Teen Says He Witnessed Fatal Beating, Helped Destroy Evidence
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Thursday, August 6, 2009
A 17-year-old Loudoun County youth told police in April that he witnessed portions of the beating death of William Bennett along a Lansdowne parkway in February, that the two men who killed Bennett laughed about the crime as he drove them away, and that he helped them burn their blood-soaked clothes after the random attack.
The teenager was in court facing a first-degree murder charge in the case. At the end of a nearly four-hour preliminary hearing, a Loudoun juvenile court judge dismissed the charge because of a technicality: Prosecutors were unable to prove he was younger than 18. The teenager was not released because the judge found probable cause that he had assaulted another gang member with a beer bottle six days later.
Loudoun Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney James P. Fisher said he would seek to refile the murder charge against the teenager, either by refiling a petition in juvenile court or by asking Juvenile Court Judge Avelina S. Jacob to reopen the case so he could file proof of the defendant's age. The judge said there was probable cause to send the case to a circuit court grand jury, where prosecutors want to try the teenager as an adult, but "you did not prove the age of the child."
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Barry Zweig and Kimberly Irving, the teenager's attorneys, raised a raft of issues during the heated hearing that could foreshadow a complicated murder trial, including an apparent promise by police that the teen would not be charged in exchange for telling the truth. In addition to the youth, Darwin G. Bowman, 18, of Annandale is charged with capital murder. The youth implicated a second man, Anthony R. Roberts, 20, of Middleburg, who has not been charged in the slaying but is being held in the April burglary of a gun store.
The attack on Bennett, 57, and his wife, Cynthia Bennett, 55, as they took an early Sunday walk on Riverside Parkway sent chills through their upscale Loudoun community. Both were severely beaten, and Cynthia Bennett was critically injured and hospitalized for more than two months. Evidence presented in court Wednesday indicated that she was raped, and prosecutors said they would seek to file rape charges.
Police soon came to believe the episode was a random attack, and when Loudoun sheriff's deputies arrested the 17-year-old in April on an unrelated incident, their theory proved correct.
The Washington Post typically does not identify juvenile defendants unless they are certified to stand trial as adults.
The teenager told investigators that he was a member of the 18th Street gang and that on Feb. 28 he had been involved in a fight with members of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. Investigator Jeff Scalzo testified that on April 24 the teenager acknowledged hitting a rival gang member with a bottle but did not believe he had done any serious harm.
Then, investigator John H. Smith went in to talk about the Bennett case. The teenager initially denied any involvement, Smith said. But after about 30 minutes, the teenager said, "I didn't beat them; I was just driving."
The teenager said Bowman had called him for a ride from Leesburg back to Sterling, Smith said. The teenager drove to Leesburg and picked up Bowman and Roberts, Smith testified.
The teenager said that when Bowman and Roberts got in the van, they told him they had just robbed a woman and "there was discussion about ripping someone else, looking to rob someone else," Smith testified. Soon the white van came upon the Bennetts walking alone. The teenager said Bowman and Roberts told him to pull over, and the two got out, Smith testified.
Photo Gallery
Scene of the Lansdowne Homicide
The scene at Rocky Creek Drive in Lansdowne after William Bennett, 57, was found dead and his wife, Cynthia Bennett, 55, severely injured. (Erica Garman)
The Sheriff's Office search the area in Lansdowne where a Leesburg couple was attacked early Sunday morning. (Erica Garman)
William and Cynthia Bennett were victims of an attack in Lansdowne early Sunday morning that left William, 57, dead, and his wife, Cynthia, 55, with severe injuries. The couple, who lived in the Potomac Station community in Leesburg, was found along Riverside Parkway near Rocky Creek drive. (Courtesy of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office)
The walking trail along the road where the victims of Sunday morning's attack in Lansdowne had gone for a morning walk. William Bennett, 57, was found slain on the side of the road and his wife, Cynthia Bennett, 55, remains in critical condition. This section of fence was removed as evidence after it led to the discovery of Cynthia Bennett when officials noticed that it had blood on it. (Jonathan Mummolo)
Loudoun Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson speaks to reporters and residents Monday afternoon near the scene of the Sunday morning's attack in Lansdowne. (Jonathan Mummolo)
The teenager said that Bowman and Roberts disappeared for 20 minutes and that Bowman didn't answer his cellphone, Smith testified. When Bowman did answer, he told the teenager to pull ahead. When he did, the teenager "saw Roberts was on top of the male, hitting him with his fist, and the man was down laying on the ground," Smith testified.
