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Killer mom pleaded guilty of murdering AJ after being presented with the video evidence of his abuse on her phone. Meanwhile, her husband had spilled his guts about how he buried AJ. I always feel disgust when a defence attorney pitches a plea deal in a horrendous murder, let alone a child murder (!) and then pure anger when a State Attorney accepts it. I realize that in some cases it is necessary to accept plea deals to ensure a conviction, but I wonder-- was it was necessary in this case, and did the conditions exceed what what was necessary.
How could a State Attorney agree to dismiss several other charges against her, and also agree to the wording of her charge, as outlined by the judge below, which made her ineligible for a life sentence?
"(Judge) Wilbrandt told Cunningham her actions were “inhumane, repulsive and, frankly, shocking.” He said her situation could “only be described as drug-addled filth, lying, cheating and manipulating her way through life while terrorizing her small son.”
Still, the judge noted, the charge under terms of the plea agreement DID NOT INCLUDE elements that Cunningham intended to kill her son or that her acts were “brutal or heinous,” indicative of “wanton cruelty,” which would have made her eligible for a sentence of up to natural life." (She beat him so violently with the shower head that it left indentation marks and caused fatal brain injury, while he was subjected to a frigid cold shower, and she then left him to die alone in his bed. Nothing brutal or cruel about that right?)
"McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said his team was disappointed Cunningham did not receive the maximum 60-year prison term allowed under a plea deal his office reached with defense attorneys last year. She faced a minimum of 20 years. “We felt we put on an incredibly strong case that justified the maximum sentence,” Kenneally told the Tribune. "
State Attorney Patrick Kenneally should have known how the terms of his accepted plea deal would affect the ruling of the judge regarding her sentence. Per the judge, PK took a life sentence out of the equation with the deal. But PK 's response to the sentence included his need to say she faced only 20 years, (and got 35) so I guess that makes him feel like he didn't totally screw up in finding justice for A.J.
Little A.J.'s family is not happy with this sentence, which would be the same sentiments of the police investigators who solved the case and turned it over to the prosecutors.
I have compassion for people who have had a hard life. Killer mom pleads for mercy because she was physically and emotionally abused growing up. I know abuse can be a vicious cycle, but I only have compassion for the adult victims who seek help to stop the cycle of abuse when they have their own innocent, vulnerable children. Being a drug addict and cutting off family support for the abused child doesn't excuse their guilt, it makes it more selfish and evil.
Child protective services are mandated to rescue children like A.J. They had enough background in their file to take complaints very seriously. Once again, they failed a child who should have been saved.
hicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-aj-freund-joann-cunningham-sentence-20200717-yid3pmltufepfhbwmkzv4phgse-story.htm
How could a State Attorney agree to dismiss several other charges against her, and also agree to the wording of her charge, as outlined by the judge below, which made her ineligible for a life sentence?
"(Judge) Wilbrandt told Cunningham her actions were “inhumane, repulsive and, frankly, shocking.” He said her situation could “only be described as drug-addled filth, lying, cheating and manipulating her way through life while terrorizing her small son.”
Still, the judge noted, the charge under terms of the plea agreement DID NOT INCLUDE elements that Cunningham intended to kill her son or that her acts were “brutal or heinous,” indicative of “wanton cruelty,” which would have made her eligible for a sentence of up to natural life." (She beat him so violently with the shower head that it left indentation marks and caused fatal brain injury, while he was subjected to a frigid cold shower, and she then left him to die alone in his bed. Nothing brutal or cruel about that right?)
"McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said his team was disappointed Cunningham did not receive the maximum 60-year prison term allowed under a plea deal his office reached with defense attorneys last year. She faced a minimum of 20 years. “We felt we put on an incredibly strong case that justified the maximum sentence,” Kenneally told the Tribune. "
State Attorney Patrick Kenneally should have known how the terms of his accepted plea deal would affect the ruling of the judge regarding her sentence. Per the judge, PK took a life sentence out of the equation with the deal. But PK 's response to the sentence included his need to say she faced only 20 years, (and got 35) so I guess that makes him feel like he didn't totally screw up in finding justice for A.J.
Little A.J.'s family is not happy with this sentence, which would be the same sentiments of the police investigators who solved the case and turned it over to the prosecutors.
I have compassion for people who have had a hard life. Killer mom pleads for mercy because she was physically and emotionally abused growing up. I know abuse can be a vicious cycle, but I only have compassion for the adult victims who seek help to stop the cycle of abuse when they have their own innocent, vulnerable children. Being a drug addict and cutting off family support for the abused child doesn't excuse their guilt, it makes it more selfish and evil.
Child protective services are mandated to rescue children like A.J. They had enough background in their file to take complaints very seriously. Once again, they failed a child who should have been saved.
hicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-aj-freund-joann-cunningham-sentence-20200717-yid3pmltufepfhbwmkzv4phgse-story.htm
