Set afire, teen now struggles for survival.

[Prof.]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/CRIME/11/02/teen.burned.recovery/t1larg.michael.brewer.family.jpg

Miami, Florida (CNN) -- He lies in a bed on a balloon-type mattress, to reduce pressure on his burned body. He is covered with bandages; a ventilator breathes for Michael Brewer because he can't do it for himself.

He's hooked up to the marvels of modern medicine that are trying to give the 15-year-old burn victim a chance to be a kid once again.
Sixty-five percent of his body is covered with second- and third-degree burns.

"People are writing horror stories ... but people just can't imagine the kind of sickness we're talking about," said Dr. Nicholas Namias, medical director of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Burn Center in Miami.

"I've been to movies like everyone else, and Hollywood hasn't even thought of something like this," Namias said.

Brewer is heavily sedated, and the ventilator does not allow him to speak. His open wounds are covered by bandages, which are changed daily. It's a four-hour process.

He has not been able to speak with police since his desperate fight for life began October 12, when police say five teenage friends, including a 13-year-old, doused Brewer with rubbing alcohol and set him on fire.

LINK (http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/02/teen.burned.recovery/index.html)

I hope the kids who did this to him get the maximum allowed penalty.

[dukebound85]

so sad:(

what nice friends

[sysiphus]

If this isn't appropriate circumstance for being tried as an adult, I don't know what is...I don't want to see them out of jail for at least 10 years.

[colourfastt]

If this isn't appropriate circumstance for being tried as an adult, I don't know what is...I don't want to see them out of jail for at least 10 years.

10 years my a*s!! Hang them from the gallows in the courthouse square until DEAD!

[AngryApple]

Poor kid. I hope he is sedated enough so he can't feel pain. :( What was the motive for doing it to him?

[Antares]

Kids can do stupid hurtful things. Sometimes, "beating up" or physically hurting another kid just for giggles. That's a part of being a stupid kid. However, what kind of sick minds would even, slightly, not consider that doing something like this is going too far? Most kids have enough sense not to approach levels of this extreme atrocity. Seriously.

[wywern209]

i hope the the little f***s are incinerated to death.

[jav6454]

If this isn't appropriate circumstance for being tried as an adult, I don't know what is...I don't want to see them out of jail for at least 10 years.

AW HELL NAW! Those rooten kids need to go for life to prison! On a side note, I bet those idiots who did this are not going to be happy when they meet Bubba.

[kymac]

in my opinion, justice would be to have these kids suffer through the same conditions and circumstances they've inflicted on this boy.

[Prof.]

AW HELL NAW! Those rooten kids need to go for life to prison! On a side note, I bet those idiots who did this are not going to be happy when they meet Bubba.
In the USA, life in prison means 25-35 years with the chance of parole. If you really want to punish them, you send them to jail for 100+ years in jail. This makes sure they die in prison and they do not have a chance to get parole.

[ucfgrad93]

10 years my a*s!! Hang them from the gallows in the courthouse square until DEAD!

Agreed, in my opinion this crime warrants the death penalty if the perpetrators are old enough. If they aren't then lock them away forever.

[Prof.]

Agreed, in my opinion this crime warrants the death penalty if the perpetrators are old enough. If they aren't then lock them away forever.
They will probably be admitted to a mental hospital for rehabilitation.

[jessica.]

Poor kid. I hope he is sedated enough so he can't feel pain. :( What was the motive for doing it to him?

Apparently a $40 video game and/or a bike. This is tragic. I hope he survives and recovers.

[jav6454]

They will probably be admitted to a mental hospital for rehabilitation.

That'd be a slap in the wrist and a slap in the face to society and the family of the burned boy.

[jessica.]

That'd be a slap in the wrist and a slap in the face to society and the family of the burned boy.

I don't know if that would happen.

Here's a bit on the background (http://www.truecrimereport.com/2009/10/teens_douse_15-year-old_michae.php) of the families of the children who did this.

[Prof.]

That'd be a slap in the wrist and a slap in the face to society and the family of the burned boy.
The Defense will argue that the kids who set him on fire are mentally ill and need to be helped. It's unfortunate.

