Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Charges Considered Against "Unarmed" Teen

Thai Boxing - 01
How awful, right?  Except this 17-year-old soccer goalie punched a referee in the head resulting in coma and death. 

I wonder why this homicide has not been in the news?  Should we outlaw goalies or fists?  I'm okay with outlawing soccer.

In a way, I feel bad for the kid.  He was wrong to strike the referee and should have been charged with battery, but I am certain he did not mean to kill Mr. Portillo.  Now, because of an outburst of uncontrolled anger, a family is grieving and a young man's life is in ruins.

In a way, it's very reminiscent of the Zimmerman case, two lives destroyed by a culture of violence.  George Zimmerman's life is being wrecked by a judicial system poisoned by politics and racism.  If Trayvon Martin had been white, Zimmerman would never have been charged.

I'm glad the prosecutor in the referee's case is being reasonable and not seriously considering a murder charge.  "Homicide by assault" -- which is will likely carry a penalty similar to manslaughter -- sounds appropriate.  One wonders what the charge would have been against Trayvon Martin had his intended victim been "unarmed". 
Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments:

Post a Comment