When Bowman and Roberts got back in the van, the teenager "saw blood on Bowman's hands and that Roberts was covered with blood," Smith testified.
As they drove away, Bowman and Roberts were laughing about their actions, Smith said the teenager told him. But shortly afterward, they told the teenager to turn around and return to Riverside Parkway and Rocky Creek Drive. The Bennetts were lying unconscious on opposite sides of the parkway.
Smith said the teenager reported that he and the other two men went in search of the Bennetts' shoes, which they grabbed and took to the van. The trio then drove to a gas station in Sterling, where the teenager said he bought gas for the van and helped Roberts fill a bottle with gas, Smith testified.
The teenager then drove to an industrial park, where Bowman and Roberts stripped down to their underwear, he told Smith. They soaked their bloody clothes in gas and burned evidence of the assault, Smith said the teenager told him.
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So glad that VA has a death penalty that usually works. Take note DC and MD.
Posted by RealityCheckerInEffect (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 2:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Karma
Posted by bolt55 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yong adults are out of control these days.
Posted by waterdog136 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Home grown terrorists - vicious and brutal. Fire up ol' Sparky.
Posted by waterfrontproperty (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MONSTERS! - I am enraged by this. If any of these perps get away with any of this we have serious problems with our court system. Someone -- do the right thing and FIND the birth record for the alleged 17 year old. Technicality?? Sickening!!
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TWO IN THE CHEST ONE IN THE HEAD PROBLEM SOLVED. NEXT.
Posted by jack_bogan (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Something has to be wrong with people who having nothing else to do but prey on a couple out for a walk. I wish they didn't have to wait so long to kill these chumps with all of the appeals and the other BS that goes on with death penaly cases, but there day will come when they have to roll up there shirts and let the poison enter there bodies.....
Posted by ENJOYA (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Animals like this will never be "rehabilitated", and gave up their own "rights" when they attacked innocents for fun. Fire up Ole Sparky and get rid of all of them!
Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT AN HORRIFIC STORY!!THIS COUNTRY IS FULL OF MURDERERS!!!!!MURDERERS!!!!MURDERERS!!!
Posted by DONNAMARIEDMD (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My heart breaks for Mrs. Bennett. May it somehow be possible that she hears only the progress made in the prosecution of her assailants and their abettors. ~~~ It would seem that the culmination of laws we've so carefully constructed now results in their very negation. A minor technicality---a technicality completely without bearing on the "teenager's" involvement in the crime---resulted in the dismissal of a First Degree Murder charge. The concept of Justice has been all but neatly bound and gagged by the minutea of the system we ourselves have created. ~~~ Sometimes it seems progress and life itself move so slowly. Today I'm thinking, though, of what God has said in our bibles: "Vengeance is mine. I WILL repay." It may seem slow by our measurement of time, but God will exact vengeance on evil acts just as surely as He is just Himself. The writers of the bible also commented "it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." You bet---justice will be dealt, and it will be far more frightening than anything our laws could ever hope to accomplish. Far more, and it will be final.
Posted by zzzzzzz (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When in doubt, throw the charges out ... What a usless/laughable Justice System we have. Is it any wonder why terrible crimes are committed? A: There's a 99% chance of getting away scot-free ...
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting to see the police department is still trying to play this out in the media as a "random attack." My heart is with Mrs. Bennett in her recovery and her time of grief.
Posted by cortney.smith (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let this be a lesson to the kiddies; the best time to commit heinous crimes is between your 17th and 18th birthdays.
