I agree that the video will likely convict her, and have stated so more than once, but the video only tells the end of the story, not the entire story. The accused is entitled to a vigorous defense, and introducing any possible mitigating factors will surely be a part of telling the rest of it. JMO
That is correct.
Mitigating circumstances are considered during the penalty phase in a trial in adult court, as you state, but in juvenile court mitigating circumstances are considered by the judge at the juvenile's hearings. They will be taken into consideration as the judge deliberates on whether or not they will transfer the juvenile to adult court or deal with the matter in the juvenile system. So at this point, while the "defendant" juvenile is still in juvenile custody, the mitigating circumstances are part of the process, although how the judge weighs them in relation to the crime that was committed is hard to say, given the serious nature of the crime.
Wesley Bell is the St Louis County Prosecutor, but his office will only handle the case if the accused is transferred to adult court, which has not yet been determined. JMO
www.independent.co.uk
Too bad KG will likely not even be able to give her own victim impact statement at whatever trial there is. So sad.That is correct.
Between now and May 10, officers of the juvenile court will complete what were described as "social work-type" interviews with DeClue, collecting information about her family and personal history. Attorneys for the juvenile court will present the findings from those interviews to Dodson on May 10. It will then be up to the judge in what system DeClue's case will proceed from there.
DeClue's attorney, Greg Smith, says that he will oppose his client being certified as an adult.
Hearing on Whether to Try Maurnice DeClue as an Adult Set for May
A viral video captured a Hazelwood East student later identifed as DeClue beating Kaylee Gain last monthwww.riverfronttimes.com
@SteveP Thanks for noting ^this,^ much appreciated.Wesley Bell is the St Louis County Prosecutor, but his office will only handle the case if the accused is transferred to adult court, which has not yet been determined. JMO
"St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell called the video “sickening” but said that his office did not have the power to act in the case.
“This is a Juvenile court matter, unless it is certified and by law, certification is not our decision either,” Mr Bell wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We pray the victim makes a full recovery. This is just heartbreaking.”
Teenage girl left with serious head injury after street fight near Missouri school
The fight was captured on video and posted to social media
Hope springs eternal, I suppose. However, as of last report (that I read), she still has no idea why she's in the hospital. Speech is only one concern of many. MOO
When most people refer to a "child", they are referring to a person who has not yet reached puberty, and it is obvious that MD has. A "juvenile" is defined by the US Dept of Justice as a person who has not attained his eighteenth birthday, and "juvenile delinquency" is the violation of a law of the United States committed by a person prior to his eighteenth birthday which would have been a crime if committed by an adult. While MD is not what most of us would likely consider a "child", she is also not yet an "adult". She is a juvenile, according to the legal system. I do believe that the seriousness of her actions, that resulted in critical injuries to KG, are enough that she will likely be tried in adult court, rather than juvenile court.
I used to live in the region, and like I've said before and probably will again, this is not a neighborhood where people live if they can live anywhere else. Moving to a less stigmatized area in the STL metroplex is probably not going to be an option, because who's going to rent to someone who used to live THERE?
We all know that even when they cannot find a legal way to keep someone out, many landlords have a knack for figuring out a way, when they do not wish to rent to someone. JMO
I agree, but sometimes they just don't care as long as they get their money.
nypost.com
snipped for focus @SteveP Thanks for your post w links.....
now KG's family is admitting... both girls had been exchanging equally threatening texts. Also alleges the fight was agreed to by both parties, and scheduled, time and place, in advance.... I will say that while the word "gang" has never been mentioned, it sounds a lot like gang activity happening in that school to me, with the two girls on opposite sides. JMO
Kaylee Gain’s father reveals details of text war which led to near-fatal fight, updates her recovery: ‘Some days better than others’
“It’s been really hard. It’s very slow. When she gets out of the hospital she’s going to live with me, it’s already been decided,” Clinton Gain told The Post.Kaylee Gain's father reveals texts that led up to beating by bully
The father of Missouri schoolgirl Kaylee Gain says he and his wife went through the 16-year-old's phone to try and see what happened in the lead up to a vicious school fight that left her fighting for her life.www.dailymail.co.uk
nypost.com
