[stevesfriend]

You said you got a reply from Courtney. Did she have anything to say about her father? - Or why she did it?

[TheBigBB]

I am a friend of Courtney's and I have made a Facebook profile for her where I update her pictures and post excerpts from her letters. She sees printouts of the page and approves everything that's posted.

I see some hostility on here towards her, but no one - not even her - thinks she shouldn't be punished for being involved with what happened. We just don't think a minor should get life without parole for a crime carried out by a third party who's an adult. (the in-court confession she gave was a ploy from her incompetent defense team to save Michael and didn't have any bearing on her conviction)

[TheBigBB]

For those not interested in the Facebook or in following her updates, I will post this one entry which should satisfy your passing curiousity. She loves to emphasize certain words in her writing, which is indicated by the asterisks.

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"I'm not saying that I don't deserve to be in prison for what I was involved in, but I honestly don't feel as though I should have received a life sentence. It's like I've said before, at 16 who doesn't think they know everything? I was wrong for that decision, but I'm an adult *now* and should be able to at least prove that I'm not as stupid and careless as I was back then.

I've achieved a lot since I've been in prison. I got my GED at 17, certification in architectural drafting at 19, and certification as a law clerk at 21. The goals that I've made to better myself as an individual, I've achieved, thus far. What's even better is that I still have more goals and I plan to achieve those, as well. I see nothing wrong in aiming to better the woman that I've become out of this experience.

In regards to Michael, he is nothing more than my co-defendant. I have random moments here and there when I think about our past, but he's not my boyfriend or friend. He's simply a memory - a nightmare, moreso. He was my protection back when I was younger, but as time's gone by and I've grown up, I've realized that he had the ability to convince me that what was yellow was really orange, you know? But, I felt safe with him when I was a teenager, so I thought his word was gold. Does that make sense? These past two years have opened my eyes *so* much that I just can't even stand the thought of me at 15, 16 years old because I was *so* miserable, gullible and basically a welcome-mat to anything that made me numb to my misery and stress. Whether it was drugs, alcohol, Michael, partying, suicide attempts, or all of that combined, I didn't want to face the reality that I was dealt.

Now that I have myself, I like *this* Courtney better because I've proven to myself that I *can* be strong and responsible. I don't want to be numb because even from in this place, I'm able to feel the self-worth that comes from accomplishing my goals and that wasn't something I could feel while I was with Michael because I was afraid of myself. *Now* I know who I am and I like who I'm growing to become."

[JLO]

Thanks for sharing!

[djuanbracey]

I saw the facebook account and sent this message:

I don't believe people under 18 should receive life sentences without parole. Your case - for some reason - sticks in my mind and I have been anti-death penalty in general, anti-LWOP for youths ever since. I have to say I don't agree with what you did (but I think for some reason the boyfriend acted mostly alone and you were not the main conspirator, but only two people were there and know that).

Stay strong.

Please respond, whoever made this profile on her behalf.

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I would like to emphasize that this really opened my eyes to a lot and was very significant as I wasn't so well either - in the peak of a very hard battle with an illness, which in a way is sort of a life sentence to a degree - when this case happened. Really made me see the light on why people should not receive prison sentences when they are so young. Also, I would like to hear a response because it'd be great to hear about appeals, etc.

[TheBigBB]

She is a surprisingly positive and kind person and she seems to think she has a chance to get back in court because of FSU's public advocacy program which has a movement to try and abolish the life without parole sentence for those who committed crimes as minors. She's in contact with someone from that.

I remember reading that she was greedy and liked to steal her dad's credit cards, but she refuses to ask for money or any of the crap that they warn you about with inmates. I outright asked her if I could send money for her to have more photos taken, and she shied away from it, saying to only send money as a surprise and that she wouldn't ask for it. I asked her if I could get her a magazine subscription and she completely ignored it except to tell me that she didn't have one at the time. I had to pick something out to send her on my own...

[ThatsNasty]

Hahaha spoiled little brat, didnt get her way so she killed her dad.

what she truly needs is several over hand rights with a few left crosses

besides, look at her she looks like a straight c|_|nt

[huskie]

i'd hit it.

[TheBigBB]

I know that you guys like to screw around here, and hell, pretty much even Courtney herself hates what she was like when the crimes were committed.

Let's keep in mind, though, that in 2006, in a United Nations resolution calling to abolish life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for children, the vote came out 185 to 1—the U.S. was the lone dissenter. It is one of two countries (the other being Somalia) not to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which among other commitments to protecting persons under the age of 18, forbids life sentences without parole.

I don't mean to ruin your fun; I don't expect everyone to care. Just be aware of the facts is all I ask.

[whoaa]

oh boohoo, she's jus a spoiled brat, her dad needs justice and da judge sentenced her. she really doesnt deserve her freedom. im glad she's in there for life. so what if she turned her life around? thats chus she aint got nuttin else better to do. i believe da bitch deserves to stay in prison for what she let happen.