our society has grown so soft. in other cultures, 14 yr olds are well on their way to a career. In others 14 yr olds are given posts in the military.

the fact is - societies like ours have grown too accustomed to their luxuries and have an ocean of forgiveness for any cute / charming critter in the media

some media worker made a sob-story and you bought into it - hook line and sinker

Ive done a search of this case, and all of the articles Ive found say he was 14 when he committed the crime.

"Quantel Lotts was only 14 when he fatally stabbed his stepbrother while playing with blow darts. Lotts was convicted for his stepbrother’s death. In 2002, Lotts received a life sentence without possibility for parole.

Lotts’ stepbrother was Michael Barton, who was 17 at the time of the fatal stabbing. Quantel Lotts had grabbed a knife during their play and stabbed Barton twice. Barton did not make it to the hospital. Barton passed away soon after getting the knife wounds.

Quantel Lotts, of Missouri, is now 23 years old. Equal Justice, a group, believes Quantel Lotts should be given a second chance. Equal Justice is campaigning to get Lotts’ sentence changed."

12 years old is not a child, especially these days, it wasn't when I was a kid even and isn't now. I knew full well what was right and wrong at that age.

I say no more excuses.

Now every one of us will support his butt for life. Some one should have put his mother's butt in jail along time ago so this kid might have had a chance. But give him Juvinile detention for murder? That's insane.

Let's say we give the kid only 25 years, after prison for 25 years, he's going to be social? I am not convinced of that. I doubt prison makes you social. I could be wrong but I don't see much rehabilitation in jails these days.

You are right...however some prisons do have counseling and classes that take follow through for a long time. But...truth is; most prisoners learn how to get away with it next time. They learn how to be aggressive to get what you want. They learn even more racism.
Prison: lose lose situation.

Kat

FRY HIM!

the step brother that was killed doesn't have a life now. that was taken away from him.

Decisions that should have been made before the point of the crime. I'm all for a 25 year sentence, possibility of parole after 10-15. Life was a bit stiff for this certain case as it pertains to past life and previous criminal history, problem is, I'm not a judge/jury/counsel.

i'm in agreement with you there. i wasn't in the court so i don't know everything. but someone's life was taken and can't be given back is all i'm saying. i hope this kid (now an adult) has been getting the help he needs

scttrbrain - do you have a better idea than prison?

The article said that this is how he grew up:


He grew up in a crack house with a mother who used and sold drugs. In Lotts' case, court documents reveal that he was sexually abused as a child.

When child welfare officials took Lotts from his mother at the age of 8, they noted that he "smelled of urine and had badly decayed molars as well as numerous scars on his arms, legs and forehead."

At the time of the crime, Tammy Lotts said she left her children for several days with her husband to get high on crack cocaine."

There are a number of better choices given the age of the person, he could have gone through therapy (this would have been handled by juvenile corrections) and started a shorter prison sentence pending the outcome of the therapy/rehab.

As it is, a life sentence off the first murder conviction is quite steep.

So the parents and the child are at fault... hmmm....

So give the kid 25 years without perole and charge the parents with neglect.

First degree murder is defined by federal and state laws, which vary by state, but generally define it as a killing which is deliberate and premeditated. Many states define first degree murder as a killing committed in connection with felonies such as rape, burglary, arson, or involving multiple deaths, the killing of certain types of people (such as a child or a police officer), or certain weapons, particularly a gun. It is distinguished from second degree murder, which usually does not require premeditation, and from manslaughter, which lacks premeditation and suggests that at most there was intent to harm rather than to kill.

Under federal law, the government must prove each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

First, the defendant unlawfully killed [victim];
Second, the defendant killed [victim] with malice aforethought;
Third, the killing was premeditated; and
Fourth, the killing occurred at [location stated in indictment].
To kill with malice aforethought means to kill either deliberately and intentionally or recklessly with extreme disregard for human life.

Premeditation means with planning or deliberation. The amount of time needed for premeditation of a killing depends on the person and the circumstances. It must be long enough, after forming the intent to kill, for the killer to have been fully conscious of the intent and to have considered the killing.



now...I think after what he went through as a child had a very big impact on his actions....a 14 yr old knows not to stab someone. even with the rage, they do know right from wrong. since I wasn't in the court room and didn't hear what the jury heard...I can't say what is a fair sentence or not...but I do hope he gets help

That sounds reasonable to me. The parents should be charged too.

Not meaning to argue with anyone, but the way I read that article, the punk was 14, not 12, and anyone who thinks that the kid gloves should be used sure is out of touch with the reality of youth in America these days. Had a little punk threaten to stab two girls right in the public library not too long ago. According to the local cops, he has been escalating from his drug dealing to violent crimes, because he commits most of them against the other kids, who are too scared to report him, due to "pay backs".
Years ago we had a 10 year old monster shooting at people. When he was caught, they sat him down and made sure he understood what he was doing was way wrong BEFORE they arrested him, which they did, and he was off to juvie. I was glad to see him go, not a drop of sympathy. Frickin parents were just all up in arms and yelling at the victims because they had to pay restitution.
I tell parents that they have to assert authority within the first two years, or they will just have it harder later. Not only do I think this kid should have been shut down and hard, and forget all this sympathy, his mother should have also been up on charges. Sick to death of parents that aren't parents. Just pop out babies, let them run wild, and then snivel how the system isn't working. Spare me.