http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8P102RO0&show_article=1

Quote :

"ATLANTA (AP) - A vegan couple were sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for the death of their malnourished 6-week-old baby boy, who was fed a diet largely consisting of soy milk and apple juice. Superior Court Judge L.A. McConnell imposed the mandatory sentences on Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31. Their son, Crown Shakur, weighed just 3 1/2 pounds when he died of starvation on April 25, 2004. The couple were found guilty May 2 of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. A jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdicts. Defense lawyers said the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to the lifestyle of vegans, who typically use no animal products. They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby, who was born at home, was in danger until minutes before he died. But prosecutors said the couple intentionally neglected their child and refused to take him to the doctor even as the baby's body wasted away. "No matter how many times they want to say, 'We're vegans, we're vegetarians,' that's not the issue in this case," said prosecutor Chuck Boring. "The child died because he was not fed. Period." Although the life sentences were automatic, Sanders and Thomas begged for leniency before sentencing. Sanders urged the judge to look past his "perception" of the couple. "I loved my son—and I did not starve him," she said. When the judge told the defendants they could ask for a new trial, Thomas hung his head low. "I'm dying every day in there," he said, "and that could take three years.""

5/10/2007 12:10:56 PM

stupid incompetents

5/10/2007 12:13:12 PM

I gotta see pictures of these idiots.

5/10/2007 12:16:37 PM

that's sad

Quote :

"Defense lawyers said the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to the lifestyle of vegans, who typically use no animal products."

hey, ever heard of breastmilk? i hope they are raped, beaten, and starved to death in prison. hope you like bologna.

5/10/2007 12:17:33 PM

What I didn't understand is why people who are otherwise so jazzed about "all natural" stuff didn't do the breastfeeding thing.

I know so many vegans who go about it intelligently, researching nutrition and all that. It's a shame idiots like these (and the vegan kids in high school who only eat french fries) get lumped in with them.

5/10/2007 12:18:44 PM

Quote :

""No matter how many times they want to say, 'We're vegans, we're vegetarians,' that's not the issue in this case," said prosecutor Chuck Boring. "The child died because he was not fed. Period." "

Being a vegan I find it funny that you blanket all vegans in with these people. So if another set of "normal" eaters let their baby starve on a diet of 2% milk and chicken nuggets then it's because they eat meat and not because of bad parenting?

There are 100's of other vegan couples who raise perfectly normal children. You are the idiot sir.

5/10/2007 12:21:23 PM

they fed the kid soy milk and apple juice...is it too much to also feed him some mashed up fruits and vegetables? i mean shit how do you not notice that your kid is a 6 week old anorexic

5/10/2007 12:21:34 PM

Quote :

"In the first case of its kind in Georgia, two vegan parents were convicted by a Fulton County jury Wednesday of starving their newborn to death. Fulton prosecutors painted a grim picture of a newborn murdered by starvation. They said his parents kept only one bottle in the house, and only fed their son soy milk and apple juice. Prosecutors said it was planned; that their vegan diet was just a ruse. They said 6-week-old Crown Thomas never stood a chance. "Had the child received breast milk, had the child been adequately fed, he would be alive," said Fulton County prosecutor Michael Carlson. But the defense and the parents -- Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas -- said they did what they thought was best for their baby boy. They were vegans. They said soy milk and apple juice seemed like a reasonable alternative. "They did what they thought was right," said the baby's grandmother, Carlyn Thomas. Minutes after the verdict, the emotional father said, "We didn't starve my son to death. We didn't starve my son for weeks and weeks and weeks." Jurors found both parents guilty of murder and child cruelty. "In fact, the first time he ever saw a doctor was when he was brought dead on arrival to Piedmont Hospital in a state that was clearly beyond malnourishment, but starvation," said Carlson. "You know we've been vegetarians," said Lamont Thomas. "We're against animal cruelty. So why would I be cruel to my son? We're against animals being burdened. Why would be cruel and burden him and try to drive around and do something with his body? We're going to jail for no reason." Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas face a mandatory life sentence in prison for the murder conviction. They remain in Fulton County Jail until sentencing next week."

5/10/2007 12:22:05 PM

Quote :

"weighed just 3 1/2 pounds "

Babies should not weigh 3.5 pounds, unless they are a premature, especially at 6 weeks. Fuck these two morons acting like they didn't realize something was wrong with their child.

I hope they both starve in prison because they won't eat the shit they are fed while behind bars.

5/10/2007 12:29:16 PM

Quote :

"the first time he ever saw a doctor was when he was brought dead on arrival to Piedmont Hospital in a state that was clearly beyond malnourishment, but starvation"

yeah the kid was born in the home and NEVER SAW A DOCTOR...fuck these parents' shitty excuses

5/10/2007 12:31:55 PM

1. Breast milk (obvious)
2. Soy-based infant formula
3. Banked milk
4. Adoption

5/10/2007 12:38:34 PM

damn

5/10/2007 12:38:57 PM

it's possible that they never saw a doctor before OR during pregnancy. even a decent midwife would have AT LEAST checked in after the baby was born.