[dukebound85]

Agreed, in my opinion this crime warrants the death penalty if the perpetrators are old enough. If they aren't then lock them away forever.

i disagree

while very poor judgement, i am sure they didnt think it through and are now the most apologetic kids in the world

i dont think a death penalty is warranted if it was just a dumb act gone wrong and killing them wouldnt change anyones fortunes but killing their lives

[jessica.]

The Defense will argue that the kids who set him on fire are mentally ill and need to be helped. It's unfortunate.

That won't be argued as far as I'm concerned. The fact that they had the supplies to do this shows that it is premeditated.

[laughingperson5]

Normally I wouldn't cuss in a thread but, THE **** WERE THE TEENS THINKING?! JESUS CHRIST. WHO DECIDES TO PUT THEIR FRIEND ON FIRE.

[No1451]

i disagree

while very poor judgement, i am sure they didnt think it through and are now the most apologetic kids in the world

i dont think a death penalty is warranted if it was just a dumb act gone wrong and killing them wouldnt change anyones fortunes but killing their lives


Disagree entirely with this. Justice isn't about punishment(despite what many think) it's about protecting the lives and well-beings of people. These kids proved that a) they are capable of an incredible level of violence b) are incredibly stupid c) overreact in a really big way. If they do this after someone snitches on them I would never want to see their reaction to something more serious.

Hang the little bastards before they hurt anyone else.

[ucfgrad93]

i disagree

while very poor judgement, i am sure they didnt think it through and are now the most apologetic kids in the world

i dont think a death penalty is warranted if it was just a dumb act gone wrong and killing them wouldnt change anyones fortunes but killing their lives

This goes way beyond poor judgement. This is a horrific and deliberate act, and they should never be set free again.

[nick1516]

I hope they go to jail for a long time, maybe not for life as they may not have known the full implications of what they are doing but they need to go to jail for AT LEAST 20-30 years for what they did to this kid over a video game, if not longer.

[NT1440]

That'd be a slap in the wrist and a slap in the face to society and the family of the burned boy.

A slap to the face of the society would be basing their punishment off of the longing for revenge, rather than the law, as so many have done in their opinions in this thread.

[jessica.]

i disagree

while very poor judgement, i am sure they didnt think it through and are now the most apologetic kids in the world

i dont think a death penalty is warranted if it was just a dumb act gone wrong and killing them wouldnt change anyones fortunes but killing their lives

I like that you can forgive easily but frankly, this was thought-out and I don't think they're apologetic at all. If anything, they're sorry because they got caught.

[Zombie Acorn]

Stick them in jail for the maximum allowed time for kids that age, stick their parents in jail for a 5 year sentence with mandatory sterilization.

[NT1440]

Stick them in jail for the maximum allowed time for kids that age, stick their parents in jail for a 5 year sentence with mandatory sterilization.

Why the hell would you put the parents in jail? I take it you've never hidden any plans from your parents?

Sterilization? WTF? Why? What the hell is wrong with you?

[Zombie Acorn]

Why the hell would you put the parents in jail? I take it you've never hidden any plans from your parents?

Sterilization? WTF? Why? What the hell is wrong with you?

Read the secondary article, they are all pieces of **** who obviously contributed to this crime. One of the kid's dads received PROBATION for stabbing someone with scissors multiple times.

Some people are not fit for having kids.

[NT1440]

Read the secondary article, they are all pieces of **** who obviously contributed to this crime. One of the kid's dads received PROBATION for stabbing someone with scissors multiple times.

Some people are not fit for having kids.

I can see locking them up if they indeed contributed, but sterilization? Thats cruel and unusual their sex organs have NOTHING to do with the crime.

[jessica.]

Read the secondary article, they are all pieces of **** who obviously contributed to this crime. One of the kid's dads received PROBATION for stabbing someone with scissors multiple times.

Some people are not fit for having kids.

I can see locking them up if they indeed contributed, but sterilization? Thats cruel and unusual their sex organs have NOTHING to do with the crime.

