guy says he's not guilty of murder because victim refused blood transfusion that could've saved him

Question_Mans_interpretation

I wonder if the guy will get off the hook for murder since the jw died during surgery that he refused blood for

http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/05/15/4526968/did-fresno-shooting-victims-religious.html

I have always had a problem with intent and results. Someone is charged with "attempted murder" because paramedics arrive quickly or because the object in their pocket slowed the bullet. Someone else is charged with murder when they kick someone's ass but they had a weak heart, and died.

To me, intent is just as important as what happened. I could say, in this case, that the intent was clear because several shots were fired. I could say, as a juror that the blood transfusion thing is not really an issue. If the JW had not been shot, the blood issue would be no issue at all.

I could factor it in for unintentional manslaughter, but not intentional shooting, especially mutliple shots fired.

But it is part of how the system works here in the USA. Who is to say if it won't get him a lighter sentence? It's up to some prosecutor and the law to not give the jury a choice. A choice between guilt and innocence instead of degrees of guilt should result in a "GUILTY."

Island Man

I agree with OnTheWayOut. The only difference that should exist between a charge of attempted murder and murder is the name. Both crimes should have equal sentencing. The only time there should be a difference is when the perpetrator has a last minute change of heart while committing the crime and he takes actions to save his victim's life.

OrphanCrow

This case has similarities to one that happened in California in 1998. In that situation, a drunk driver hit a JW woman, she refused blood and died. The state tried to convict him of murder, but the jury assigned blame for her death equally. The drunk driver got ten years for manslaughter.

http://amarillo.com/stories/1998/12/19/usn_ddriver.shtml#.VVqL0rlViko

There is a good discussion about the case, and the legal dilemmas that it posed, on this site here:

http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9928.htm

DwainBowman

I knew a brother years ago, who's wife was in a bad wreck with him. They wanted to give her blood, but he said NO! The police kept him cuffed to the bed. When she died, he was charged with manslaughter! It took two years, but the charges were dropped!

Dwain

Vidiot

As weird (and contradictory) as this sounds, I've lost count of just how many ideological corners the WTS has painted themselves into.