Fetal manslaughter by proxy

[Haruo]

Apparently there is a case in Alabama where a pregnant woman started an argument with another woman in a parking lot. The argument escalated, the other woman pulled a gun and shot the first one, not killing her, but killing the unborn child. A grand jury has now decided not to indict the woman who killed the fetus, but to indict the wounded and bereaved woman who started the argument for manslaughter. This has my brain doing weird stuff trying to wrap itself around the jury's reasoning. Does it make more sense somehow (and if so, how?) to those of you nearer ground zero, Keith, Neil, William, Stephen? I was on my way via Google News to try to get a handle on it, when I was waylaid by my desire to investigate Fox's (at that point as far as I could see non-existent) coverage of the Trump Birther Kamala Birther Tweet imbroglio. That's another thread.

[Rvaughn]

[Tim Bonney]

I don't get it. I find it confusing as well Haruo.

[KeithE]

It is good to have John Archibald back and writing news commentary for Alabama - he had taken a leave of absent.

Here is his take on this matter:

He, like the new district attorney in that Western Birmingham suburb area, have not decided on what charges should be filed against Marshee Jones or Ebony Jemison. Should it be 3rd degree murder, manslaughter? or assault? or treat as an accident? I'd be for declaring it an accident if it appears the young women involved have learned their lessons (but I have not heard /seen anything about their attitudes). I always believe in being redemptive. Our prisons in AL and most other states are not very rehabilitative.

----------------

But John goes on to point out the hypocrisy of Alabama lawmakers/governors who have (by their grandstanding in refusing Medicaid funding), caused far more infants to die. Few are even thinking about challenging these lawmakers (thanks John), let alone charge them.

Look at the correlation between states with high infant mortality rates and states that have refused Medicaid expansion:

[Haruo]

Thanks, Keith. That does put it in a lot better perspective, and knowing the dates involved is also very helpful, Robert. The "punishment for unintended consequences of one's actions" bit is priceless. I'm interested in knowing why my radio station here in Seattle just out of the blue decided to pull this case up a few days ago and harping on it for days. Was the trigger the prosecutor's office statement, or what? I'm sure I'll never know.

[Dave Roberts]

I still have my struggles with not indicting the woman who fired the gun.

[Tim Bonney]

[Sandy]

[Tim Bonney]

[Haruo]

Surely grand juries—especially in Alabama—are colorblind.

[Tim Bonney]

[Dave Roberts]

I heard this morning that the manslaughter charges had been filed against the woman who was pregnant.

[Tim Bonney]

[Rvaughn]

[KeithE]

[Rvaughn]

Thanks for the info, Keith. I had not followed up on it to see if anything else had happened.

Laying aside the manslaughter issue, I'm not fond of public brawls and gunfire in front a Dollar General store! Perhaps there should be some kind of charges for all of those involved for that.

[KeithE]