BEATEN GIRL, 17, SLAYS HER DAD

NY Post ^ | 3-8-04 | LARRY CELONA, ROOSEVELT JOSEPH and WILLIAM NEUMAN

[Pharmboy]

March 8, 2004 -- A 17-year-old Brooklyn girl stabbed her abusive, drunken dad to death as he beat her with a baseball bat in the family kitchen, police said yesterday. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office declined to charge high-school student Natasha Farmer in the death, ruling that she acted in self-defense when she plunged a kitchen knife into the chest of her 48-year-old father, William Farmer.

[Pharmboy]

Excellent!

[KangarooJacqui]

Indeed.

Tears running down my cheeks as I read that one.

[Pharmboy]

Here's the Times' take on it. Evidently she hit him with the knife above the clavicle, severing one of the large arteries that travel there. Not a classic chest stab.

March 8, 2004
Girl, 17, Stabs Father to Death in Brooklyn
By ANDREA ELLIOTT

17-year-old girl fatally stabbed her father on Saturday after he struck her repeatedly with a baseball bat at their Coney Island apartment, the police said yesterday. Dozens of domestic violence incidents had occurred at the apartment since the family moved in about 10 years ago, the police said.

The girl was acting in self-defense, the police said, and was not charged in the death of her father, William Farmer, 50. Mr. Farmer, who neighbors said worked as a machine operator at an amusement park at Coney Island, died of one stab wound near his collarbone, the police said. They did not release the girl's name.

"Things happened in that house - yelling, screaming," said Lisa Crossway, a neighbor who lives on the same floor as Mr. Farmer's family, the 11th floor of the apartment building at 2947 West 23rd Street in Brooklyn. "The most I can say is that the daughter is a very good girl."

Mr. Farmer and his wife lived with four or five children, including the girl, who is known in the building as Tashi, neighbors said. The family had a history of domestic violence: Mr. Farmer's wife had been granted three temporary orders of protection against Mr. Farmer since August, and there were 23 reports of domestic violence incidents involving the family, the police said.

Neighbors said they often heard screaming and yelling coming from the apartment. An argument between Mr. Farmer and his daughter began on Saturday afternoon. The police released few details about it, other than that it turned physical around 3 p.m., when Mr. Farmer swung a baseball bat at the girl's head and arm. At some point during the fight, the girl grabbed a knife and stabbed her father once in the chest, the police said.

Mr. Farmer was pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. The girl refused medical help, the police said.

Elroy Woods, a neighbor who lived directly below the family, said Mr. Farmer liked to fish at Coney Island Pier and would share his catch with neighbors. "I was surprised," Mr. Woods said of the fatal fight.


Oren Yaniv contributed reporting for this article.

[trussell]

Good Girl!!

[Tanniker Smith]

Yup, it's changed. Except the nearby school, Mark Twain, hasn't. It's a magnet school, not a local school. As for Lincoln HS, I can't say anything -- except that I teach a few blocks away.

[Aracelis]

Having left a physically abusive marriage years ago to save my daughters, I laud this girl for protecting herself...

...but I am furious with her mother for allowing this situation to develop.

Yes, it's extremely difficult to raise kids by yourself, but I did it (without any child support) and so have many others. I pray Natasha finds good counselors.

[Onelifetogive]

...in the Carey Gardens housing project...

While the "private market" can generate some excellent violence and abuse, for the absolute creme-of-the-crop in domestic abuse, you have to admit that the "government subsidized" style is tops.....

[thoughtomator]

Actually the statistics say that whoever she chooses, or chooses her, will leave her alone with any kids she begets.

[nonliberal]

Poor girl. More power to her.

[mollynme]

Actually the statistics say that whoever she chooses, or chooses her, will leave her alone with any kids she begets.
while she inflicts on them what was inflicted on her.

[azhenfud]

"Glad she is free of him."

I'm afraid it won't be that easy. A kid I went to school with confronted his drunken dad who was beating his mom. The dad attacked him and he shot his dad to death. He wasn't the same kid afterward and committed suicide before the end of high school.

I certainly hope this girl finds the help she will need in the future, but considering the neighborhood, it isn't likely.

[MissAmericanPie]

I hope someone arranges for her to have counseling, even though she knows she did what she had to do, the guilt over killing anyone, especially her father, can effect the rest of her life.

[RKV]

The actual, as opposed to the stated, purpose of "gun-control" laws is to protect criminals.

[IYAS9YAS]

Unfortunately, the freedom in the song referenced came through suicide. Not standing up to the abuser. I find it utterly disenheartening.

Isn't that chorus used on the "No Spin Zone" at commercials? Sure wish they'd actually listen to/read the words. Kinda like Reagan using "Born in the USA" by sprungspring.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Heavenly Father, I lift up this girl and her family to you. I ask for their salvation and the in-filling of the holy spirit. I speak healing to this family. Father, I ask that you help her and her family to deal with their simultaneous grief and guilt, and the myriad other emotions that this brings up in her and her other family members. I ask that you surround them with persons that can offer your words of encouragement, wisdom, and compassion . I ask that you come against the lies of the enemy and replace them with your truth. I ask that you speak to the storms and say, "Peace, be still." I ask that you create order out of this chaos. I ask that you will meet the needs of this family. And I ask for a future full of hope for them all. In Jesus name, Amen.

[international american]

She is lucky to be alive!!

[Quester]

God bless you.

[dangus]

Statistics, yes.
Most abused women do choose men like their abusers.
But those statistics don't capture the content of the human heart. But there are those who statistically should be basket cases who are models of strength and courage.
The girl has been traumatized. She will need many prayers, and excellent friendship to come into her life, and counselling.

[dangus]

Sean Hannity oughtta be fun today. :)

[dangus]

(If you're not familiar, he's a NY talk jockey who uses that song as his theme song.)