http://www.roanoke.com/printer/printpage.aspx?arcID=27069
The article itself I imagine is too long to just copy-paste here. It's pretty sad, albeit...strange.
ID:186389
 Jul 12 2005, 5:46 am
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And people have done far worse things, sadly.
What struck me as odd is how the prosecution seemingly gave up after the alleged perpetrators were found incompetent to stand trial. The reason I found this odd is that such a ruling is not final. In other words, if you can show that they are now competent (which general simply means they understand the charges and can make decisions regarding their rights) things pick right up where they left off. I am surprised the prosecutor didn't seek another ruling (or judge) in light of the circumstances. It is also generally acceptable to require defendants to submit to medication if that would make them competent. If they cannot be made competent, then you can still begin civil proceedings for involuntary confinement in a mental facility if they are a threat to themselves or others. So, there are always options. Maybe the prosecutor is overworked and doesn't feel these people represent a threat to others.... | |
Hehe, have you ever lived in the South?
I speant the first 14 years of my life in South Carolina growing up. I've got to say this story sounds perfectly feasible, though poorly written. When you can't read, and you don't have the means to make ends meet and your neglected by society - this sort of screwed up scenario is definitly possible. The way they choose to live there like they do is appauling, no initiative, but then, they are uneducated and probably had a poor upbringing. The only redeeming quality are the last few lines about just wanting to be left alone. Even for people that can't read, I've got say they are pretty dumb, it's unfortunate. Where I grew up our neighbors had about 12 annoying, stinky dogs, kept in by a chicken wire fence. In addition they had chickens all over their property. Their doverman often jumped the poorly constructed fence and scared the hell out of me and my brother. This scenario really doesn't seem all that unlikely to me. Our neighbors probably talked to us about 3 times a year, only a sentance at a time. They tried to keep to themselves. They could probably read though, and they had the means to at least afford a singlewide trailer. Drive down an adjoining road to the street I lived on and you would pass a quarry and eventually see poor black people living in homes that should by rights be condemned. The one house was missing a wall and it's roof was caving in, yet we knew people chose to live their anyway, though they were still about 5 miles away from the closest grocery store. I pity the poor. The only thing I can't stand, is a lack of initiative and the idea that everybody else owes you something. I'll gladly give, but don't act like it's my fault you're in the condition you're in. If my poor imigrant great-grandparent could fight their way out of poverty so can you, granted circcumstances can keep you down, but you can't get anywhere with the status quota. | |
Looks like BS to me.