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Grandmother faces capital charge in death of Alabama third-grader

Hmm, I think too many conclusions are being jumped to.

Making a child run carrying firewood has not been proven to be child abuse. So to say that this happened during another felony is a bit obtuse. I think its horrible and awful, but I still don't think that the grandma meant to kill the child. And that law stating that any death under age 14.....I don't see how that can be enforced. I mean....so had the kid been 14 and this happened it would be "better?"

That's nuts.
 
Not really. Parents say stuff like that to their kids all time in a figurative sense. Phrases like that are a staple in pop culture. It does not necessarily suggest literal intent to drive a child to collapse.

Apparently in this case it did.
 
Apparently in this case it did.
Actually, no. You've assumed that she literally intended to drive her child to collapse, but unless you are inside of her mind, you have no idea what her intentions were. Some of us have accepted that reality. Your turn.
 
The grandmother is an abusive criminal and is responsible for the death. She should be charged.
 
The grandmother is an abusive criminal and is responsible for the death. She should be charged.

Indeed, but charged with what is the question.
 
Statistically speaking, the less educated tend to have more kids at an earlier age. Don't yell at me, yell at math.

I wasn't yelling. I was pointing out your abusive generalization by using a stereotypical slur that encompasses tens of millions of women in this country, if not more. Statistics without context are meaningless. Statistics quoted off the top of one's head without a source are merely justification of an unjustifiable generalization.
 
Murder pursuant to Alabama statute

K, but as I said in the other thread; I don't know if this is actually murder. And I certainly don't think it's murder deserving of a death penalty conviction.
 
K, but as I said in the other thread; I don't know if this is actually murder. And I certainly don't think it's murder deserving of a death penalty conviction.

I agree life in prison is good enough.
 
I see. So it's okay to stereotype all women who married young and were grandmothers before the age of, say, 60 as dumb white trash. Would that also apply to women of other ethnicities? Or would black women be generalized as dumb black trash, Asians generalized as dumb Asian trash, and Latinas generalized as dumb Hispanic trash. Perhaps we should just make it easy on you, and consider all women who were young grandmothers to be dumb trash so as not to appear, you know, bigoted against any one ethnicity.

Man you set up some really good racist jokes in there that I am just salivating over...

Oh, it gets better! So at what age, Ikari, may both men and women become grandparents without being considered dumb trash? You've already established that because I was 38, I am probably dumb white trash... so how long should I have waited until you would assume I am not dumb and not trash.

He is saying it is about attitude and not age... but statistically speaking those that have kids at a younger age have the attitude of white trash or the racial standing of white trash. As a teacher I have known many kids that become parents at these yojng ages and I have to admit that while I won't call them white trash they are almost universally less intelligent and from lower socio economic homes.
 
K, but as I said in the other thread; I don't know if this is actually murder. And I certainly don't think it's murder deserving of a death penalty conviction.

Yes Ikari it is according to the murder statute. Why would you not think it is? I am not talking about the penalty I am talking about murder according to Alabama law.
 
Yes Ikari it is according to the murder statute. Why would you not think it is? I am not talking about the penalty I am talking about murder according to Alabama law.

I know what the government declares as "murder" these days. I just don't agree with it. Intent and malice are required for murder. Reckless endangerment leads to manslaughter, not murder.
 
I know what the government declares as "murder" these days. I just don't agree with it. Intent and malice are required for murder. Reckless endangerment leads to manslaughter, not murder.


It is not just reckless behavior it is "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life". Both the mother and the grandmother knew of the medical condition suffered by the 9 year old. If they were not aware of the medical condition then it would have been Manslaughter. The reason why the 9 year old was punished was because she ate a candy bar which placed her health at risk to begin.

Section 13A-6-3 - Manslaughter.

(a) A person commits the crime of manslaughter if:

(1) He recklessly causes the death of another person, or

(2) He causes the death of another person under circumstances that would constitute murder under Section 13A-6-2; except, that he causes the death due to a sudden heat of passion caused by provocation recognized by law, and before a reasonable time for the passion to cool and for reason to reassert itself.
 
It is not just reckless behavior it is "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life". Both the mother and the grandmother knew of the medical condition suffered by the 9 year old. If they were not aware of the medical condition then it would have been Manslaughter. The reason why the 9 year old was punished was because she ate a candy bar which placed her health at risk to begin.

My opinion is that this seems a lot more like manslaughter than murder. I don't think they intended to kill the child; I think they are idiots. As I said, I wouldn't charge them with murder, I certainly wouldn't seek the death penalty in this case. Manslaughter will do.
 
My opinion is that this seems a lot more like manslaughter than murder. I don't think they intended to kill the child; I think they are idiots. As I said, I wouldn't charge them with murder, I certainly wouldn't seek the death penalty in this case. Manslaughter will do.

Intent is not a requisite element for murder under these specific circumstances. Given the choice between manslaughter and murder where the only difference is circumstance if I were on the jury I would hold them responsible for murder because they knew the 9 year old had a medical condition and disregarded that in favor of an action that was so punitive that it caused a death. The grandmother and step mother simply did not care whether the child got sick or lived or died. All they were concerned with was their own anger and how to mete that anger out no matter what the cost to the child was.
 
Intent is not a requisite element for murder under these specific circumstances. Given the choice between manslaughter and murder where the only difference is circumstance if I were on the jury I would hold them responsible for murder because they knew the 9 year old had a medical condition and disregarded that in favor of an action that was so punitive that it caused a death. The grandmother and step mother simply did not care whether the child got sick or lived or died. All they were concerned with was their own anger and how to mete that anger out no matter what the cost to the child was.

I know dude. I know what the legal definition of murder now is. I'm giving you my opinion that I disagree with it.
 
I know dude. I know what the legal definition of murder now is. I'm giving you my opinion that I disagree with it.

I understand that. I am giving you my reasoning why I agree with the charges. If they did not have that special knowledge and did not mete out that particular punishment then it would be manslaughter. The facts here cannot be separated and cast aside, they all must be taken into account. Incidentally, the definition of murder in Alabama is nothing new. It is rare that anyone would be charged with this crime while punishing a child.
 
Capital Offense is a little harsh for bitchery doncha think.

I am more concerned with what these women can be charged with. After that the sentence which is applied to those specific crimes will dictate the parameters with which the judge cab affix the sentence.
 
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