Why the hell would you put the parents in jail? I take it you've never hidden any plans from your parents?

Sterilization? WTF? Why? What the hell is wrong with you?
I disagree. Based on what the parents have done this crime mimics the parents' previous behavior. Hate breeds hate. Read the article I posted and maybe you will understand better about the parents. For once, I just may agree with Zombie Acorn to a certain degree.

[alFR]

Read the article I posted and maybe you will understand better about the parents.

Yeah, that's clearly a nice objective news report right there. you can tell by the lack of emotive language and the reporting of the facts of the case without being judgmental at all.

</sarcasm>

Make no mistake, this was a horrible crime and they deserve full punishment under the law. However, once you start advocating sterilising people it's only one step further to the jackbooted stormtroopers in the streets and the gas chambers, and that's a road I'm sure no-one wants to go down.

[skunk]

I'm sure if they were executed it would teach them an unforgettable lesson on the value society places on human life.

[tofagerl]

How about we focus on the fact that despite the medical sciences AMAZING advances throughout the last thousands of years, we're still almost at step 0 when it comes to artificial skin...
Burn victimes are essentially an open wound for weeks after the incident, and there is close to nothing we can do except try to keep infections out.

[iBlue]

Yeah, that's clearly a nice objective news report right there. you can tell by the lack of emotive language and the reporting of the facts of the case without being judgmental at all.

</sarcasm>

Make no mistake, this was a horrible crime and they deserve full punishment under the law. However, once you start advocating sterilising people it's only one step further to the jackbooted stormtroopers in the streets and the gas chambers, and that's a road I'm sure no-one wants to go down.

Agreed. Once I got past my knee-jerk reaction I have come to the same conclusion.

[Mexbearpig]

i disagree

while very poor judgement, i am sure they didnt think it through and are now the most apologetic kids in the world

i dont think a death penalty is warranted if it was just a dumb act gone wrong and killing them wouldnt change anyones fortunes but killing their lives

At first the boys showed scant regret. "A couple of them last night were laughing about it,"

These kids need to serve at least 25-35 years :(
Better yet, sentence them to the electric chair. But don't actually fry them.Make 'em feel like they thought they would die the way the victim did.
But still the 25-35 years sentence.

[toolbox]

WTF is wrong with people that is absolutely terrible how and why would people do that to another human being specially a young child? Simply terrible. I hope they get the harshest punishment possible and have that poor kids face burn't on there minds for ever

Peeved off :mad:

[No1451]

I'm sure if they were executed it would teach them an unforgettable lesson on the value society places on human life.

Sarcasm or are you serious? I will assume the former.

I place the highest value on human life which is why I would advocate an execution in this instance, why should we waste resources trying to rehabilitate people who were willing to do this? They proved by doing this that they value a bike or videogame, and not being snitched on more highly than the life of a friend.

Give them exactly what they want and show them just how highly we prize their despicable selves.

[dmr727]

I think they should spend the rest of their lives doing community service in burn units.

[iBlue]

I think they should spend the rest of their lives doing community service in burn units.

I think burn patients have been through enough without being subjected to those vermin.

[Unspoken Demise]

Terrible news. I dont even know what would be appropriate for these little f***s. Its truly horrifying, and the fact that they will probably be tried at minors is more unsettling. I'd push for a trial as adults, attempted manslaughter, premeditated. That would carry a hefty sentencing in prison.

All good thoughts and well wishes to this boy. I hope he pulls through.

[Clete2]

Since they are young, they should all get a single life sentence (25yrs) w/o parole and mental rehabilitation..

Though if it were my world, I would have them be burned nearly to death too. This is atrocious!

Please keep us posted if you read more about this on the news (e.g. will he recover? What kind of treatment will he be receiving?)

[NT1440]

lots of revenge seekers in this thread....

[Unspoken Demise]

lots of revenge justice seekers in this thread....

Fixed.

[rhett7660]

Wow... Speechless.

Well from what I read in the article, seems the mastermind behind the plan, the 13 year old will not be tried as an adult.

This is going to be interesting on how this plays out.

