Posted on 12/19/2005 6:40:52 PM PST by mcg2000
MARYVILLE, Tenn. A mother charged in the shooting death of a man she said raped her young daughter was sentenced to four years in prison today.
Authorities say Kimberly Cunningham must serve nearly a third of the sentence before being eligible for parole, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports.
Her attorney Bruce Poston told Blount County Circuit Court Judge D. Kelly Thomas that he would appeal the sentence.
In October Cunningham was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Coy Hundley, her daughter's uncle.
Cunningham was tried on a charge of first-degree murder in April in the case, but the jury acquitted her of that charge and deadlocked on all lesser charges.
Cunningham has served about two months in jail since the October 7th 2003 killing and Poston said that would be deducted from her sentence.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press.
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Tell you what. If a 10 year old can come to you and describe a sex act in any form done to her by an adult you would be wise to listen. Number one look for fear. Many kids will not tell even a parent because a threat has been made to harm them, the childs parent, a sibling, a pet, or yes even the perp says I will kill myself if you tell anyone what happened. They demeanor of the kid is what you look at.
If the kids says so and so made me touch him someplace. Ask where that was. Then ask them to describe visually what they touched. Don't be surprised if they say I can't I wasn't looking. Ask then about what it felt like and the kid can likely descibe the persons organ and some functions it did during the assault. {enough said I think you get the idea}. The perps many times have their victim focus on an object not allowing visual contact while the deed takes place. But they can describe feel senses. Find that object and watch the childs reaction to it. It will most likely be a stuffed animal. Use some common sense and the truth likely will come out.
This thread has become an object lesson on why most molestations never get reported.
If common people off the street can conduct such efficient ad hoc inquisitions, imagine how a trained lawyer would destroy a victim foolish enough to take the stand.
Yup.
It's a lot easier to live with the destruction in private.
In a weird way, perhaps my parents did me a kindness by not making it possible for the uncle's defense attorney to publicly disembowel a 10 year old in a court of law.
Maybe the mother knew that too and made sure her daughter wouldn't face further humiliation.
There's the concept of 'wrong execution; right idea' to consider.
Mamma may have known things the press isn't reporting. That part of it the public will likely never know.
Todays court systems though like you say would tear any kids testimony apart. And a look at articles like this one Judge Orders Release Of Sexually Violent Predator gives a person plenty to consider about the ills in our current justice system.
This world is broken.
Yes, all of this is the visible manifestation of an invisible war.
"and that uncovers their eyes to things they shouldn't see."
Sadly so.
It gives the child a cold inner darkness that no amount of light can ever completely warm.
I like your approach.
It's not deadly vigilantism, it's just a nasty, painful object lesson every time he screws up.
[kinda like negative reinforcement therapy]...:)
I could probably be convinced to support Capital punishment for rape.
Assuming all kids lie about abuse is just as bad as assuming no child ever lies about abuse.
Death is too quick and painless for these monstors.
I prefer ongoing suffering, like they placed on their victims.
Here in Kentucky we have two types of law "legal action" and "double action". Your Uncle should have gotten the latter.
Boy, that would be a *very* complex punishment....;)
Thanks for the good laugh.
I needed that....:))
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