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PLEASE KILL THESE DEGENERATES IN PUBLIC---SLOWLY. LET THEM FEEL PAIN BEFORE THEY SLOWLY DIE. Some crimes and criminals deserve to be tortured before they are put to death- this is a perfect example. God is not going to 'punish' this trash-- we need to take responsibility and do it ourselves- IN PUBLIC- so maybe one other degenerate doesn't do something like this.
Posted by JoePantes (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
zzzzzzzzzzz, you make a good point in saying we ourselves create the system.
Perhaps we are seeing some of your also mentioned "vengeance" on innocents, and ourselves, for creating it (or allowing it to be created by those we elect and appoint), in that such things can and do occur with regularity.
Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All three be pubically executed. If more people saw the actual results of these stupid crimes, more people might be inclined not to do it. All three of them are punks. They don't deserve to live especially on the taxes that I will have to pay to keep them in prison.
Posted by damnit79 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just like rabid animals sick and dangerous beyond help or redemption. Save us all the excuses that "society" is to blame for these creatures. Put them down and do it soon if for no other reason than out of respect for Mrs. Bennett. Remove them from this world.
Posted by menopausequeen (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the charge was dismissed at a preliminary hearing. a "probable cause," hearing, if you will. the commonwealth attorney can, and will, direct indict this young man to the Circuit Court... where he will be tried and convicted.
although there will be appeals, virginia does have one of the most effective capital systems. these perpetrators will not spend 20 plus years on death row.
Posted by llcoolbj77 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
another legal technicality, OH PLEASE... Humans like this can not be rehablitated they are demons, evil souls, they will kill again and again and terrorize the innocent. When crimes are committed of this nature....public execution should be swift to remove them from society.
Posted by purplehayes3 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The bigger problem, bigger than even this disgusting event, is that Gangs need to be eradicated.
Whatever happens to this human filth, has not, and likely will not stop gang-bangers from perpetrating violent crime.
Let them off, like this little punk, and they just laugh it off and become even more brazen.
This kid claims to "just be the driver", but are we forgetting he had knowledge of a rape & murder, and only spilled his guts when he was nabbed. He destroyed evidence. He is part of a gang that is eroding the safety and peace of mind of hard-working honest people.
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Condolences to Ms. Bennett, her family and friends.
As to these POS... if guilty, one appeal. If guilty on appeal, rope... noose... tree... gravity... repeat as necessary. And be sure to tape the process so that everyone can see the potential cost for this sort of behavior.
No one can say for sure what the outcome of a violent encounter will be. But it's hard to see how this one could have been much worse. 9-1-1 okay... 3-5-7 better.
Posted by srb2 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thank the founding fathers for the Bill of Rights. Without it constraining the judiciary and the people commenting on this site we'd have torture and lynchings without concern for justice or the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
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I don't see any difference between this teenager and those who incite vigilante justice. All are uncivilized thugs without respect for life and lusting for blood. Those who posted here should report to death row -- you said that was the appropriate punishment for someone who condones criminal behavior. Your criminal behavior is the desire for capital punishment without the due process to determine if this teenager is guilty or innocent.
Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The people posting here are not required to presume innocence. Judges and jurors are required to presume innocence. What a maroon.
Posted by srb2 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Big surprise ... Only Edward Myers could find reason to protect an accessory to murder. You bring new meaning to the term Looney Left, Eddie.
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This "person" admitted his guilt. Yes, a jury and judge will ultimately decide guilt or innocence in the eyes of the law (hopefully, if they can find the right paperwork. Yes, extreme sarcasm). Regardless, he is guilty as far as the rest of us are concerned. We don't have to pretend that we don't know that he has admitted his guilt!!! Myers, you are projecting - the people posting are not calling for vigilante justice. If they were, there would be an angry mob outside the jail with torches and weapons getting ready to storm the place. They want to see justice. They are sickened and horrified by what these people did. They are angry that our system may allow this person to walk with no consequences for his "alleged" heinous acts and no justice for the Bennett family.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EDWARDMYERS....if it had been your mother or daughter that was beaten and raped and things we can't mention on these posts, I think you might understand the anger of this community...i'am sure glad your not a judge. The usual punishment of imprisonment might not happen to these animals so maybe you might want to try and rehabilitate them in your home with your family....best of luck to you!
