Were the courts too harsh on Eric Hainstock?

http://www.courttv.com/trials/hainstock/...

What are your thoughts on a 16 year old being sentenced to life. Taking in consideration his background of abuse and that his parents refused to get him any counciling.

Is 30 years too much for a child? If he had been charged as a juvenile, he would be realease when he was 21. This here is messed up also considering the charge so i can understand them trying him as a adult. but 30 years?

And shouldnt the parents be held more accountable?



I think the courts need to have more options when it comes to Juveniles. Prison is not going to rehabilitate, he needs a lot more help than he will get in prison, I use to work in one and I know what goes in there with Juveniles and adults.

What are your thoughts

I believe that the courts took it way to hard on Eric and this case goes to show there is no justice in the justice system! I watched the entire trial from begining to end and it was unfair to him! He should have never been to adult court in the first place! Not only that but anyone who saw the trial can tell that the boy had issues which were probably all caused from abuse and neglect in the family! The reason 15 years old is a minor and cant do adult thing such as vote!! or do anything for that matter on thier own because they arent able to make mature desicions but when it comes down to this he got treated as an adult!!! HES A KID!!! also There are many other people who dissagree with the verdict and if you go to this website you can read the whole story and please sign the petition at the bottom of the paig to get him moved from prison to a rehabilitaion center hes still younge enough to be helped dont give up on todays youth! the youth is the future!


http://www.petitionsdirect.com/showpetit...

p.s. Just wanted to make it clear i dont think he should be let off he was still wrong for what he did but, i do think they took it to hard on him!!!! Also, i dont usually agree with blaming parents for kids actions but if youve seen the trial you know what im talking about! I do blame his parents for the way he was treated and the way he had to live!!!!

I was actually surprised as to the teen's verdict and now learning about the sentencing as well. I thought that perhaps the jury would find him guilty of 2nd degree murder, however, in all fairness, I didn't see all that was shown on court tv. What a real shame albeit the slain principal's family must deal with not having their family member forever.

Personally I feel that NO child should be tried as an adult. This is another situation where the laws contradict each other. You have limits to everything you can do under the age of 21....but....you can be tried as an adult at 11, 12, and in his case 15?? Something is very wrong with this situation, people!!

You also have to ask this...where were the parents during his times of being teased by classmates?? Did he go to them about this?? Either one, mom or dad, even if mom hasn't got custody of him, someone should have known...or even taken the time to ask him if there was anything bothering him. I know from personal experience what it's like to be teased by classmates....it hurts. And no, i didnt tell my folks it was bothering me....they could tell by the look on my face. And they talked to me. Parents can tell when their child is distressed....but if they dont talk to their child they will never know.

There should...and must be...more options for juveniles in this situation. The legal system MUST find them, putting a child in prison with hardened criminals and ADULTS is not "rehabilitating" a child who made a mistake. And yes, i believe he made a mistake, quite a few leading to the shooting. I also believe if the lines of communication had been as open as they should have been between his father, his mother, the young man and the school....this WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED!!!

I'm not saying that he is not guilty, but he isn't the only one....each person i named above shares in this responsibility, and all mentioned who are not doing time should feel very ashamed that they let a youth who could have had a future deteriorate behind bars. It's not right...the sentencing is not right, and something needs to be done about it before it's too late and we lose another one!!!