Man Charged With Murder For Scaring Woman To Death

[morteduzionism]

Story

Investigators: Woman Was Not Physically Attacked, Died Of Heart Attack

There's no evidence Whitfield ever touched 79-year-old Mary Parnell. Authorities say he even told the grandmother of five he didn't want to hurt her, directing her to sit in a chair in her bedroom. But investigators have no doubt he terrified her so much that she died of a heart attack.

Now Whitfield, a 20-year-old with no prior criminal record, is charged with first-degree murder, a rare defendant accused of literally scaring a person to death.

That's just whoa!

Under a legal concept known as the felony murder rule, it's not uncommon for prosecutors to bring a murder charge against a defendant who doesn't intentionally harm a victim. The rule exists in some form in every state and lets authorities bring murder charges whenever someone dies during a crime such as burglary, rape, or kidnapping.

Do you think this guy should've been charged with 1st Degree Murder?

In another thread someone asked why do some people not like the police/authorities...this is why I don't like them.

Discretion. It's up to the individual's discretion how they handle things. I'm not going to argue that this dude shouldn't be punished...but 1st Degree Murder!?

If you're willing to try to hang this charge on this guy for this crime...



Personal firearms. Prison. Death penalty. Headsman's Block. Hanging from the nearest tree. Torture. Dismemberment...

Throughout history NOTHING has been proven to be a 100% deterrance to crime. NOTHING.

I just fail to see the logic in making desperate people more desperate. Everyone knows stealing is illegal...yet people still do it.

To me it's like cornering an animal...

[Da Skinna]

Attempted robbery and murder?

He should pay, but that would only be addressing the symptoms and not the cause.

Why must people resort to crime?

[morteduzionism]

Attempted robbery and murder?

He didn't attempt to rob the lady...if you meant the bank, my bad.

The question is: did he committ "murder." He didn't touch her or physically harm her...his prescense "scared her to death."

He should pay, but that would only be addressing the symptoms and not the cause.

Why must people resort to crime?

Have you ever been poor? Are you extremely uneducated?

I once heard some...poor ghetto...guys talking about banking. One of the argued quite passionately that he didn't use a bank to cash his payroll check because they had a lot of fees......never realizing or knowing that he was paying way more at the liquor store.

Stupid people are unaware of all the choices available to them...if they need/want something they're only capable of thinking of a few ways to get it.

That does not match by notion of first degree murder. Seems like some form of reckless manslaughter.

Seems like a mean spirited hateful prosecutor in that part of NC...

[Hunter Makoy]

He didn't attempt to rob the lady...if you meant the bank, my bad.

The question is: did he committ "murder." He didn't touch her or physically harm her...his prescense "scared her to death."

Under the rules of felony murder he doesn't have to. Felony murder requires only that it happens because of and during your actions of the other felony. As in, if he wasn't charged with robbing the bank, he couldn't be charged with felony murder. He doesn't have to be attempting to harm her at all. He has to be charged with 1st degree murder I guess because that is what felony murder is considered. Because of the special circumstances felony murder can not be considered in the traditional 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree fashion.

So you are right, technically he didn't commit murder, but a special kind of murder.

[morteduzionism]

Under the rules of felony murder he doesn't have to. Felony murder requires only that it happens because of and during your actions of the other felony. As in, if he wasn't charged with robbing the bank, he couldn't be charged with felony murder. He doesn't have to be attempting to harm her at all. He has to be charged with 1st degree murder I guess because that is what felony murder is considered. Because of the special circumstances felony murder can not be considered in the traditional 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree fashion.

So you are right, technically he didn't commit murder, but a special kind of murder.

I know, that definition is included in the OP.

The question to the forum is do you think he should be charged with 1st Degree murder.

[Hunter Makoy]

I know, that definition is included in the OP.

The question to the forum is do you think he should be charged with 1st Degree murder.

yes I do considering he committed felony murder. As I said there is no other choice but to charge 1st degree murder.

[Mikelus Trento]

Good luck on them trying to prove her heart attack was a direct result of the situation, versus a normal function of her age.

In their zeal to over-prosecute, they run the risk of losing the case entirely.

[tco]

Good luck on them trying to prove her heart attack was a direct result of the situation, versus a normal function of her age.

In their zeal to over-prosecute, they run the risk of losing the case entirely.

I think that will not lose the case, but I think that he will get a reduced sentence. I agree that it is over prosecution but it is law, stupid as though it may be.