Posted by purplehayes3 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and edwardmyers, you might want to walk around with your bill of rights late at night and in the wee hours of the morning and find some gang-bangers that are interested in exactly what the bill of rights say, that is of course, if they don't beat, rape and rob you before you can reason with them.....
Posted by purplehayes3 (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is hearsay that this teenager confessed to accessory to murder. I want more proof than a coerced statement.
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Killing someone for revenge is murder. The only valid reason for killing someone is to defend a life that is otherwise in danger of being murdered.
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Below are two examples from above calling for a revenge killing -- calling for murder, really. If I say nothing and this teen is killed and later evidence proves he is innocent, then I will have become an accessory to murder. (Do you see the parallel now?) Count me out of wanting to be part of this rush to fry him without benefit of due process.
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1) "TWO IN THE CHEST ONE IN THE HEAD PROBLEM SOLVED. NEXT."
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2) "PLEASE KILL THESE DEGENERATES IN PUBLIC---SLOWLY. LET THEM FEEL PAIN BEFORE THEY SLOWLY DIE. Some crimes and criminals deserve to be tortured before they are put to death- this is a perfect example. God is not going to 'punish' this trash-- we need to take responsibility and do it ourselves- IN PUBLIC- so maybe one other degenerate doesn't do something like this."
Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow purplehayes. Since some people do not respect the law you think we should throw our laws away and abide by the law of the jungle? Are there any civilized people living in Loudoun County?
Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EdwardMyers: For 16 days in September 2006, I sat in the jury box and listened to testimony in the 2004 gang murder case documented at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con... and wrote 104 pages of notes that I still keep to this day. I know from firsthand experience what the defense will attempt to do to release the defendants back into society to commit more murders. Murder is part of being a gang member as any of them will gladly tell you moments before they kill you. In the case of the September 2006 trial, the process was complicated by people such as you. Had your type of thinking prevailed during our deliberations, it would have resulted in letting a murderer go free to commit even more murders. For the sake of Cynthia Bennett and justice, I hope you are not chosen as a juror in this case.
Posted by obviously2 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 3:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"As they drove away, Bowman and Roberts were laughing about their actions"
We already know their motive wasn't robbery, since they were jogging. Did they admit why they felt it was necessary to not just beat him/them to death, but also torture them in the process?
Posted by Pembroke60 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 6 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What we know about this case is what's in the article. The teenager clearly, according to this article, implicates himself in murder, multiple aggravated assaults, rape. He's admitted, per this article, to the most serious criminal charges the law can bring against him. That is not hearsay, it is an admission of guilt which apparently neither he nor his attorneys denied in court.
One more time... if guilty, one appeal. If guilty on appeal, rope... noose... tree... gravity... repeat as necessary. And be sure to tape the process so that everyone can see the potential cost for this sort of behavior.
Two to the chest/one to the head and Ol' Sparky are excellent alternatives of course but I was thinking that ammo and electricity are right pricey these days. Rope, trees and gravity are all reusable. Not only are they cheaper in the long run, it's kind of the "green alternative" when you think about it. And buzzards gotta eat too... so disposal isn't really a problem.
Posted by srb2 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pray for teens.
Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Funnyguyva, Please pray that the Dept of Vital Records comes up with the Birth Record in question.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As I sit drinking my coffee and reading this, I rather like what srb2 has to say. And I'm happy that s/he is taking into account the circle of life and including the buzzards as they play an important part in the ecosystem.
