Only in America: 8-year-old charged with premeditated murder

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-- Only in America: 8-year-old charged with premeditated murder

Posted by activate on Nov-08-2008 04:47:

Only in America: 8-year-old charged with premeditated murder

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/07...d.ap/index.html

8-year-old accused of killing father, another man

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) -- An 8-year-old boy is charged with murder in the shooting of his father and another man in a rural community in eastern Arizona, authorities said Friday.

The boy was charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the death of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, and 39-year-old Timothy Romans, St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick said.

Police arrived at the home within minutes of the shooting Wednesday, Melnick said. They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room.

The boy, who prosecutors say had never been in trouble before, initially denied involvement in the shooting but later confessed, Melnick said.

Police have not said what they think the boy's motive was.

Defense attorney Benjamin Brewer argued Friday that police overreached in questioning the boy without representation from a parent or attorney and did not advise him of his rights.

"They became very accusing early on in the interview," Brewer said. "Two officers with guns at their side, it's very scary for anybody, for sure an 8-year-old kid."

A judge determined at a hearing Friday that there was probable cause to believe the boy committed the killings. He is being held at the Apache County juvenile detention center.

St. Johns is a community of about 4,000 people about 170 miles northeast of Phoenix.

Posted by zeeshopper on Nov-08-2008 05:15:

Posted by VERTiG0 on Nov-08-2008 09:26:

Okay so a kid shot 2 people? Yep, he's a murderer. Who cares how old he is.

Posted by VDub on Nov-08-2008 14:36:

quote:
Originally posted by zeeshopper

Alberta is Canada's Texas.....

Posted by Vivid Boy on Nov-08-2008 15:32:

Posted by SkyHigh on Nov-08-2008 15:57:

The kid has a bright future ahead of him..

Posted by VDub on Nov-08-2008 17:31:

quote:
Originally posted by VDub
Alberta is Canada's Texas.....

Posted by rabbitjoker on Nov-08-2008 18:14:

The only reason you should be saying "only in America" is because in Canada the kid wouldn't have even been charged.

Canadian youth criminal justice is a joke.

Posted by thesauce23 on Nov-08-2008 18:15:

Posted by VERTiG0 on Nov-08-2008 18:20:

Posted by yankeeBaby on Nov-09-2008 01:15:

Posted by activate on Nov-09-2008 09:10:

quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
The only reason you should be saying "only in America" is because in Canada the kid wouldn't have even been charged.

Canadian youth criminal justice is a joke.

It's also safe to say that in canada the chances of an 8 year old having access to and knowing how to use a gun wouldn't be quite as high

Posted by dEsidEL on Nov-09-2008 13:55:

quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
"only in America"

yup it could probably happen in Congo too.. or Palestine.. or Nepal.. or...

Posted by LightsOut on Nov-09-2008 14:11:

quote:
Originally posted by activate
It's also safe to say that in canada the chances of an 8 year old having access to and knowing how to use a gun wouldn't be quite as high

My thoughts exactly

Posted by StereoPrincess on Nov-09-2008 14:27:

quote:
Originally posted by activate
It's also safe to say that in canada the chances of an 8 year old having access to and knowing how to use a gun wouldn't be quite as high

Canadian children have the same access to guns as American children.

Just as many people hunt in the rural areas of Canada. Northern Quebec and Northern Ontario come to mind. Guns are pretty common thing to have around the house.

As for cities, you really think that 8 year olds don't hang around in gangs. I think the gangs get to the kids that early and keep them in forever.

The only difference in this case is that in Canada, the child wouldn't be charged.

P.S. I don't think this child should be charged anyways. The police ruined the investigation by questioning the child without a parent or a lawyer.