second teen sentenced to life

March 16, 2001 12:27 PM

second teen sentenced to life including the election, this is obviously florida's year.
posted by bliss322 (7 comments total)

I'm glad that guy is off the streets.
posted by fleener at 12:32 PM on March 16, 2001

For those that would decry the criminal justice system as fundamentally flawed when a person so young can be put away for life, read the facts. I agree with you, fleener. This kid has problems.

While it's obvious that the current judicial system isn't much of a deterrent, perhaps it will do some good to show people that behavior like Silva's (and indeed, like Tate's) is inexcusable no matter what your age.

If you're capable of beating a small child to death, or capable of strangling and dumping a 12-year-old in a septic tank, you're capable of paying for those crimes. Age is only so useful as an excuse.
posted by liquidgnome at 12:47 PM on March 16, 2001

Doesn't Florida have a death penalty? This little monster's going to be a drain on society for a loooonnnnngggg time.
posted by fpatrick at 12:56 PM on March 16, 2001

I'm wondering if the teen had a previous criminal record that wasn't mentioned in this article... I would think he would have committed some lesser violent crimes to build himself up to this.
posted by Neb at 1:28 PM on March 16, 2001

He is only 15, he couldn't possibly know this would have killed his victim. 15 year olds don't know anything about death. Any of us could have done this, because we all do dangerous and stupid things. Do any of you think he really meant to kill that other kid? Blah blah blah...
posted by thirteen at 2:56 PM on March 16, 2001

Yes, I'm glad this was done now, before the statute of limitations goes too far. Things like this shouldn't be allowed under any circumstances, as it was obvious by the note that it was premeditated.
posted by starduck at 3:41 PM on March 16, 2001