[Clete2]

lots of revenge seekers in this thread....

In all honesty, I wouldn't want to ruin their lives. Of course, they need a lot of help and most would say a lot of jail time. If they turned themselves around, then they should be able to live their lives after serving their time and doing rehabilitation.

[NT1440]

Fixed.

So an eye for an eye is no longer thought of as barbaric?

Setting them on fire so "they know how it feels" is justice? Those kind of responses are what I was talking about.

[Unspoken Demise]

So an eye for an eye is no longer thought of as barbaric?

Setting them on fire so "they know how it feels" is justice? Those kind of responses are what I was talking about.

Oh. Yeah, thats a little too much. Those are little too much, but I dont think those people really want the children to be set on fire, rather, want them to understand the pain they put that boy through. Maybe im wrong though.

[NT1440]

Oh. Yeah, thats a little too much. Those are little too much, but I dont think those people really want the children to be set on fire, rather, want them to understand the pain they put that boy through. Maybe im wrong though.

Reading the posts, it seems your wrong. We have very civilized people here, until they get pissed off.

[barkomatic]

This story is especially sad because people will use this tragedy to further justify the erosion of the juvenile justice system. As awful as this crime is, the reason we have a separate system for minors is based upon the premise that children are less capable of understanding the consequences of their actions than adults. They also have a less developed sense of empathy--expecially when they aren't raised properly. Young kids have the greatest chance of rehabilitation when they get older if they recieve the right treatment. That's why bullies during school years can turn out to be decent, caring adults later.

I agree that these kids should probably be taken from their parents permantly and placed in an institution where they can be treated, and then re-evaluated before any chance of release.

It's amazing that people in this thread are actually advocating that the perpetrators themselves be set afire--that displays the same lack of empathy that allowed this crime to occur in the first place. As long as someone does something that justifies your hatred--then literally any horrible act is justified?

[Tomorrow]

I have to believe that poor parenting at least played a part in this.

Typically I'm in favor of the death penalty, and if this kid dies, I'm not sure my mind would change - at least in the case of the three wastes of DNA who were most directly involved with burning him.

I'm pretty confident that whatever punishment they get won't be enough, though.

[No1451]

It's amazing that people in this thread are actually advocating that the perpetrators themselves be set afire--that displays the same lack of empathy that allowed this crime to occur in the first place. As long as someone does something that justifies your hatred--then literally any horrible act is justified?


Definitely too far, there is no need for them to suffer they just need to be treated in a manner befitting dangerous individuals.

As for the child vs adult punishment, yes it makes some sort of sense but at the same time:

A minor can get away with something that would get an adult put in a straight jacket and behind bars for the rest of their lives. If they could concoct the plan as revenge I think they knew full well how bad this would be for the victim.

[ucfgrad93]

It's amazing that people in this thread are actually advocating that the perpetrators themselves be set afire--that displays the same lack of empathy that allowed this crime to occur in the first place. As long as someone does something that justifies your hatred--then literally any horrible act is justified?

Agreed, setting them on fire is not the right thing to do. I do, however, think that they should get the maximum punishment that the law allows.

[dmr727]

I think burn patients have been through enough without being subjected to those vermin.

I was just thinking along the lines that prison isn't enough - they need to see the kind of pain and suffering they've caused on a daily basis as well. But yeah, you're probably right.

[Zombie Acorn]

Reading the posts, it seems your wrong. We have very civilized people here, until they get pissed off.

Many people empathize as they have children and or cousins of the same age, imagining them being burnt to hell and having kids laughing about it later on should infuriate even the calmest of people.

I don't think they should be set on fire, these kids are 15 and this event will hopefully haunt them for the rest of the their lives.

[newappleboy]

There's a lot of anger in this thread, and rightfully so. A child was almost burned to death over something incredibly trivial. While I do feel that the "children" involved in the attack need to be punished, all these calls for the death sentence and parent sterilization are quite extreme. Yes, they made a huge error in judgment when it came down to the act, but that doesn't justify killing them. No, they don't sounds like bundles of joy that might someday contribute to society in a positive manner, but many don't - it's no reason to kill them.