[Visna]

1st degree murder? Dang, that's harsh. Maybe manslaughter if they can prove the heartattack was his fault and not a coincidence so to speak.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

Why must people resort to crime?

American Idol wasn't on that night?

[The Devil's Sergeant]

That does not match my notion of first degree murder. Seems like some form of reckless manslaughter.

[Mithiras]

Wow, now I've been told so many stories about people being scared to death. I never thought it was actually true. But he shouldn't be charged with first degree murder, perhaps second-degree or manslaughter. Since he didn't plan on killing the woman.

[Akhil_The_Great]

they should check the old lady's Will to see if it had been changed recently

[antares24]

the guy was escaping after trying to rob a bank. An old woman finding a young men in her house will likely be terrified. The question is, whould that woman have died of heart attack that day if this men didn't entered in her house? I doubt it, so he caused her death.

Maybe first degree murder is too much, but ask yorself, if this woman was your grandma would you be so apologetic of a (failed) burglar?

[Roths]

What an idiot.

[edders]

I don't know enough about the American legal system to judge whether "1st degree murder" is appropriate in this instance, but it seems in line with the (perfectly good) theory in many systems that the criminal is responsible for pretty much everything that happens as a result of their criminal actions, e.g. anything - intentional or otherwise - that results from a car speeding away from a bank robbery. From the fuzzy memories of my high school law classes, I remember multiple examples of this being given, such as giving someone you rob a very light slap that, because of an incredibly rare condition most people had never heard of, causes a brain haemorrage, resulting in a manslaughter or murder charge (can't remember which). "You take your victim as you find them" was the term used, I think.

In this case the dude broke into the woman's house, and there was the unspoken implication that if she didn't just sit in her chair and tried to contact the police, something bad would happen. I'm guessing it was a "I don't want to hurt you, but..." situation. This is just a really, really bad justification for disliking the authorities. As soon as you break the law, you're responsible for the consequences of your actions. If the consquence of this guy's actions was being shot in the ass by trigger-happy cops, it involves a completely different set of standards and rules, so obviously that would be another issue. But it doesn't seem "unjust" for this guy to be charged with manslaughter, at least.

[morteduzionism]

In this case the dude broke into the woman's house, and there was the unspoken implication that if she didn't just sit in her chair and tried to contact the police, something bad would happen. I'm guessing it was a "I don't want to hurt you, but..." situation. This is just a really, really bad justification for disliking the authorities. As soon as you break the law, you're responsible for the consequences of your actions. If the consquence of this guy's actions was being shot in the ass by trigger-happy cops, it involves a completely different set of standards and rules, so obviously that would be another issue. But it doesn't seem "unjust" for this guy to be charged with manslaughter, at least.

It's the "discretion" thing. The prosecutor wasn't "forced" by the law to charge him with 1st degree murder. The prosecutor chose to.

When two drivers are pulled over for speeding and one gets a ticket while the other doesn't...it's the officer's discretion.

That's why I don't like them.

I want this guy to be punished for his crimes. First Degree murder though...?

[Gertrudius]

I want this guy to be punished for his crimes. First Degree murder though...?

I agree, it seems a little harsh, although some form of extra punishment should be enacted on top of the robbery thing.

Take it easy,

[Hunter Makoy]

It's the "discretion" thing. The prosecutor wasn't "forced" by the law to charge him with 1st degree murder. The prosecutor chose to.

When two drivers are pulled over for speeding and one gets a ticket while the other doesn't...it's the officer's discretion.

That's why I don't like them.

I want this guy to be punished for his crimes. First Degree murder though...?

What crime do you want him to be punished for? Do you think he should be punished in some way because the woman died?

[morteduzionism]

What crime do you want him to be punished for? Do you think he should be punished in some way because the woman died?

Not a crime that is originally intended for the worst type of killer: premeditated

:hmmm:...although I know there're documented examples of people being "scared to death" (even a small child) I still don't think he should get 1st Degree Murder.

From the article he had no criminal record and accounts suggest he tried to put the woman at ease and ensure her he had no intentions of harming her. That's what the article says...take that how you want.

I'm not such a Richard that I lump all "criminals" the same and suggest: kill 'em all let god sort them out

In other words, just because someone dies while a criminal is committing a felony doesn't mean I automatically give the cookie cutter charge of 1st Degree Murder. Each situation is different.

Lastly, just in case it's not absolutely clear I do think he should be held responsible for the womans death.