All of these "teenagers" made a decision that night. They decided to go for a joyride and kill two people who made a decision to go for an early morning walk. When you decide to kill someone, you also decide that the potential penalty (death row) is acceptable. These "kids" brought this on themselves.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's give EdwardMyers a break. This lad was probably nowhere even close to the crime scene. Heck, he probably doesn't even know the other perpetrators.
In fact, I'll bet the police grabbed him from a street corner, handed him a scripted confession, and told him to read it.
It will all come out eventually, at which point we'll all owe EdwardMyers a big apology.
Posted by theharmans (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My problem is. If this happened in a black community none of you would give a rats a.s.s. Since it happened way out in safe suburbia its a big issue. Thats messed up. Where is your outrage when someone that looks like me dies? Something like this happens frequently where I live and it never even makes the news. So maybe try to understand a person having a different view of things than yourself. Its a shame that people can still judge one another based on ignorance. I know the problem though. Now the gangs are requiting you precious little white boys and girls and the problems are hitting home. You can allow a problem to fester and grow and all the while your saying look at these animals and how they act but now the shoe is on the other foot and yall are ready to call up the lynching mob. Get real.......
Posted by das_tae (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think all EdwardMyers is saying is let the criminal justice system take its course. VA has a good record on dispersing justice, including the ultimate penalty of death. I agree with him that the creative pre-trial death rhetoric on display here is kind of sick. Let's display your humanic separation from these "perps" by cheering the police and the hope for a proper fair trail...then we can get rid of them.
Posted by vanzal1 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
theharmens....seriously? apologize? Are you saying the police just napped a boy off the street and made him confess to a crime he did'nt commit? and das_tae.....I am a person of color and you sound very racist and angry...I did'nt know Loudoun had a "black community" and gangs don't just recruit white boys and girls....some of the most dangerous gangs are asians, there are hispanic gangs, white trash gangs, white collar gangs (mafia) this is not a race thing this is a right and wrong thing...and the crime these boys committed are worthy of the death penalty and if the Bennett's were black, I am sure everyone on this post would still feel the same way. Hang em high!
Posted by purplehayes3 (anonymous) on August 7, 2009 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To all those who think a confession is sufficient for capital punishment, look up Norfolk 4. They got confessions from guys who drank too much and didn't remember what happened the evening of a crime and assumed that the story the cops coerced them to admit was true. DNA evidence, however, didn't match the confessions. The justice system didn't work because the jury (apparently made of people like Obviously2) was quick to say "guilty" by focusing on the confessions instead of the evidence. Now the governor has to try to mitigate the damage with a pardon.
Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on August 8, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They were laughing after they raped and murdered.
They'll be laughing after the Justice? system gets through with them.
Laughing because this society of injustice, corruption and denial that we perpetuate is a JOKE!
NOT LMFAO
Posted by wjmdjm (anonymous) on August 8, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
edwardmyers.....you make a great point on the Norfolk 4, however, we can not assume that every criminal that confesses is innocent because of the Norfolk 4, we can't assume every hispanic is gang, and we can't assume justice is every really justice, but we can make sure after they have run the guantlet of the legal system that we have all put in place that animals like Bowman and Roberts and this youth get what they deserve and the outrage and anger on this post are due to the fact that the legal system (as in the Norfolk 4) can fail and it is sickening that killers like this are set free due to a technicality and they will kill again, while laughing, and raping and mocking the legal system.
Posted by purplehayes3 (anonymous) on August 8, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EdwardMyers,
I missed the references to the Norfolk 4 in this article. I also missed any references to Al Capone, the New York Yankees, Benedict Arnold and Michael Jackson... were there any?
What we know about this case is 'the teenager' confessed to at least being an accessory to murder, aggravated assault, rape and a bagful of other serious felonies. Apparently, neither he nor his lawyers denied his confession or his involvement in court or out.
This makes me wonder. What happens when one juror out of 12 insists on creating fantasies and conjectures based solely on his or her desire to get a certain outcome in a case? It must be very frustrating for the other jurors, as "obviously2" suggested above.