A lengthy prison term would be justified. But as anyone who read the article with detailed information about these kids' parents could see, the justice system is incredibly weak in our country. One of the fathers stabbed someone multiple times after breaking into his house and threatening to kill him, and he got probation. One mother evaded police and endangered not only the lives of herself and her young son in the car, but that of everyone else on the road. She also didn't go to prison. Our country certainly isn't intent on justice, but it doesn't need to be lowered to the level of revenge either.

Criminals get away with much more on a daily basis. Does that mean I want these kids to get away with what they did? Not at all. But I just think everyone needs to take a step back and think before picking up their pitchforks and demanding that these teens be killed.

As a final thought on this very lengthy post, some people are trying to put almost all of the blame on the parents. Bad parenting can be a source, but you don't have to fall prey to it. These kids made the choice to not rise above it. I come from a family where my parents divorced, and both abused me in different ways. One parent was reported to Child Protective Services on multiple occasions, but I was never removed from the home. Did I grow up beating up other kids or taking out my hurt on everyone around me? I'd like to think I didn't. I moved past it and said I wasn't going to repeat the cycle. They could have done the same, but they didn't. The parents play a part, but they are not to blame. We all make our own choices, and they will need to accept the punishment for theirs.

[NT1440]

Many people empathize as they have children and or cousins of the same age, imagining them being burnt to hell and having kids laughing about it later on should infuriate even the calmest of people.

I don't think they should be set on fire, these kids are 15 and this event will hopefully haunt them for the rest of the their lives.

I do have an imagination, but that doesn't make me a barbarian. Good to see you aren't either.

[skunk]

Sarcasm or are you serious? I will assume the former.You are correct.

I place the highest value on human life which is why I would advocate an execution in this instance..Does not compute.

[No1451]

Does not compute.

Innocent lives not the life of a dangerous and violent individual, I put no value on the life of someone willing to do something so reprehensible.

[colourfastt]

This story is especially sad because people will use this tragedy to further justify the erosion of the juvenile justice system. As awful as this crime is, the reason we have a separate system for minors is based upon the premise that children are less capable of understanding the consequences of their actions than adults. They also have a less developed sense of empathy--expecially when they aren't raised properly. Young kids have the greatest chance of rehabilitation when they get older if they recieve the right treatment. That's why bullies during school years can turn out to be decent, caring adults later.

I agree that these kids should probably be taken from their parents permantly and placed in an institution where they can be treated, and then re-evaluated before any chance of release.

It's amazing that people in this thread are actually advocating that the perpetrators themselves be set afire--that displays the same lack of empathy that allowed this crime to occur in the first place. As long as someone does something that justifies your hatred--then literally any horrible act is justified?

Actually my original post was going to include setting the perpetrators on fire just as they did to the victim, but I knew what kind of response I'd get from the bleeding-hearts.

[Eraserhead]

Actually my original post was going to include setting the perpetrators on fire just as they did to the victim,

Does that kind of thing actually work as a punishment?

but I knew what kind of response I'd get from the bleeding-hearts.

:rolleyes:

[skunk]

Actually my original post was going to include setting the perpetrators on fire just as they did to the victimWould the state employ a trained people-torcher for the purpose?

[Unspoken Demise]

Would the state employ a trained people-torcher for the purpose?

Im sure he would prefer the job title "Barbeque Enthusiast" over "People-Torcher." :p

[NT1440]

Innocent lives not the life of a dangerous and violent individual, I put no value on the life of someone willing to do something so reprehensible.

Ah, so you value life only when you choose to value life, gotcha. :rolleyes:

[ucfgrad93]

Ah, so you value life only when you choose to value life, gotcha. :rolleyes:

Yeah, just like many here who claim executing someone is barbaric and then support abortion.:rolleyes:

[blackfox]

I fail to see how anyone could advocate that having four horribly burned kids instead of one is an improvement - or an appropriate expression of justice.

Ridiculous.

I root for this kid to survive - and hope that those kids get long jail sentences. Setting people on fire, however, is not appropriate to any civilized society - as an action or a retribution.

