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06 Apr 18
15:58
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Date Joined:
10 Jan 02
"In a two-day trial in March, Lakeith Smith, now 18, of Montgomery was convicted of felony murder, burglary and theft for helping in the 2015 break-ins of two homes in Millbrook, about 10 miles north of Montgomery. He did not kill A'Donte Washington, 16, of Montgomery, who was part of a group of five accused in the thefts.
But several in the group, including Washington, fired shots at Millbrook police officers who responded Feb. 23, 2015, to a call of a burglary in progress, according to officer body-camera footage. The officer that Washington ran toward pointing a .38 caliber revolver fired his police-issued sidearm four times, killing Washington.
Smith was accused of being criminally responsible for the acts that led to Washington's death, the gist of Alabama's accomplice law. An Elmore County grand jury cleared the officer who fired the fatal shots; the officer's name was not released.
On Thursday, Judge Sibley Reynolds of Alabama's 19th Judicial Circuit Court handed down three sentences that Smith will serve back to back: 30 years for murder, 15 years for burglary and 10 years each for two theft convictions.
Smith smiled and laughed through the sentencing, said C.J. Robinson, chief assistant district attorney. Smith flashed a broad smile March 14 as he was led out of the courtroom shortly after the verdicts were announced.
“I don’t think Mr. Smith will be smiling long when he gets to prison,” Robinson said. “We are very pleased with this sentence. Because the sentences are consecutive, it will be a long time before he comes up for even the possibility for parole, at least 20 to 25 years.”
Alabama's accomplice law states that a person is legally liable for the behavior of another who commits a criminal offense if that person aids or abets the first person in committing the offense. It wasn't immediately known how many states have similar statutes.
"The officer shot A'donte, not Lakeith Smith," Smith's lawyer, Jennifer Holton, said during the trial. "Lakeith was a 15-year-old child, scared to death. He did not participate in the act that caused the death of A'donte. He never shot anybody.""
But several in the group, including Washington, fired shots at Millbrook police officers who responded Feb. 23, 2015, to a call of a burglary in progress, according to officer body-camera footage. The officer that Washington ran toward pointing a .38 caliber revolver fired his police-issued sidearm four times, killing Washington.
Smith was accused of being criminally responsible for the acts that led to Washington's death, the gist of Alabama's accomplice law. An Elmore County grand jury cleared the officer who fired the fatal shots; the officer's name was not released.
On Thursday, Judge Sibley Reynolds of Alabama's 19th Judicial Circuit Court handed down three sentences that Smith will serve back to back: 30 years for murder, 15 years for burglary and 10 years each for two theft convictions.
Smith smiled and laughed through the sentencing, said C.J. Robinson, chief assistant district attorney. Smith flashed a broad smile March 14 as he was led out of the courtroom shortly after the verdicts were announced.
“I don’t think Mr. Smith will be smiling long when he gets to prison,” Robinson said. “We are very pleased with this sentence. Because the sentences are consecutive, it will be a long time before he comes up for even the possibility for parole, at least 20 to 25 years.”
Alabama's accomplice law states that a person is legally liable for the behavior of another who commits a criminal offense if that person aids or abets the first person in committing the offense. It wasn't immediately known how many states have similar statutes.
"The officer shot A'donte, not Lakeith Smith," Smith's lawyer, Jennifer Holton, said during the trial. "Lakeith was a 15-year-old child, scared to death. He did not participate in the act that caused the death of A'donte. He never shot anybody.""
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You wonder if these events happened in the UK, what would have been the result of the trial?
Maybe instead of 65 years Lakeith gets 6 months in a young offenders unit and gets let out in 3
Maybe the police officer gets 10 years for manslaughter
Maybe the government calls for a thorough review of the case and a review of endemic racism in the police force
Maybe instead of 65 years Lakeith gets 6 months in a young offenders unit and gets let out in 3
Maybe the police officer gets 10 years for manslaughter
Maybe the government calls for a thorough review of the case and a review of endemic racism in the police force
Oh and maybe some sick imbecile writes an article in the papers blaming the government for the burglary and the murder
Just the job that sentence.
Put the fear of God into them getting locked up for a very long time and they might stay out of trouble.
Just need to make the prisons a lot less comfortable.
Put the fear of God into them getting locked up for a very long time and they might stay out of trouble.
Just need to make the prisons a lot less comfortable.
The sentence has its own built in rehabilitation programme.
Hell be too old to offend when he's released.
Hell be too old to offend when he's released.
It's a very harsh sentence imo but what it does do is emphasize who is responsible for the death of his "friend"
In this crazy politically correct apologist era we are in the UK, most of the media and politicians seem to have lost sight of this.
In this crazy politically correct apologist era we are in the UK, most of the media and politicians seem to have lost sight of this.