And since you mentioned the Norfolk 4 in your posting, I wouldn't say the justice system didn't work. In fact, I'd say the justice system worked exactly as it was supposed to. According to you, they confessed to crimes they didn't commit. If some jackass admits to murder it's not at all unreasonable to expect the justice system to sentence him or her appropriately. Here's the solution: don't admit to murders unless you're really sure you did them! Better, tell the cops to talk to your lawyer about it. That's how the justice system is supposed to work.
Posted by srb2 (anonymous) on August 8, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I say we soak these maggots in gasoline and set them on fire! And as for this 17 y/o being a juvenile.. he certainly knows the difference between right and wrong. Let him join his fellow gang-banger buddies and let 'em rot in hell. I know.. I know you shouldn't say things like that.. but let's not forget they beat a man to death and than RAPE a woman who was beaten and unconscious!! That tells me that they have no respect for human life and don't deserve our sympathy, remorse or time.
Posted by MP5N (anonymous) on August 9, 2009 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For SRB2, police work is easy. To solve a crime just pluck someone off the street, torture and coerce them until they confess. If there is any injustice it is certainly not the fault of the state since we immunize everyone in law enforcement so they cannot be held accountable. It must mean the poor sucker was too stupid or too weak to resist. SRB2's position must make perfect sense if one is in law enforcement but not to anyone else.
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For MP5N, How do we civilize children to be peaceful when society goes on a violent rage when it gets angry? Those who want to torture and violently kill the alleged perpetrators of a violent crime are communicating that violence is the tool of justice. How do you expect children to learn right from wrong when you teach them that horrific violence is the proper response to outrage?
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Where do you sick people live? I don't think it safe to be a neighbor to those who dehumanize others to the point of gleefully imagining brutally killing them like maggots.
Posted by edward (anonymous) on August 9, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These punk teen aged kids that hide behind the cloak of being juveniles must be made accountable for their collective actions whether they drove the car or participated in the actual murders themselves. So what if he turned states evidence against his crazed friends to lighten his own sentence in this heinous crime. He should get the needle as a mercy way of execution while these other morons should slowly swing from the rope of a gallows during a public execution.
Posted by Sideswiped (anonymous) on August 9, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
edward,
I missed the references in this story to plucking people off the street, torturing them and coercing confessions from them. As to the Norfolk 4 and the writer who claimed they were coerced, I'd be willing to believe that the cops coerced a confession in that case, but the writer who introduced the Norfolk 4 into this conversation did so as though that offers evidence in this case. It does not. And the writer's basic assertion is absurd: if someone confesses to murder it makes sense that the criminal justice system pays attention to that confession.
Again, what we know of this case is what is written in the article. If someone here has inside information regarding coercion, torture and the like, they should feel free to divulge it to the rest of us. Better, they should divulge that information to the authorities. Better still, divulge it to the teenager's lawyer.
Posted by srb2 (anonymous) on August 9, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
edward and edward myers.....no I think ur right....there are no civilized people in Loudoun soon all the good folkes will move out and the Bowman's and Robert's will move in!..... no it's not safe to be our neighbors when you want to give gang members even a chance to continue to terrorize another human being this way, do you really know what these animals did? If you did you would be looking for justice and questioning the legal system like 98% of us and if just once people like this were executed when found quilty maybe kids/adults would think twice about these types of killings. These boys commited the most brutal attacks that Loudoun has ever seen and people are angry, scared, and they want justice.....maybe you should be afraid of "sick people" like us, but what's even sicker is that they just might walk free to kill, rape, murder, terrorize your mom and dad or your daughter or son or even worse recruit other kids to think this is cool.....I think the children have a better chance of turning into criminals knowing that you can be "a cool gang member and get away with murder" than listening to adults who believe in the death penalty for people who are found guilty of crimes commited like this. I am very, very afraid and scared that these animals will fall thru the legal system and be able to do this to another human being and since I do believe in the death penalty....well you know the rest....burn em, hang em, inject em, fry em, and feed em to the buzzards
Posted by purplehayes3 (anonymous) on August 9, 2009 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Das_tae: I was waiting for someone to bring race into this. Well played and so correct, it's only when the white devils are attacked by the poor and deprived inner city kids that a big deal is made. It's not the beating to death, the rape, the torture, months of rehab or the destruction of a family that makes people upset, it's all about race. I'm sure if it were three white guys who did this, the community would be just as outraged and upset. Read a book.
