Legal Commentary

AZ Juvenile Pleads In Murder Case

By Jeralyn

The nine year old boy accused of murdering his father and his father's boarder has admitted the killings in juvenile court.

"Did you, on November 5 of last year, do something really dangerous or risky and, as a result, did somebody die?" Roca asked in Apache County Juvenile Court. Yes," responded the boy, who was accused of killing his father and another man.

The plea agreement is here (pdf).

As to why the DA backed off earlier plans to charge the child in adult court: [More...]

County Attorney Michael Whiting said he agreed to the plea because Christian likely would have been found incompetent to stand trial. In that event, state law would have required the boy's release without any supervision or restrictions until around age 15, when he could be tried as an adult. Now, Christian faces judicial supervision until he turns 18.

Whiting also said he wanted to resolve the case for the victims' families "so they can begin the process of reconstructing their lives as soon as possible."

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 20, 2009 (boomark / email).