You may or may not remember the "Mortal Kombat" murder case from last December, but if not, allow me to refresh your memory: two teens decided to reenact a Mortal Kombat-style fight and use 7-year-old Zoe Garcia (the sister of one of the teens) as a punching bag. The child died of blunt force trauma to the brain, and the shocking story left people floored. Who would do such a thing?
Six months later, a sentence has finally been chosen for Heather Trujillo, the older sister of Zoe. The bottom line was 18 years behind bars; however, the "suspended" sentence can be avoided if Heather spends six years in a Pueblo facility for youth offenders. I know which one I'd pick, but images of Trujillo crying in court depict her as less than grateful for the reprieve.
There was commentary from the girl's family that she was never a violent person and that they believe that Lamar Roberts, the other teen involved, may have made up the story to "look tough" (Oh hey, blame the black guy! I've heard that game is popular). Roberts' trial is coming up soon, and Heather will testify, so there may be much more to the story in the near future (which Destructoid will dutifully bring to your attention).
Did Heather get off too easy in your opinion?
[Via GamePolitics -- Thanks, Joe]
Contest:
12:50 PM on 07.03.2008
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I feel bad for everyone involved in this.
Just throw her in the cell and forget about it.
Ronco: "Set it and forget it!"
It'll be interesting to see what Roberts gets.
I don't feel bad for her by any means. She helped beat her seven year old sister to death. But I think eighteen years is probably a sufficient punishment, especially to somebody young like her.
Think about it. She's how old right now? Some sort of teenager? That means she's not getting out until she's in her mid to late thirties. That means she'll be missing out on what many call the best years of their lives. No going to college, no normal social interaction, no falling in love (probably), and then she'll be set out into the world in her thirties with no life skills. It's essentially a damning sentence, so I think it's sufficient.
Better than what she would have got in Canada though. Creeps are in and out of jail like no where else up here.
I wouldn't put it past the courts to do something like that here.
I concur, they gave her sister a damning sentence for all of eternity, may as well screw her over as well.
I hope the other guy gets a similar sentence as well.
"what are you doing? only me and garth get to talk to the camera"
Because one engenders a socially beneficial result and the other does not.
BUT, I think the reasoning behind the "light" sentencing is this; The parents.
They've already lost one child and even though there are undoubtedly hard times ahead for them as a family unit, the love for our children is (usually) one of the human race's redeeming traits and it almost always defies all odds and logic.
As a new father I can't even begin to wrap my head around this..
I got the Wayne's World reference.
Let's please leave that can of worms out of this conversation.
I agree with Dex, with the lack of rehabilitation in american rehabilitation centers (a.k.a. jails), spending any long term amount of time in those inevitably ends up being just a long road to nowheresville, with no jobs waiting, no social life, and evenually leading back to more jail time. I do, however, think that being a white, teenage, crying girl did help her get a shorter sentence. Be interesting to see what the guy gets.
18 years is a DAMN long time that's like me going to jail when I was 5 and getting out today.....long time.
living with yourself knowing how you retardly beat your little sister to death would be brutal, unless the girl is just crazy and doesn't care anyways which might make sense as how the hell can you beat a 7 year old let alone to death?
Just once, I'd like to hear someone stand up in court and say:
"You know what? Mum was great. Dad was great. Nothing 'made' me act this way. I'm just a cunt."
Take it one step further, blame THE GUY! Heard that one never goes out of style.
"Just once, I'd like to hear someone stand up in court and say:
"You know what? Mum was great. Dad was great. Nothing 'made' me act this way. I'm just a cunt.""
Bravo.
I hate how America has bent and curved around some many other religions that it was deemed illegal to say the pledge of allegiance anymore. "IN GOD WE TRUST" no not exactly. Point being that America is not America anymore and the judicial system is well just retarded. I strongly believe in an EYE FOR AN EYE and NOT A LIFE FOR A SLAP ON THE WRIST! Just my 2cents though.
Because, you know more than the system, right? And you know every single mitigating detail of the trial, right?
Does anyone, besides me, have the balls to *not* want the death penalty?