EdwardMyers: You sir, are delusional. Are you in the mindset that these people can be rehabilitated? They did this for fun, not b/c they were wronged or threatened, but for pure enjoyment. The two degenerates had already robbed one woman, and were looking to rob someone else. At the cost of $30K per year to house an inmate, I surely would not want these teenagers spending the next 50 years in prison. Why should I, a law abiding tax payer have to house people to the tune of what some families don't even make in a year? Is your position that it is better to pay almost $100K a year in taxes to house these three disgusting people instead of turning that money over to local VA commuities and hopefully giving someone else a chance at a meaningful life instead of turning to gangs for money and support?
Posted by damnit79 (anonymous) on August 9, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
damnit79 you missed the whole point. If three white boys killed two black people it may make the news for a little while but it certainly wouldn't garner the attention this story has... read and comprehend before you make a statement.
Posted by das_tae (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
das_tae, I will accept that that was your meaning, but I don't think you are right. On the local TV news programs there is much more coverage of DC and the immediate Maryland counties, regardless of the various races and ethnicities of the perps and the victims. I haven't seen anything about this case on the news for months, while we get follow-ups about other cases all the time. Unless you have done a study (which I haven't), I think you and I are each speaking from our own perceptions. I won't speak for others, but it sickens and saddens me everytime I hear about innocent people, (young, old, black, white, yellow, red, it doesn't matter), killed, injured, or living in fear of violence. I think there are a lot more people out there like me than you think. Please don't assume that all white people are racist.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As angry as you might be regarding this "technicality", the state should have to prove all elements of a crime. The job of a defense attorney is not to "get people off", but rather to ensure that the state has met the burden of proof.
I, for one, don't mind seeing the accused demand that the state prove the case. I'd want that for you, me, and any of my fellow citizens.
Posted by uwpux (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what goes around comes around.
Posted by antonioz1994 (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
uwpux, I understand that. However, how much of our population can avoid prosecution because their birth record can not be found?
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 10, 2009 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, after I stated that this story has not been on the local DC metro area news, at least one channel had a brief update on it. In addition, 2 other Loudoun stories were included on the news. Just being fair.
Looks like this perp is 18 after all and will be charged as an adult.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on August 11, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Where do you sick people live? I don't think it safe to be a neighbor to those who dehumanize others to the point of gleefully imagining brutally killing them like maggots."
Agreed. Swing them from gallows? Slowly torture them? That's sick! Yeah what was done was wrong and they should be punished. But taking joy out of someone's death is wrong no matter what that person did. Murder is murder no matter who is being murdered. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Posted by TerrenceM (anonymous) on August 11, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These kids are sick and need to be on mental medication. Where are their parents? I hate to say it but this begins when parents are not involved in their children's lives and they go to gangs and crime to seek attention. I feel for the Bennett family. My prayers go out to them. And as for these heartless children, they will get what is coming to them.
Posted by tyaisha (anonymous) on August 11, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dammit79: these kids are hardly inner city youth. they all grew up in loudoun (roberts in middleburg). people are making a big deal about this case for several reasons, 1) on average loudoun only sees 3 murders a year (mostly domestic at that), 2) the viciousness of the attack, and 3) the randomness of the attack... not based on the race of the individuals... who just so happen to be one white (bowman), one black (roberts) and one hispanic (ayala). all from upper-middle class families.
Posted by llcoolbj77 (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
llcoolbj77: I was being facetious in response to "If this happened in a black community none of you would give a rats a.s.s. Since it happened way out in safe suburbia its a big issue..."
Posted by damnit79 (anonymous) on August 17, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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