ATLANTA (AP) -- A vegan couple were sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for the death of their malnourished 6-week-old baby boy, who was fed a diet largely consisting of soy milk and apple juice.
Superior Court Judge L.A. McConnell imposed the mandatory sentences on Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31. Their son, Crown Shakur, weighed just 3 1/2 pounds when he died of starvation on April 25, 2004.
The couple were found guilty May 2 of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. A jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdicts.
Defense lawyers said the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to the lifestyle of vegans, who typically use no animal products. They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby, who was born at home, was in danger until minutes before he died.
But prosecutors said the couple intentionally neglected their child and refused to take him to the doctor even as the baby's body wasted away.
"No matter how many times they want to say, 'We're vegans, we're vegetarians,' that's not the issue in this case," said prosecutor Chuck Boring. "The child died because he was not fed. Period."
Although the life sentences were automatic, Sanders and Thomas begged for leniency before sentencing. Sanders urged the judge to look past his "perception" of the couple."I loved my son - and I did not starve him," she said.
When the judge told the defendants they could ask for a new trial, Thomas hung his head low.
"I'm dying every day in there," he said, "and that could take three years."
AP
4 comments:
There are tons of comments on Paris Hilton and she deserves to go to jail. As of now (1) comment for a baby that starved. This is truly a shame.
What's there to say?
God made us to be omnivores. These people were neglectful. A baby that doesn't gain weight should be a flashing red light to any parent.
I've noticed a severe drop of in comments all over the blogs I haunt. Must be the nice weather.
I feel that the parents were responsible for the welfare of their child, didn't they realize that they would jeopardize a life by not feeding it properly.
I've also noticed a drop in comments, hopefully folks are on vacation and don't have the time.
Breast milk, anyone? Come on, anyone who's a vegan should be also breastfeeding their infant. Vegan or not, these folks were just plain stupid about the parenting process.
Post a Comment