Attorney: Girl, 12, killed mom in self-defense

[Mizmoon]

The 12-year-old Freeport girl accused of strangling her mother was acting in self defense, protecting herself from a violent mother with a history of physical abuse and alcoholism, attorneys for the girl said Tuesday in Nassau Family Court.

"We feel very strongly that this was justified," Donald Birnbaum of Mineola, one of two attorneys representing the child, said before the hearing. "It's inconceivable that she's capable of doing anything but crying."

...

Wearing a red T-shirt and matching red sweatpants, the diminutive girl stood still, with a blank expression, throughout the brief proceeding. Her short hair was pulled into a small ponytail above her head, and her slender arms were handcuffed behind her back.

...

In court, the young girl said little. She nodded and quietly said "yes" when asked if she understood the purpose of the hearing, then cried when she learned she would not be going home.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lichok0601,0,5454605.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[In_The_Wind]

1. The trauma to an abused child should never go untreated.

When a child is abused, mistreated or neglected the damage to the child's psychological health is altered forever. The trusted and loved caretaker becomes the enemy, leaving a void where there should only be support. Until the abused child receives successful counseling the entire world may seem untrustworthy.

Where was the support system for this child who had been abused!?

[lateo]

2. That is a good question.

I wonder why the "culture of life" folks don't take more of an interest in this sort of thing.

[In_The_Wind]

3. Here's another one for you.

Where was CPS?

[Wapsie B]

4. Is that Child Protective Services?

Sadly that's an easy one to answer. All those touchy-feely evil liberal programs have been gutted. There's not enough staffers to serve everyone in need.

[In_The_Wind]

5. Yes, there has always been a shortage of of investigators.

But once a report of suspected child abuse is called in - it is mandated that an investigator from a child protective services must see each child in that home within 24 hours of the call.