This is an insane story, really nauseating, really heartbreaking for the kid...
Murder charge could follow right-to-die fight Stepdad seeks life support for 11-year-old he allegedly beat into a coma
BOSTON - The stepfather of an 11-year-old girl went to Massachusetts' highest court on Tuesday hoping to block the state from taking her off life support.
If the girl dies, he could face a murder charge for taking part in the beating that left her comatose.
Haleigh Poutre was hospitalized in September after her stepfather and adoptive mother kicked her and beat her nearly to death with a baseball bat.
Within two weeks of being charged with assault and battery, the adoptive mother, Holli Strickland, who was also Haleigh's aunt, was found dead alongside her grandmother in a possible murder-suicide.
Her stepfather, Jason Strickland, is free on bail while awaiting trial on assault charges.
The state Department of Social Services has custody of the girl and wants to remove her from life support, citing opinions from her doctors that the girl is in a permanent vegetative state.
A juvenile court judge has granted the state's request to disconnect Haleigh's feeding tube and ventilator.
Jason Strickland appealed, and the Supreme Judicial Court scheduled arguments for Tuesday morning.
Both of Haleigh's doctors agree that she should be removed from the ventilator, but they are split over whether her feeding tube should be disconnected.
They have said that with her feeding tube alone, Haleigh could live as long as two months.
Without any life support assistance, she would die much sooner, the doctors said.
Haleigh was adopted by her aunt about five years ago after her biological mother moved to Virginia with a new boyfriend.
Jason Strickland never formally adopted the girl, but is arguing that as the stepfather, he should be considered a de facto parent and allowed to have a say in whether she lives or dies.
His lawyer, John Egan, has insisted his client isn't motivated by the chance he could be charged with murder if the girl dies.
"We should be coming down on the side of life as opposed to death," he said.
Read that lawyer's quote at the end. Should've thought of that BEFORE your client beat his stepdaughter within two inches of her life, jackass!
Anyone want to wager Congress feels the need to step in again?
Since the poor girl is in the custody of the state, it should be up to the doctors to make the decision. The girl is in a permanent vegetative state. People don't really understand what this means, and they certainly didn't know during the Terry Shiavo thing (but we won't get into that).
The only interest the lawyer has in this is keeping his client from getting charged with murder. But if she's in vegetative state, she's already dead and he should be charged no matter what.
That's not exactly how our justice system works though, but it is an appalling situation. The state should not have to pay to keep someone on life support without a chance of recovery just to keep a deadbeat from beating a murder charge.
Coppermine wrote:The state should not have to pay to keep someone on life support without a chance of recovery just to keep a deadbeat from beating a murder charge.
Coppermine wrote:The state should not have to pay to keep someone on life support without a chance of recovery just to keep a deadbeat from beating a murder charge.
Pretty much sums it up right there.
Agreed..and what a diK beatin an 11 year old with a baseball bat! Come on now thats pretty much the worst thing ever
Coppermine wrote:The state should not have to pay to keep someone on life support without a chance of recovery just to keep a deadbeat from beating a murder charge.
Pretty much sums it up right there.
Agreed..and what a diK beatin an 11 year old with a baseball bat! Come on now thats pretty much the worst thing ever
Oh come on... I'm sure this stepfather has some redeeming qualities
What a waste of that poor little girl's life. I'm with Madison on this one- fry the bastard. More space on the planet for the rest of us decent folks.
Coppermine wrote:The state should not have to pay to keep someone on life support without a chance of recovery just to keep a deadbeat from beating a murder charge.
Pretty much sums it up right there.
Agreed..and what a diK beatin an 11 year old with a baseball bat! Come on now thats pretty much the worst thing ever
Oh come on... I'm sure this stepfather has some redeeming qualities
What a waste of that poor little girl's life. I'm with Madison on this one- fry the bastard. More space on the planet for the rest of us decent folks.
Wait a second I haven't seen Madison chime in with a "Fry him" post yet...Something must be wrong quick someone fly to Fort Worth
Coppermine wrote:The state should not have to pay to keep someone on life support without a chance of recovery just to keep a deadbeat from beating a murder charge.
Pretty much sums it up right there.
Agreed..and what a diK beatin an 11 year old with a baseball bat! Come on now thats pretty much the worst thing ever
Oh come on... I'm sure this stepfather has some redeeming qualities
What a waste of that poor little girl's life. I'm with Madison on this one- fry the bastard. More space on the planet for the rest of us decent folks.
Wait a second I haven't seen Madison chime in with a "Fry him" post yet...Something must be wrong quick someone fly to Fort Worth
Everyone knows what's coming from me on this one.
Fry that good for nothing EXPLETIVE!
Normally I have a little humor in my "FRY HIM" posts, but this guy certainly deserves to be beaten within an inch of his life, brought back to health, tortured until it almost drives him insane, and then fried until he burns into nothingness. This kind of person deserves nothing but pain and misery, and I'd be happy to take care of that .
As to the girl, since the doctors agree that she's a vegetable, take her off life support and let her pass in peace.
Yes doctor, I am sick. Sick of those who are spineless. Sick of those who feel self-entitled. Sick of those who are hypocrites. Yes doctor, an army is forming. Yes doctor, there will be a war. Yes doctor, there will be blood.....
Ya that white trash piece of **** should definitely get a say in whether the person he put in this state lives or dies? Only reason he wants a say is to keep her alive so he doesn't get charged with murder. He probably wouldn't give a damn if she died as long as nothing happened to him. Hope he rots in prison and gets his salad tossed everyday.
Red Stripe wrote:Ya that white trash piece of **** should definitely get a say in whether the person he put in this state lives or dies? Only reason he wants a say is to keep her alive so he doesn't get charged with murder. He probably wouldn't give a damn if she died as long as nothing happened to him. Hope he rots in prison and gets his salad tossed everyday.
Cafe Home
Fantasy Football
Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy Hockey
by WharfRat » Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:31 pm 
