I can't imagine handling this as a parent

[sparks19]

I agree he should be tried as an adult. However if you are mentally ill, truly ill, embarrassment is not on the top of your list. These people are in so much mental pain...................... thinking clearly is impossible for them. Perhaps he heard voices, perhaps he saw things that weren't there. No this does not excuse him, but it could explain his actions. Perhaps his parents were aware of his illness but did not seek help for him. This makes me think of the shooting in Virginia, that young man was clearly very mentally ill.

to be honest.... anyone that can just murder people in cold blood for absolutely no reason is not exactly mentally stable. So wouldn't that technically make any murderer mentally ill?

[Catty1]

There are cases where 'temporary insanity' is pleaded. So, yes, I would agree with that.

Killing in self-defense might lead to charges of manslaughter - but the person was not insane.

War? Well, that opens a whole OTHER can of worms...

The Virginia Tech guy HAD had treatment...and was just too bloody sick to get well, or to cooperate with treatment. His family - I can't imagine how they feel.

Like this boy. His family may have tried everything to help him...and now this.

Prayers for all concerned.

[Argranade]

That's awful,

I hope they help him & may those people killed rest in peace.

[sparks19]

There are cases where 'temporary insanity' is pleaded. So, yes, I would agree with that.

Killing in self-defense might lead to charges of manslaughter - but the person was not insane.

War? Well, that opens a whole OTHER can of worms...

The Virginia Tech guy HAD had treatment...and was just too bloody sick to get well, or to cooperate with treatment. His family - I can't imagine how they feel.

Like this boy. His family may have tried everything to help him...and now this.

Prayers for all concerned.

Sorry.... I mean cold blooded murder..... killing someone who is completely defenseless and planned murder.

Self defense is a whole other matter..... Kill or be killed. I would do whatever I could to protect myself or my family if I had to and if that means killing out of self defense then so be it.

War.... kinda falls in a little bit with kill or be killed. They are sent to do a job.... once they are performing their duties they are being shot at.... if someone is shooting at me I will shoot back.

but to go into someone's house while they are sleeping and stab three people to death is just frightening. To kill for no other reason than "because I can" is scary and it takes a special frame of mind to be capable of such things IMO.

but, yes, how horrible to be the parents I just could not imagine my son that i raised coming to me and saying "Mom I killed three people while they slept.... one of those people was my best friend" I cannot even venture to guess how I would handle such a situation.

[lizbud]

All murder cases are not the same and they are treated differently by law.
There's planned murder & unplanned murder (unintended death).

The brain of a teenage boy or girl is not yet developed into an adult brain. I
think they call this section of the brain the frontal cortex..is the last part
of the brain to reach maturity.

http://www.usaweekend.com/03_issues/...teenbrain.html