Murder by a minor

There has been much condemnation, as indeed there should be, for the 17 year old schoolgirl of Plaisance who fatally stabbed her “stepfather”. I certainly believe that she must be penalized for her crime. However in sentencing her the legal system must take into consideration the circumstances of the crime. Here I am reporting as per the Kaieteur News article.

The young lady went home from school and was refused entry to her mother’s home by a man who had moved in a mere month before.

After she later attempted to enter the home, whilst the man was in the yard, the man hit her.

She flew into a rage (which had perhaps been simmering after he locked her out) and stabbed him.

All of this transpired while the teen must have been under a lot of pressure since she was writing CAPE.

One could certainly understand the teen being very resentful of the man her mother suddenly brought into the home. It is natural behaviour for teenagers, especially troubled teens which she apparently was.

Further, the man, contrary to reports, is not her “stepfather” as he was not married to her mother. They were merely “living home”.

Should the mother not have to take some blame for (i) obviously neglected parenting and (ii) bringing a man into the home who abused her daughter?

This, I repeat, is not meant to condone murder but to highlight that the crime seem to be a spontaneous one, committed in anger which was instigated by the victim. Some amount of compassion must be exercised by the judicial system in this case given the circumstances of the crime and the young lady should perhaps be charged for manslaughter, not murder. She is young and has much time ahead of her during which time there is a good chance she can be reformed while incarcerated.