This is exactly why there is a Legal system - as imperfect as it may sometimes be. Let it work.

[NT1440]

Yeah, just like many here who claim executing someone is barbaric and then support abortion.:rolleyes:

Yup, I give everyone that walks into my clinic a high five and a fruit basket.

There is a difference between killing someone alive and well out of revenge, and a woman choosing what to do with the cluster of cells currently in her body.

[barkomatic]

Actually my original post was going to include setting the perpetrators on fire just as they did to the victim, but I knew what kind of response I'd get from the bleeding-hearts.

This particular issue has nothing to do with "bleeding hearts". It's right in the constitution that criminals are protected against cruel and unusual punishment. Burning someone alive definitely qualifies as cruel and unusual.

It's understandable to have a visceral reaction to such a horrible act and to *imagine* those perpetrators suffering in the same way as their victim--but we have to remain civilized in our *actions* as a state or we might as well just all go back into the caves.

[.Andy]

Yeah, just like many here who claim executing someone is barbaric and then support abortion.:rolleyes:
Which is only a problem is one takes the arbitrary stance that life begins at conception.

[Shivetya]

Well let me see if I can affect the view of some of my fellow posters.

Obviously the people who did this are bad, but we should keep them alive for the next sixty to seventy years because we are a just and kind society. It will allow their victim to know he is working hard to keep these types clothed, fed, and warm. That will allow the victim to recover faster and be a better person. A person who does not put themselves into situations such as this to make otherwise decent people do bad things.

[NT1440]

Well let me see if I can affect the view of some of my fellow posters.

Obviously the people who did this are bad, but we should keep them alive for the next sixty to seventy years because we are a just and kind society. It will allow their victim to know he is working hard to keep these types clothed, fed, and warm. That will allow the victim to recover faster and be a better person. A person who does not put themselves into situations such as this to make otherwise decent people do bad things.

"Keep them alive" <-- like you have some sort of ownership/power over them.

[Eraserhead]

Obviously the people who did this are bad, but we should keep them alive for the next sixty to seventy years because we are a just and kind society.

At that point, why even bother with the appeals they are expensive, and if the person wasn't guilty the police wouldn't have arrested them ;).

[No1451]

Ah, so you value life only when you choose to value life, gotcha. :rolleyes:

No, I value lives that value themselves. I place next to no value on useless people who choose to throw away their lives sitting in the gutter doing drugs either, if they value their life I will value it.

These kids clearly don't understand the value of human life or they could never have done something like this, no matter how much I hate someone I could not willingly set them on fire, for that matter I could not even be the person who performs the lethal injection, but I do know that in some instances it is necessary.

[Zombie Acorn]

No, I value lives that value themselves. I place next to no value on useless people who choose to throw away their lives sitting in the gutter doing drugs either, if they value their life I will value it.

These kids clearly don't understand the value of human life or they could never have done something like this, no matter how much I hate someone I could not willingly set them on fire, for that matter I could not even be the person who performs the lethal injection, but I do know that in some instances it is necessary.

We have robots to do that stuff now.

[CorvusCamenarum]

Ah, so you value life only when you choose to value life, gotcha. :rolleyes:

There is a difference between killing someone alive and well out of revenge, and a woman choosing what to do with the cluster of cells currently in her body.

Talk about irony.

[NT1440]

Talk about irony.

I'll refer you to .Andy's post above.....

[CorvusCamenarum]

I'll refer you to .Andy's post above.....

Which just further proves the point in that you're ripping on someone for setting a bar for valuation of life when you yourself are doing the same thing; your bar just happens to be in a different place.

[NT1440]

Which just further proves the point in that you're ripping on someone for setting a bar for valuation of life when you yourself are doing the same thing; your bar just happens to be in a different place.

One of these circumstances involves an established life. The other is more of a question.

[Zombie Acorn]

life doesn't begin at conception.

[No1451]

We have robots to do that stuff now.

We should never distance ourselves from the consequences of our actions.

[newappleboy]

life doesn't begin at conception.

We are soooooo not getting into that in this thread.