Only 18 years for killing and dismembering a 10 year old? I don't get it

[Beaverhausen]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/elisa-baker-pleads-guilty_n_964353.html?ncid=webmail3

:cry:

[Recovered Repug]

1. From the article.

Prosecutor James Gaither Jr. defended the plea, which stemmed in part from a deal his office made with Elisa Baker to help find the remains. Without her help, they probably wouldn't have found Zahra's body, and, in all likelihood, Elisa Baker would never have been charged in the girl's death.

"As the district attorney, it is my responsibility to weigh the risks and the probabilities in every prosecution. The risk in this case was the Elisa Baker would entirely avoid responsibility for her part in the death of Zahra," he said.




It seems 18 years wasn't such a bad option.

[Xithras]

2. Yep, she'd have walked free otherwise.

There wasn't enough evidence to put a case together against Baker, and she'd have walked free. The prosecutor had two choices. He could let her walk off scot free, or take an 18 year sentence in exchange for finding the location of the body and her guilty plea.

Baker could have just kept her mouth shut, but led them to the body after making the plea deal. The fact that she took a punishment she could have skipped out on suggests some glimmer of a consience in that evil mind.

[supernova]

3. This woman is awful

Moves frequently, invents identities and personalities, always staying one step ahead of the law and social services.

It's not Murder First Degree but at least she will be put away for 18 years and not harassing some other innocent families.

I'm so sorry for Zahra and her parents. I cannot imagine. :cry:

[11 Bravo]

4. Fuck her. Put her in Gen Pop and everything will work out.

[provis99]

5. she'll serve 3 years.

You get double time in prison for every day you behave yourself, and you are eligible for parole after 1/3 of your term is served. So if she behaves herself in prison, she'll be out and on parole in 3 years.