Quote :

"They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby, who was born at home, was in danger until minutes before he died."

5/10/2007 12:39:03 PM

Quote :

"We're going to jail for no reason."

You are going to jail for being stupid.

5/10/2007 12:40:39 PM

if you are dumb enough to have a kid and not feed him properly and not seek ANY medical attention from conception to birth...when your kid is 6 weeks old and skinny as shit, do you not ask somebody for some advice? dont they know some other vegan parents who could be like "feed your fucking kid you idiots"

5/10/2007 12:47:29 PM

Quote :

"is it too much to also feed him some mashed up fruits and vegetables? i mean shit how do you not notice that your kid is a 6 week old anorexic"

I don't think you feed kids food like that until they are much older (like 6 months or something.) All the people I know with really young babies just feed them breastmilk and formula.

I really can't see how this kid starved if they were giving him soy milk. While it's not an ideal food, I still think the child could survive off of it. It makes me think that they did actually starve him. Especially when they withheld breast milk which would have saved his life.

Poor kid.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:53 PM. Reason : s]

5/10/2007 12:51:45 PM

^I imagine its more because they didn't give him enough.

5/10/2007 12:54:32 PM

This reminds me of the thread about licenses being required for breeding.

5/10/2007 12:55:32 PM

^^^ Yeah babies typically stay on breast milk/formula for the first ~6 months. I doubt soy milk provides enough vitamins and minerals for a baby, but I don't know.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:57 PM. Reason : t]

5/10/2007 12:56:12 PM

Yeah, being vegan does not stop a vegan mother from making the choice to give the baby breast milk. These people are just idiots regardless of their personal dietary choices.

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/pregnancy.htm Took 1 minute to find.


[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 1:01 PM. Reason : asdf]

5/10/2007 12:57:11 PM

why cant they send all stupid people to jail

5/10/2007 1:03:25 PM

we wouldnt have tww

5/10/2007 1:06:28 PM

admittedly, my thread title was unnecessarily inflammatory towards vegans.

I just don't like militant vegans, which are the only kind i've met.

probably b/c the non-militant ones don't bother me with that crap.

5/10/2007 1:08:29 PM

Quote :

"It is important to note that soymilk, rice milk, and homemade formulas should not be used to replace breast milk or commercial infant formula during the first year. These foods do not contain the right amounts of nutrients for babies."

From link ^^^^

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 1:08 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 1:08:37 PM

Quote :

"We're going to jail for no reason."

You are going to jail for being stupid. a murderer

5/10/2007 1:10:24 PM

at least the baby had an all-natural death of starvation.

5/10/2007 1:12:40 PM

OK, let me get this straight:

Had they killed him 6 weeks ago, just a day or two before he was born, not only would it be perfectly legal, but also most of you crying in this thread wouldn't shed a tear, because "it is part of the woman's body."

Wow, what a difference 6 weeks makes!

And no, I am not taking their side, just pointing out the hypocrisy and inconsistency in the views of those who are pro-abortion. One of the main arguments, and for many, THE main argument given in favor of abortion is that a fetus cannot survive on its own, and so is therefore a "parasite" or a "leech" (I am sure those people would make great parents... "Son, you used to leech off of your mother", but that's another issue), and so, it is perfectly OK to get rid of it, since it is a parasite.

So after a baby is born, can it survive on its own? Why is not OK to get rid of it, since it is still dependent in every survival aspect on the parents? If the parents don't feel like raising it, or fall on hard times financially, or regret having the baby, they should be allowed to "off" it.

Coming to this case, I really can't see why they were given life sentences and charged with and convicted of murder.

Murder is intentional. How did the prosecution prove intent? Is there any way to prove intent in this case? If they really wanted to kill it, there are easier ways, like not feeding it anything for 48 hours. Or if they didn't want it, I am sure they could have left it at a hispital's doorstep.

Really, I don't see where the intent to kill is coming from. They were just highly stupid, naive, and irresponsible, but there was no intent to kill.

This is manslaughter, not murder. They should go to jail for a long time, like a decade or two, but a life sentence is wrong.

Another say, another miscarriage of justice.

Quote :

"said prosecutor Chuck Boring. "The child died because he was not fed. Period.""

Wait, is that a lie? Wow, a lawyer lying, who would have thought!

5/10/2007 1:14:45 PM

Quote :

"I really can't see how this kid starved if they were giving him soy milk. While it's not an ideal food, I still think the child could survive off of it"

the high fat content in milk is essential to a newborns proper development...if they don't get it there, they have to get it somewhere and soy milk/apple juice/fruits/veggies just don't have it.

5/10/2007 1:15:29 PM

^^quite possibly the worst post I have ever seen.

5/10/2007 1:19:33 PM

^^ plenty of pro-abortion people aren't for late term abortion. way to start a retarded argument. i take it you'll also be feeding your children soy milk?

