year-Old Lifer’

A 15-year-old boy shot his alcoholic step-dad and dragged a 12-year-old lad along. Four shots fired. The 12-year-old didn’t fire first but fired twice, and turned his face away when he fired. But at 12 years of age you certainly know right from wrong, even if you’re coerced into the act by an older, aggressive teenager. Nice neighbourhood, clean-cut kids, nobody could see it coming.

For murder they were tried as adults and the 12-year-old received a life sentence with a 25 year minimum. He’ll be 37 when he gets out of prison. The warder and wardens all say he’s the model prisoner, very polite, very studious.

Now as I stated above, at 12 years of age you certainly know right from wrong, but how come they can try a 12-year-old as an adult whereas an adult with the mind of a 12-year-old is trialled as a child?

Tue, 2013-05-21 16:05

scratch

Wher did this take place Karl?

Tue, 2013-05-21 16:14

jolono

I didn't see it, but I know the story Karl. Its a mess. I'm on the fence with this one, something I never do by the way. He's 12, he should know right from wrong. But he's also 12 and he's led by an older guy whose 15! Its a horrible thing to even think about. I've got kids and so have you. Its just one of the things you dread.

Tue, 2013-05-21 16:22

karl_wiggins

Indiana, just look at him; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316034/Paul-Henry-Gingerich-Jus...

Tue, 2013-05-21 16:26

scratch

Bloody hell.

Tue, 2013-05-21 16:26

karl_wiggins

Joe, his parents couldn't believe it! Christian family. Look at Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, they didn't have a great upbringing. No one taught the right from wrong, read them bedtime stories where the good guy always wins, they had none of that. Still scumbags, of course. But how did this 12-year-old allow himself to be led so easily?

Wed, 2013-05-22 02:25

a.lesser.thing

The whole issue with trying teenagers as adults is a thing that I'm on the fence with, too. I know for a fact that a general sense of right and wrong should be established, but I also agree that you can lose that sense of value, too. The boys were planning to run away together, and so you'd think that something was wrong within their minds at that point of time, too. I mean, it isn't like I haven't had my running away phases, but they were when I was in elementary school and all I did was pout around in my backyard. I never dreamed of leaving the town, let alone my state! I can see the point in trying the fifteen year old as an adult because of the crime, because, by that time, he is in high school and a few years from adulthood. It's to be expected that he would know what he was planning was not only outrageous, but also incredibly wrong. The twelve year old was probably not in his right mind. He was manipulated into doing the task, and as he says, he wasn't thinking about it. He simply shot. As a twelve year old, I know I wasn't old enough to make any decisions for myself, and I think he wasn't either. All in all, it's sad that this boy was tried as an adult. I don't think he should have gotten off free, but the fact that all of his youth will be spent in juvie, and then a tough adult prison... He'll be out by the time he starts to approach forty. It sucks. I'm not trying to say that the crime he committed isn't serious, or that he is the victim. Obviously he did something awful. At twelve, though, most people don't know better, and I think there was more to the story than him simply shooting his friend's stepfather if he wanted to run away. Also, at twelve years old, as I said - decisions are hard to make. You can easily have your mind changed, even on subjects that are as serious as this. I'm assuming they were best friends, and he had that mindset that the other boy--Colt?--was the only one who would be there for him. I know that feeling, and it can lead you to do some pretty awful stuff.