Father murdered by son, aged 8

[Sureboss]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7717545.stm

An eight-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of his father and another man in the US state of Arizona.

Police in St Johns, a small community north-east of Phoenix, said the child had confessed to shooting the two men with a .22-calibre rifle on Wednesday.

"Who would think an eight-year-old kid could kill two adults?" said St Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick on Friday.

A judge has ordered a psychological evaluation of the boy, who is being held at a juvenile detention centre.

He did not have a record of bad behaviour at school, and there had been no indication of any problems at home, prosecutors said.

Mr Melnick said police officers had arrived at the child's home within minutes of the shooting on Wednesday evening.

They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room, he added.

The second man is believed to have been lodging in the house.

The boy had gone to a neighbour's house and said he "believed that his father was dead", Apache County prosecutor Brad Carlyon said. Police later obtained a confession from the boy for the two killings.

His defence lawyer, Benjamin Brewer, said police had overreached in questioning him without representation from a parent or a lawyer, and that they had not advised him of his rights.

What a horrible story. It will be intriguing to see how it unfolds.

 

[Speedy Samurai]

Murder? Or just playing with daddy's gun?

 

[OZZYGT]

It must have been a murder. If the boy was just toying with the gun, he would have realized it was a real one after he shot the first person. If he killed 2 people then he knew what he was doing.

Disturbing nonetheless.

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

Re-enacting Call of duty or Halo?


BOOM headshot!


Ive noticed the world is pretty well you know

 

[Famine]

In the UK the kid wouldn't even be prosecuted for it, even if it were deliberate. Children under the age of 11 are not held "criminally responsible" - they're not mature enough to be considered aware of action and consequence in criminal matters.

 

[Zmann42087]

crazy..

 

[homeforsummer]

In the UK the kid wouldn't even be prosecuted for it, even if it were deliberate. Children under the age of 11 are not held "criminally responsible" - they're not mature enough to be considered aware of action and consequence in criminal matters.

The age in the UK for criminal responsibility is actually ten and up, I've been studying it recently in my law module (<10 is considered a child, and legally can't be named in a crime like this either, between 10 and 18 would be tried in a juvenile court though this is subject to psychoanalysis to determine their mental age, and 18+ is "adult"). And yet, our Irish neighbours would have the kid up in court, as their age for criminal responsibility is 8. So now you know.

But yeah, in this case I think it can reasonably be called murder given that he killed two different people in different areas of the house. Killing one would be bad luck/an accident but two is more than suspicious.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Depends though. An immature 8 year old could always think his dad was playing along with the "game" then go off and shoot the other person. Only when no-one responds and stops playing will it dawn on the kid.

There's also the possibility of child abuse.

My point is, it's way too soon to assume this kid is a cold blooded killer.

 

[Casio]

I think something that is being overlooked is that leaving a .22 Calibre Rifle lying around in a place where an 8 year old can get to it, probably isn't the smartest parenting rule in the world. (Assuming that's what happened)

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

I think its too young for the kid to understand what he done. Yes I agree for the game part but all in all he has murdered someone and that will haunt him to school, to work and to death...

 

[Jay]

Sad and very strange, will be interested to see how this pans out.

I think something that is being overlooked is that leaving a .22 Calibre Rifle lying around in a place where an 8 year old can get to it, probably isn't the smartest parenting rule in the world. (Assuming that's what happened)

Oh come-on it's only a .22, you don't have a few lying around?

 

[Eric.]

Re-enacting Call of duty or Halo?


BOOM headshot!


Ive noticed the world is pretty well you know

Unfortunately Jack Thompson is not going to be able to bring this up to the judges.

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

Unfortunately Jack Thompson is not going to be able to bring this up to the judges.

LOL

I take out phoenix wright to defend!


If he did it would tone down the games lol.

 

[MadMax]

Incredibly stupid case in my opinion.
There's not mentioned if the kid lived with his dad or parents and
there's gotta be something wrong in the parents when this kind of stuff happens.


regards

MadMax

 

[ranhammerR34]

Oh my gosh... that's crazy....

 

[ND4SPD]

Michael Meyers 2.....

 

[V1P3R]

💡 Maybe a trend?

 

[Omnis]

The kid's name is Eddy Pess.

 

[nk4e]

Can't blame Halo for this one....how bout Counter Strike? But its sad what has happened, I want to follow up more on this one..

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

Can't blame Halo for this one....how bout Counter Strike? But its sad what has happened, I want to follow up more on this one..

I feel sorry for the son, now he has to live knowing that he has killed his father... his mentality will falter.


Counter Strike lol