Posted on 09/08/2001 9:13:28 AM PDT by JeepInMazar
By DONNA DE LA CRUZ, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - An 8-year-old boy was charged with criminally negligent homicide Friday for allegedly stabbing to death a 4-year-old neighbor who police say had been bullied for more than a year.
The suspect's 9-year-old brother was charged with assault for his role in the attack, police said. Both were charged as juveniles.
Police said the 8-year-old stabbed Emanuel Barima in the neck - piercing his jugular vein - as the boy played with his sister in the hall outside their Bronx apartment Wednesday. Tests were being done to determine whether a set of house keys or a pen was the murder weapon.
The brothers are among the youngest people ever charged in the United States in a slaying. Criminally negligent homicide is a lesser offense than murder or manslaughter.
``From what we understand, it was one smack to the neck area or the striking of the neck area,'' Deputy Police Chief Joseph Reznick said. ``It all happened so fast, they may not have realized they actually caused the death.''
Police said the boys are too young to be placed in a detention facility; they could be referred to counseling, to a group home or to foster care.
The boys were interviewed by police and later released into the custody of an uncle. Reznick said the two brothers did not seem to realize how much trouble they faced.
``I don't think reality has set in yet,'' he said. ``I think they soon will learn that this is something very, very serious.''
Reznick said Barima and his 5-year-old sister, Abigail, were victims of ``bullyism at its peak'' at the hands of the brothers, who would tease them, spit on them and push them around.
The victim's mother, Elizabeth Ghunney, was baby-sitting and had sent Emanuel and his sister to throw away a soiled diaper in a hallway chute. Emanuel returned to the apartment and collapsed.
``They opened the door, and I heard that they were screaming,'' Ghunney said. She called 911 and used a dish towel to try to stop the bleeding.
``I kept on praying and praying and then they told me he wasn't going to make it,'' Ghunney said. Emanuel died about an hour later.
Neighbors set up a small shrine, with candles, flowers, teddy bears and balloons outside the five-story apartment building.
Thursday was supposed to be the first day of preschool for Emanuel, who wanted to be a doctor. Emanuel, the youngest of the family's five boys and one girl, was so excited that he packed his book bag days in advance.
Reznick said he hoped Abigail would be able to cope with her brother's death.
``You look at her and it's synonymous with innocence - she's just a little 5-year-old kid who saw her brother being killed,'' he said.
We need gun registration in order to reduce this kind of violence.
Some people are so hardened. I know, I know, I understand why. With everything going on in this world, why wouldn't people be cynical and hardened? Still, a little compassion would go a long way. How about a litte prayer, as well. I think the dead child and the two little boys could use it.
I'm holding my breath waiting for Al and Jesse to excoriate black parents for their failure to teach their children moral behavior...(gasp...choke...)
Using a dull instrument like a pen/set of keys has to be VERY deliberate... get the chair out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.