Jasmine Richardson, 13
Yesterday was Father’s Day, so I thought it proper to share a heartwarming tale of family togetherness and love with you all. It took place last year in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and the trial is going on right now. Above, you see a charming image of Jasmine Richardson, then 12 years old, who in April of 2006 pooled her efforts with her 23 year-old boyfriend Jeremy Steinke to stab her entire family to death; her father Marc (41), her mother Debra (48) and her little brother Jacob (8). Marc Richardson had 24 stab wounds, and he apparently got off light compared to his wife and son.
Marc and Debra Richardson: R.I.P.Jasmine is on trial as I write this, as is her “boyfriend,” whom she met on nexopia.com (based out of Edmonton, the site is kind of a Canadian MySpace for teens). Witnesses report that Jasmine and Jeremy (username: souleater52…just lovely) were seen together, laughing, hours after the killing. They were caught quickly, but unfortunately no weapons accidentally discharged in their direction during the arrest. Because this crime took in Canada, it’s a good bet that Jasmine will get a relative slap on the wrist (any country that lets Karla Homolka get away with a 12-year sentence isn’t going to seriously punish a 13 year-old).
Canada has no death penalty, which is a shame. I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to see a 13 year-old girl get the gas chamber before, but I’ll happily make an exception in this case. As for her “boyfriend,” I hope he gets skinned alive and thrown into a giant bag of salt, but my guess is that he’ll get 10 years or less (I put the over / under at seven). Brace yourself for this: the stiffest sentence Jasmine could possibly get would have her free as a bird at the age of 23; her maximum penalty is a 10-year youth sentence, no more of six of which can be spent in custody at a young offenders center. The remaining four would be served under supervision in the community, during which I hope she gets flattened by a falling safe or piano.
That’s what’s called “justice” up north, and it’s exactly the sort of non-punishment a lot of bleeding hearts want for us, too. Because of Canada’s ludicrous Youth Criminal Justice Act Jasmine cannot be named in the Canadian press, even though the entire country knows who she is – the youngest person in Canadian history to be charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder. Oh, yeah, let’s cut her a break. I really feel sorry for her – just as sorry as I feel for Lee Boyd Malvo.
I’m following this trial and will be sure to let all of you know when Jasmine and Jeremy get their slaps on the wrist.
I would categorize this as the latter but then again I am biased. From AP...
