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November 20th, 2008
 

365Gay Agenda Blog

Lawrence King Case Gets Worse

By James Withers, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog 07.25.2008 9:19am EDT

A judge ruled the 14 year old boy accused of killing Lawrence King can be tried as an adult. Brandon McInerney allegedly shot King as the child, who had told friends he was gay, was writing an assignment for his English class. The February crime occurred in a school in Oxnard, California, a state that has what’s called Proposition 21. Passed by California voters in 2000, this law gives state prosecutors more leeway on charging children 14 and older with adult crimes without having the permission of a  judge. McInerney is charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime.

No one reading this site is looking to give McInerney a pass; however, what purpose is served charging the young with adult crimes? California gives death to those found guilty of first degree murder and I’m not sure the state wants to be known for executing a child.

Post Script: It’s clear I’m no legal scholar. As GI pointed out the Supreme Court abolished, in 2005, the death penatly for convicted murderers if the crime was done before they reached 18.


Comments (21)

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Elaine Robbins Said: November 12th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

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