That's interesting, never knew about that sort of case in America when I suggested in the burglar killed by the 78 year old that the accomplice in the robbery should be given a life sentence for murder
Depending upon the exact facts of the Hither Green death, if it was in Alabama he very well could.
The american legals system is totally ****ed up, they send people down for ridiculously long sentences for little.
30 years for what - his friend running at someone? That can't be justified.
30 years for what - his friend running at someone? That can't be justified.
The American legal system is in the main better than Britains
I agree with lfc1871.
The American legal system is better than ours in that sentences are much longer.
If anyone says that long sentences don't work, then think what America would be like with shorter sentencing.
The American legal system is better than ours in that sentences are much longer.
If anyone says that long sentences don't work, then think what America would be like with shorter sentencing.
30 years for what - his friend running at someone? That can't be justified.
It is justified if it puts other people off offending.
It is justified if it puts other people off offending.
He smiled and laughed throughout the trial, and that says it all.
He would have been crying with fear if the death sentence would have been announced.
He would have been crying with fear if the death sentence would have been announced.
You would have to have a heart of stone, not to laugh.
It goes without saying I'd support such sentencing in this country....well done Alabama
"30 years for what - his friend running at someone? That can't be justified."
Hardly. He took place in an armed robbery where shots were fired at the police. Given his age and the fact he didn't fire any shots himself the sentence is harsh, but a long custodial sentence is definitely due.
Hardly. He took place in an armed robbery where shots were fired at the police. Given his age and the fact he didn't fire any shots himself the sentence is harsh, but a long custodial sentence is definitely due.
This is what Derek Bentley was hanged (and later pardoned) for. We call it joint enterprise.
@Dr Crippen -- If anyone says that long sentences don't work, then think what America would be like with shorter sentencing.
If anyone says long sentences do work, then *see* what America is like now.
If anyone says long sentences do work, then *see* what America is like now.
The USA comes in at 46 with 4.8 murders and 12 suicides per 100,000. As you can see it has some very murderous neighbours and guns are easily accessible. So it's culture through immigration and opportunity. Greenland's suicide rate is quite something!
24 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 22.9 3.7 26.6
23 Mexico 22.7 4.0 26.7
22 Belarus 4.05 22.9 27
21 Panama 21.6 5.5 27.1
20 Dominican Republic 25 2.3 27.3
19 Saint Lucia 25.2 2.4 27.6
18 The Bahamas 27.4 1.2 28.6
17 Russia 10.2 21.4 31.6
16 South Korea 0.7 24.1 24.8
15 Kazakhstan 7.8 25.6 33.4
14 Puerto Rico 26.2 7.4 33.6
13 Saint Kitts and Nevis 38.2 0.0 38.2
12 Lithuania 6.6 31.6 38.2
11 Colombia 33.4 4.9 38.3
10 Guatemala 38.5 3.6 42.1
9 Guyana 18.6 26.4 45
8 Belize 41.4 3.7 45.1
7 Trinidad and Tobago 35.2 10.7 45.9
6 South Africa 31.1 15.4 46.5
5 Venezuela 45.1 3.2 48.3
4 Jamaica 52.2 0.1 52.3
3 El Salvador 69.2 8.0 77.2
2 Honduras 91.6 3.84 95.44
1 Greenland 19.2 108.1 127.
24 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 22.9 3.7 26.6
23 Mexico 22.7 4.0 26.7
22 Belarus 4.05 22.9 27
21 Panama 21.6 5.5 27.1
20 Dominican Republic 25 2.3 27.3
19 Saint Lucia 25.2 2.4 27.6
18 The Bahamas 27.4 1.2 28.6
17 Russia 10.2 21.4 31.6
16 South Korea 0.7 24.1 24.8
15 Kazakhstan 7.8 25.6 33.4
14 Puerto Rico 26.2 7.4 33.6
13 Saint Kitts and Nevis 38.2 0.0 38.2
12 Lithuania 6.6 31.6 38.2
11 Colombia 33.4 4.9 38.3
10 Guatemala 38.5 3.6 42.1
9 Guyana 18.6 26.4 45
8 Belize 41.4 3.7 45.1
7 Trinidad and Tobago 35.2 10.7 45.9
6 South Africa 31.1 15.4 46.5
5 Venezuela 45.1 3.2 48.3
4 Jamaica 52.2 0.1 52.3
3 El Salvador 69.2 8.0 77.2
2 Honduras 91.6 3.84 95.44
1 Greenland 19.2 108.1 127.
The "Plea Bargain" system seems open to huge amounts of injustice for innocent people:
"Here, you admit you did it and get 3 years"
"But I didn't do it!"
"Well ok keep saying that and we'll give you 10"
"Here, you admit you did it and get 3 years"
"But I didn't do it!"
"Well ok keep saying that and we'll give you 10"
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