5/10/2007 1:20:50 PM

Quote :

"Really, I don't see where the intent to kill is coming from. They were just highly stupid, naive, and irresponsible, but there was no intent to kill. This is manslaughter, not murder. They should go to jail for a long time, like a decade or two, but a life sentence is wrong. Another say, another miscarriage of justice. Quote : "said prosecutor Chuck Boring. "The child died because he was not fed. Period."" Wait, is that a lie? Wow, a lawyer lying, who would have thought!"

seconded.

5/10/2007 1:20:54 PM

but this is very intellectual and based on reality and not fantasy:

Quote :

"i hope they are raped, beaten, and starved to death in prison. hope you like bologna."

!!!!!

5/10/2007 1:20:58 PM

Quote :

"Crown Shakur"

5/10/2007 1:22:35 PM

Quote :

"hope you like bologna."

Haha, that is probably the best veiled threat I have ever seen.

5/10/2007 1:22:55 PM

Quote :

"Therefore, in order to be convicted of malice murder, the state must prove that the defendant had the specific intent to kill the victim. This intent may be found in the defendant’s actions toward the victim (i.e., threats, etc.), in his use of a deadly weapon, or in the defendant’s acts which exhibit a reckless disregard for human life."

Quote :

"The couple were found guilty May 2 of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. A jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdicts."

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 1:24 PM. Reason : they were convicted of involuntary manslaughter as well]

5/10/2007 1:23:23 PM

^ i must have missed that bolded part.

so do drunk drivers and street racers go to jail forever if they kill someone with their car?

if they don't, they should.


[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 1:25 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 1:25:29 PM

http://origin.denverpost.com/ci_5854892

I'm no expert, but I don't see any remorse in these people.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 1:29 PM. Reason : .]

5/10/2007 1:26:07 PM

this thread makes me now that I have my own kid. It breaks my heart

I'd fuckin beat these people's face in for being this stupid.


^

Quote :

"Jon Phillips, 26, and Sarah Berrry, 21, are being held in the death of a 7-year-old boy who police said weighed less than 30 pounds when he died Sunday, May 6, 2007"

not the same but equally as fucked up

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 1:27 PM. Reason : .]

5/10/2007 1:26:07 PM

Quote :

"but this is very intellectual and based on reality and not fantasy:"

at least he's just saying he's happy they were sentenced. you go on to make blanket statements about a completely different group which are incorrect.

YAR HAR HAR, DEM PRO-CHOICERS ARE LETTING PEOPLE KILL BABIES 2 DAYS FROM BIRTH AND SAY IT IS ALRIGHT CUZ IT CANT SURVIVE ON ITS OWN. WHAT ARE DEY DINKING...YARTETETARTAR.

5/10/2007 1:27:44 PM

Quote :

"admittedly, my thread title was unnecessarily inflammatory towards vegans. I just don't like militant vegans, which are the only kind i've met. probably b/c the non-militant ones don't bother me with that crap. "

Yeah, it's similar with any militants. I'm trying to change people's misconceptions about veganism by being rational and non combative.

5/10/2007 1:30:41 PM

according to Georgia law....

Quote :

"Felony Murder - O.C.G.A. 16-5-1(c) Felony murder occurs when a person causes the death of another person while in the commission of a felony. Under the felony-murder rule, malice (an intent to cause the person’s death) is irrelevant. The defendant need not have any intention to kill someone, the fact that someone died as a result of his felonious act is sufficient"

In Georgia, either Felony Murder or Malice Murder are mandatory life sentences, so intent does not matter.

5/10/2007 1:35:05 PM

Yeah, and the guy could obviously afford the Lance Bass frosted tips but he couldn't buy the kid a fucking sandwich?

http://origin.denverpost.com/ci_5854892

5/10/2007 1:44:25 PM

The baby was too young to have anything but formula, which can be made from soy. Soy milk is not an adequate substitute to formula, it lacks a lot of the protein and calories that the kid needed. At six weeks, the child should have breast milk and formula only.

His parents flat out did not feed him and disregarded it. It took at least a few weeks for the child to waste away to 3 pounds and the parents should have realized something was wrong. They are guilty of first degree murder.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 2:03 PM. Reason : k]

5/10/2007 2:02:50 PM

Quote :

"At six weeks, the child should have breast milk and formula only. "

Why "should" the child have formula? You mean "could".

Quote :

"it [Soy milk] lacks a lot of the protein"

I think it is the fat that it lacks, and has too much protein. Human milk is higher in fat and lower in protein than cow's milk, and soy milk has even more protein and even less fat than cow's milk.

5/10/2007 2:10:30 PM

its perfectly ok to be a vegetarian because you can still manage to get vital protein and other nutrients, but veganism is just retarded.

5/10/2007 2:14:18 PM

I guess they thought breast milk would be animal exploitation.

5/10/2007 2:14:50 PM

^^ Haha, broad blanket statements. Welcome aboard the bandwagon of idiots who blindly hate veganism.

5/10/2007 2:18:36 PM

people just weren't naturally meant to be vegans.

5/10/2007 2:22:39 PM

I'm quite surprised with the lack of racism in this thread

5/10/2007 2:24:45 PM

I don't hate it at all, but I DO think it is dumb.

5/10/2007 2:25:58 PM