Robbery-murder in Galveston

[dihappy]

Uhh, theres a big difference between 10 and 16. 16 is old enough to know things most adults know about the law.

[Venus Pax]

We tolerate way too much in our society in the name of compassion. Interestingly enough, we make these very people less compassionate and more emboldened in their criminal pursuits.

[longtooth]

Good post VP

[seamusTX]

The two adult suspects in this crime were indicted for capital murder on February 28. All four suspects are still in custody. I guess the parents of the younger ones couldn't make bail.

Galveston County juries are harsh, with rare exceptions. Do not get crosswise with the law here.

Galveston County DA Kirk Sistrunk has not decided whether to seek the death penalty. (DAs have fixed budgets, and capital cases are expensive to prosecute.)

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewc ... c94ad985d0

- JIm

[seamusTX]

One of the 16-year-olds in this case was certified to be tried as an adult for capital murder Tuesday.

GALVESTON — A judge ruled that Matthew Hutchison will face a capital murder charge as an adult for the Jan. 31 killing of a Citgo store clerk. He was 16 at the time of the shooting.

Hutchison is one of four people accused of shooting Abdule Meje, who was killed during a robbery at the Seawall Citgo, 4502 Seawall Blvd.

Robert Lee Stevens, 33, and Katie Wade, 18, also face capital murder charges.

A judge will decide whether a fourth person, an unnamed juvenile, will also face charges as an adult.

Capital murder is punishable by death or a term of life in prison.

When youths are prosecuted as adults, a guilty verdict would mean an automatic life sentence. Texas law bars the death penalty for underage criminal defendants, even those classified as adults for trial purposes.

Four lives destroyed for the money in a convenience store cash register.

- Jim

[bryang]

We tolerate way too much in our society in the name of compassion. Interestingly enough, we make these very people less compassionate and more emboldened in their criminal pursuits.

Folks, I'll tell you what...we are living in the most dangerous times in the history of our country. The young people have no respect for themselves or anyone else. It is almost like they are completely void of any conscious, emotions, or value of life. They will kill you for two lousy dollars and think nothing of it!...no witness'. They know what they are doing. They know it's wrong, but just don't care.

-geo

[rm9792]

The minors should be treated as Minors.

Sorry, I disagree.

A 10 year old minor may not understand the consequences of his actions, but at the age of 16 (unless mentally incompetent) you know exactly what you are getting yourself in to.

I say certify them as adults and at least give them life in prison unless they had no idea what was taking place and were truly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I just asked my 11 year old if she shot someone does she expect them to die and she said "of course, then i go to prison for a long time". They know way more than you think and most likely should be held accountable somehow.

[anygunanywhere]

The minors should be treated as Minors.

Sorry, I disagree.

A 10 year old minor may not understand the consequences of his actions, but at the age of 16 (unless mentally incompetent) you know exactly what you are getting yourself in to.

I say certify them as adults and at least give them life in prison unless they had no idea what was taking place and were truly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I just asked my 11 year old if she shot someone does she expect them to die and she said "of course, then i go to prison for a long time". They know way more than you think and most likely should be held accountable somehow.

It is not the 10 year olds who do not understand the consequences of their actions, it is the liberal crybabies who do not understand the consequences of the 10 year old's actions. When a 10 year old kills you then you are as dead as if a 50 year old kills you.

Anygunanywhere

[snubbylover]

Four lives destroyed for the money in a convenience store cash register.


- Jim[/quote]

Four lives you say? You post a lot of good stuff so I don't mean to flame, but why are you forgetting the clerk and his family? Those are the lives which were destroyed.I have no compassion for the perps. It seems the victim is to often forgotten.

[seamusTX]

The four that I counted were the dead clerk, the shooter, his girlfriend, and the minor who was certified to stand trial as an adult. The (alleged) criminals are charged with capital murder and may be in prison for the rest of their lives. The other minor will probably testify for the state and get off easy this time (that seems to be the way that these things work).

The family of the deceased, Mr. Meje, may have issues down the road. I feel sorry for them.

- Jim

[snubbylover]

Thanks for your contribution and good evening.

[Mr.Scott]

A 10 year old minor may not understand the consequences of his actions, but at the age of 16 (unless mentally incompetent) you know exactly what you are getting yourself in to.

I say certify them as adults and at least give them life in prison unless they had no idea what was taking place and were truly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So, at 10 they don't understand, but at 16 they do? Where is this magic age where every child understands the consequences of their actions? Let's figure that out and set the age there. Should be simple, right?

Unless the kid is named Corky, at 16 every "kid" knows right from wrong. If they don't and are not named Corky, the parents need to be executed along with the kid.

[Mr.Scott]

We tolerate way too much in our society in the name of compassion. Interestingly enough, we make these very people less compassionate and more emboldened in their criminal pursuits.

That is amazing. It's true though. People shelter their children so much and teach them that they are special and that they can do no wrong. Then the kids go out and think that they can do anything they want.

[02transam]

there is still no evidence the 16 and 15 yr old had no part in this. while they may know the difference they may not have none what was going to happen. most people like myself as a young man or young child would never question my father if he said get in the car were going to the store. personally i think unless the prosecution can prove they played any role in the murder they need to be let go or sent with cps. the damage is done now you're right but no reason to destroy a teen and pre teens life.

[seamusTX]

We don't know what the evidence is.

The assistant DA was sure enough the day after the crime to say that the state would seek to have the minors certified as adults.

This wasn't simply a case of kids going for a joyride. The minors were listed as runaways.

- Jim