[DollHead]

Cristian Fernandez is only 12 years old. And if Florida prosecutor Angela Corey has her way, he'll never leave jail again.

Cristian hasn't had an easy life. He's the same age now as his mother was when he was born. He's a survivor of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. In 2010, Cristian watched his stepfather commit suicide to avoid being charged with abusing Cristian.

Last January, Cristian was wrestling with his 2-year-old brother, David, and accidentally broke David's leg. Despite this, their mother left Cristian with his brother again in March. While the two boys were alone, Cristian allegedly pushed his brother against a bookcase, and David sustained a head injury. After their mother returned home, she waited six hours before taking David to the hospital. David eventually died.

Now Cristian is being charged with first degree murder -- as an adult. He's the youngest person in the history of his Florida county to receive this charge, and his next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

Melissa Higgins works with kids who get caught up in the criminal justice system in her home state of New Hampshire. When she read about Cristian's case, she was appalled -- so she started a petition on Change.org asking Florida State's Attorney Angela Corey to try Cristian as a child.

As part of his prosecution, Cristian has been examined by two different forensic psychiatrists -- each of whom concluded that he was "emotionally underdeveloped but essentially reformable despite a tough life."

Cristian has already been through more than most of us can imagine -- and now the rest of his life is in the hands of a Florida prosecutor who wants to make sure Cristian never leaves jail.

The purpose of the juvenile justice system is to reform kids who haven't gotten a fair shake. If Cristian is sent to adult prison, it will be more than a tragedy for him -- it will also be a signal to other prosecutors that kids' lives are acceptable collateral in the quest to be seen as "tough on crime."

http://www.change.org/petitions/reve...DIm_EPvaxNMvOz

[collaredgirl65]

At 12, I don't believe he should be written off as a 'bad seed'. Give him a chance to learn what he did was wrong and unacceptable.

[kellyhound]

This is fucked up.
i blame the mom.
Sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/reve...DIm_UqvPNNDanx



angela corey:

[Azimuth]

Okay, what about the mother who didn't take her baby to the hospital for 6 hours?? My god. Negligence.

[Steve]

What am I missing? he pushed his sibling against a bookcase and he hit his head and because his mother waited six hours to get help the kid dies and the sibling is charged with first degree murder, something doesn't add up.

[Sharon]

A tragic accident surely??

If a 12 year old OBVIOUSLY commits first degree murder, yes, punish him for that crime as tough as you can. Some kids are not as innocent and incapeable as we give them credit for. What about the 12 year old beheading a man video on here? He knew fine well what he was doing, adult goading or not.

[bdjackass318]

this is sad but he is lucky considering that bitch prosecutor isn't asking for the fucking death penalty seeing as how they like to execute people in florida

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Sharon. ↗

A tragic accident surely??

If a 12 year old OBVIOUSLY commits first degree murder, yes, punish him for that crime as tough as you can. Some kids are not as innocent and incapeable as we give them credit for. What about the 12 year old beheading a man video on here? He knew fine well what he was doing, adult goading or not.

That's what I was thinking, the mother should be facing charges not the kid, there must be more to the story.

[thissiteisfuckedup]

Stop being pussies, just jail the little fucker, its the only way to learn his lessons, not going soft on him.
I can bet if he is let off softly he will reoffend even worse next time.

[juliemd]

Its more his mother's fault then his. why isn't her dumbass being charged for neglecting to take the younger child to the hospital after that head injury?