A Terrible Crime Averted. A Terrible Discovery That Cannot Be

Two boys, aged 10 and 11, will stand trial for conspiracy to commit rape and murder in Washington State. Although state law apparently presumes a lack of criminal responsibility (even juvenile responsibility) for children 8 to 12, the presumption can be overcome with evidence. Such evidence was introduced in a competency hearing, including evidence that the boys knew the nature and character of what they wanted to do.What they wanted to do, complete with a stolen knife and handgun in their possession along with a written plan, was to rape and then stab a fellow female student. One apparently even understood that rape was not a sexual act, but more a display of power and control. One of the boys was asked if he understood that murder was wrong. His response was "yes, I wanted her dead." At this point, like anyone decent, I am thankful the plan was foiled. As for what lies ahead, or how these two arrived in a courthouse on trial for their youth, I have no answers.