Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Christopher Pittman's Unjust Sentence
Christopher Pittman should not have been found guilty.
In order to be found guilty, the jury would have to decide that the defendant, at the time of the crime, knew wrong from right with the level of understanding of an adult and that he freely chose to do wrong.
At the time of the crime, Christopher Pittman was only 12 years old. On that basis alone, his conviction might be overturned by a higher court.
He also had been diagnosed with clinical depression, which was so severe that he had to be hospitalized on a psychiatric unit.
He suffered from physical abuse by his grandfather, who, if he were not dead, would almost certainly be facing charges of the physical abuse of a minor.
He was on a medication that the FDA has warned can cause violent outbursts in children. And that dosage was doubled just before the crime.
Given all of the above undisputed facts, Christopher Pittman was not guilty of the adult crime of murder. He was guilty of being a confused, abused child who was under the influence of an excessive dosage of a powerful psychotropic medication. But he was not guilty, as an adult, of murder.
The jury's decision is clearly erroneous.
Hopefully, the higher court will overturn this unconstitutional verdict.
In order to be found guilty, the jury would have to decide that the defendant, at the time of the crime, knew wrong from right with the level of understanding of an adult and that he freely chose to do wrong.
At the time of the crime, Christopher Pittman was only 12 years old. On that basis alone, his conviction might be overturned by a higher court.
He also had been diagnosed with clinical depression, which was so severe that he had to be hospitalized on a psychiatric unit.
He suffered from physical abuse by his grandfather, who, if he were not dead, would almost certainly be facing charges of the physical abuse of a minor.
He was on a medication that the FDA has warned can cause violent outbursts in children. And that dosage was doubled just before the crime.
Given all of the above undisputed facts, Christopher Pittman was not guilty of the adult crime of murder. He was guilty of being a confused, abused child who was under the influence of an excessive dosage of a powerful psychotropic medication. But he was not guilty, as an adult, of murder.
The jury's decision is clearly erroneous.
Hopefully, the higher court will overturn this unconstitutional verdict.
