News on the Machnick Case
Dec. 16th, 2002 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kyburgMachnick said he decided not to leave his son home alone with his wife. On many mornings, the sergeant would wake his son at 3:30 a.m. before he left for work and force him into the backyard. If the boy needed to use the bathroom, he would often walk to a neighborhood park. Machnick said he saw nothing dangerous about a young teen using a park bathroom at night or sleeping outside, using dog blankets and pillows.
The kid was 12 at the time.
Commentary on the case by one of the Times columnists:
They're charged with misdemeanor child abuse, stemming from the ongoing series of alleged incidents, and a felony count of conspiring to commit child abuse. I'll bet prosecutor Pete Pierce a nickel he won't get a guilty verdict on the felony count.
The case he brings to bear is scary - and believeable. Another quote:
During his two-hour argument, Barnett referred to the couple's son (who was between 12 and 14 during the period in question) as "a train wreck," "as cold, as calculated a liar as you will ever see" and "a very dark, dangerous boy."
I'm watching. I'm reminded of Jim's father and step-mother. They said the worst things about him too, when he started asserting himself. There's been some TV footage too, lately - hmm. Wonder if Channel 9's website has anything on this....
Nope.
Poor kid.
I'm reminded also of all the struggle Tobie is going through, too. On the other side of the coin - justice is indeed blind.
The kid was 12 at the time.
Commentary on the case by one of the Times columnists:
They're charged with misdemeanor child abuse, stemming from the ongoing series of alleged incidents, and a felony count of conspiring to commit child abuse. I'll bet prosecutor Pete Pierce a nickel he won't get a guilty verdict on the felony count.
The case he brings to bear is scary - and believeable. Another quote:
During his two-hour argument, Barnett referred to the couple's son (who was between 12 and 14 during the period in question) as "a train wreck," "as cold, as calculated a liar as you will ever see" and "a very dark, dangerous boy."
I'm watching. I'm reminded of Jim's father and step-mother. They said the worst things about him too, when he started asserting himself. There's been some TV footage too, lately - hmm. Wonder if Channel 9's website has anything on this....
Nope.
Poor kid.
I'm reminded also of all the struggle Tobie is going through, too. On the other side of the coin - justice is indeed blind.
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no subject
Date: 2002-12-16 02:46 pm (UTC)Yes, that's me being judgemental. There's something about treating kids that way (they also put dog shit in his school backpack when he forgot to clean the dog messes in the yard, and poured cold water on him in the morning to wake him up) that leads me to believe that some folks shouldn't be allowed to have control over kids.
no subject
Date: 2002-12-16 11:47 pm (UTC)Sadly, it would be a wasted 10 minutes... Folks like these don't see themselves as doing anything wrong... They're the victims...
Gimme a break!