Gang violence.

[Epiphany]

Today I got the news that one of my good friends was killed, when he got in an arguement with a boy at one of his Soccer games. The boy apparently got a lot of his friends and they all jumped my friend. Tom died from brain damage from the abuse.

None of the boys were prosecuted because they couldn't decipher who had dealt the killing blow.

Personally, and even if it wasn't involving a friend of mine, I'd be sickened.

thoughts? (and please don't give me pity, I want thoughts on situations such as these. something needs to be done about this.)

[Odaisé Gaelach]

I don't really know if this is gang violence. To me it just seems like a bunch of disorderly thugs.

You can generally do something about gang violence and organised crime, but really I don't know what you could do about a group of thugs like them.

[Epiphany]

Aye, perhaps one thing I should have added. What the arguement was about was in regards to gangs.

Apparently both boys were in opposing gangs.

[Odaisé Gaelach]

I guess then that the only way to stop gang violence is to convince people not to join them in the first place.

If you join a gang, don't be surprised if you make a few enemies as well as a few friends. Try and stop people from joining the gangs in the first place. But that is easier said than done, I admit...

[T-MaN]

I'd be out for revenge (even if that is the wrong thing to do). The least I'd do is call the cops on those thugs or something, but if your situation happened to me, I'd make sure those thugs were "properly punished".

[bipper]

Today I got the news that one of my good friends was killed, when he got in an arguement with a boy at one of his Soccer games. The boy apparently got a lot of his friends and they all jumped my friend. Tom died from brain damage from the abuse.

Very sorry to hear this.

None of the boys were prosecuted because they couldn't decipher who had dealt the killing blow.

Bad call, they all get (At least tried for) 2nd degree or aiding and abeding, along with possible conspiracy charges. If not, a lawyer needs to get involved for sure. These are by American legal standards of course. If you are elsewhere, seek legal advice and media attantion on this case. *nods*

Bipper

[Skyblade]

Very sorry to hear this.

Bad call, they all get (At least tried for) 2nd degree or aiding and abeding, along with possible conspiracy charges. If not, a lawyer needs to get involved for sure. These are by American legal standards of course. If you are elsewhere, seek legal advice and media attantion on this case. *nods*

Bipper

Bipper seems to have forgotten assault, aggravated assault, and attempted murder. They should be tried with all of these. Seriously, go to a lawyer and/or the media.

[ShunNakamura]

I must just say that Bipper and Skyblade have it right.

[Resha]

Happened at Birmingham too, yesterday. Gangs/race riots, and someone was killed, apparently.

There has to be some form of prosecution; can't they all be tried to find out who dealt the killing blow? They all hit him, so they ALL deserve some kind of punishment, killing blow or not.

[nik0tine]

They are all guilty of murder. Maybe not uner the law, but in the eyes of any human being they are all smurfing murderers.

[bipper]

Bipper seems to have forgotten assault, aggravated assault, and attempted murder. They should be tried with all of these. Seriously, go to a lawyer and/or the media.

heh, of course i never meant it to be a comprehensive list.

Good call though!

Bipper

[Skyblade]

heh, of course i never meant it to be a comprehensive list.

Good call though!

Bipper

Well, mine's not really comprehensive either (you could also charge them with manslaughter, and if any used weapons you could charge them with battery, and there are probably a couple more I'm forgetting). But depending on the jury, you might have trouble getting them convicted for 2nd degree murder (the jury might think the same way the person who decided not to press charges did), and I don't think you have a chance in hell of getting a conspiracy charge passed. If you can't get those, you probably won't get aiding and abetting either, since they could argue that there is no crime to aid and abett. But you should be able to easily get them all for assault and aggravated assault, and probably attempted murder as well. Manslaughter is another one which you should be able to get them all on.

They are all guilty of murder. Maybe not uner the law, but in the eyes of any human being they are all smurfing murderers.

Yes, but the ones who were deciding whether or not to press charges were probably lawyers, not human beings.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but they are all legally responsible for the boy's death aren't they?

[Captain Maxx Power]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but they are all legally responsible for the boy's death aren't they?

Technically, no. What's important to note here is the difference between Manslaughter and Murder. With murder, you attack someone with the intention of killing them. With Manslaughter, either by accident or by other action, a person is killed. So from a logical point of view, if these people intended only to harm him, only the person who actually did the deed could be considered a murdered, the rest would just be guilty of manslaughter.

But yes, there are a number of other offenses that they could be tried on, which have been covered. The most obvious is Assault or GBH, which can include something as simple as punching someone in the face once, at least in the UK. This is a tragedy, and something should be done. Don't become complaicent about it, that's when they win.

[Epiphany]

-Nods- I wasn't thinking of just dropping this for even a minute. I just didn't know if something further could be done..Thank you all, I'm definately going to have something done about this.

[Madame Adequate]

Technically, no. What's important to note here is the difference between Manslaughter and Murder. With murder, you attack someone with the intention of killing them. With Manslaughter, either by accident or by other action, a person is killed. So from a logical point of view, if these people intended only to harm him, only the person who actually did the deed could be considered a murdered, the rest would just be guilty of manslaughter.

No, they would be guilty of manslaughter if they didn't intend to bring death about, or they would be guilty of murder if they did. The killing blow has nothing to do with that particular aspect, unless someone specifically attacked him in a way designed to kill - likely not possible to prove.

Don't sit on this. Contact anyone and everyone you can, because these people need to be put away. I'm very sorry this happened in the first place.

Maxx - Assault is actually an offence even if you spit on someone.