Monday, February 23, 2009

Juvenile crime

This dreadful story is somewhat misleading. In Pennsylvania anyone under 14 is tried as a juvenile and receives special protections similar to those seen in Canada. A break point is seen in the Pennsylvania statutes at age 13 and it seems very likely this case will not go ahead as a criminal matter but more likely as a child welfare case.


11-year-old Pennsylvania boy charged with killing pregnant woman

WAMPUM, Pa. - An 11-year-old boy has been charged in the death of a pregnant woman who was found shot in a bedroom of her western Pennsylvania farmhouse Friday, police said Saturday.

A statement from state police said the boy was charged with criminal homicide and criminal homicide of an unborn child in the killing of 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk. The victim was eight months pregnant.

The statement said the boy had been arraigned in District Court and placed in the Lawrence County jail.

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