Ken Schram: Justice, not vengeance
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SEATTLE -- He was the neighbor boy that used to mow her lawn.
Now he's charged with viciously stabbing her to death.
Authorities say 17-year-old Daniel Mustard conned his way into Ruby Andrews' home by telling her he was conducting a school survey.
Prosecutors say the teenager then grabbed the woman from behind, held a knife to her throat and demanded money.
Reports are he stabbed the 87-year-old woman multiple times and then fled in her car with some cash and jewelry.
It's said Mustard later showed some friends pictures of Ruby Andrews' body that he'd taken with his cell phone camera.
Authorities say that while pondering what could happen to him if he got caught, the teenager muttered "How bad could it be? She was an 87-year-old lady."
Bad enough that he's now charged with aggravated first degree murder.
Because of his age, he won't face the death penalty, which means if convicted he'll spend life in prison without any possibility of parole.
Some say he should be executed.
Some believe that if he was old enough to kill, he's old enough to die.
But that's not justice talking.
That's vengeance.
I understand the cry for vengeance.
But I support the concept of justice.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. Or, you can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com
Now he's charged with viciously stabbing her to death.
Authorities say 17-year-old Daniel Mustard conned his way into Ruby Andrews' home by telling her he was conducting a school survey.
Prosecutors say the teenager then grabbed the woman from behind, held a knife to her throat and demanded money.
Reports are he stabbed the 87-year-old woman multiple times and then fled in her car with some cash and jewelry.
It's said Mustard later showed some friends pictures of Ruby Andrews' body that he'd taken with his cell phone camera.
Authorities say that while pondering what could happen to him if he got caught, the teenager muttered "How bad could it be? She was an 87-year-old lady."
Bad enough that he's now charged with aggravated first degree murder.
Because of his age, he won't face the death penalty, which means if convicted he'll spend life in prison without any possibility of parole.
Some say he should be executed.
Some believe that if he was old enough to kill, he's old enough to die.
But that's not justice talking.
That's vengeance.
I understand the cry for vengeance.
But I support the concept of justice.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. Or, you can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com
