LaShuan Harris is on Trial for Killing her Three Children
LaShuan Harris is on trial for killing her three children. Harris' defense is that she is/was insane. She has been diagnosed schizophrenic, and had been medicated before the murders (although she chose to stop taking her medication).
Harris was 16 when she got pregnant with her first child. Within 5 years, she had two more children. One day, Harris got hot dogs for her children, then she walked them down a pier and dropped each of them over the railing.
In the articles describing Harris' upcoming legal battles, the tragic murder of her children, and the instances that lead up to the murders -- one major point is missing. Why did Harris still have her children? (Read Article)
Harris reportedly would talk to herself, stay up all night giggling, saw bugs in sheets where there weren't any, and would spend hours talking on the phone with no one on the other end. Harris' problems did not go unnoticed.
I don't think that Harris should have necessarily lost custody of her children because she had mental illness. I do think that those children should have had more support than just that of their young mentally ill mother.
Mental illness is a tragedy in and of itself -- for the person afflicted AND for their family. Doing more to protect Harris' children would not just have benefited the kids -- Harris herself would not now be at risk of spending the reset of her life in jail.
All in all, how can the presumption that parents have an absolute right to their children superceed an apparent danger to the safety of both mother and child?
Harris was 16 when she got pregnant with her first child. Within 5 years, she had two more children. One day, Harris got hot dogs for her children, then she walked them down a pier and dropped each of them over the railing.
In the articles describing Harris' upcoming legal battles, the tragic murder of her children, and the instances that lead up to the murders -- one major point is missing. Why did Harris still have her children? (Read Article)
Harris reportedly would talk to herself, stay up all night giggling, saw bugs in sheets where there weren't any, and would spend hours talking on the phone with no one on the other end. Harris' problems did not go unnoticed.
I don't think that Harris should have necessarily lost custody of her children because she had mental illness. I do think that those children should have had more support than just that of their young mentally ill mother.
Mental illness is a tragedy in and of itself -- for the person afflicted AND for their family. Doing more to protect Harris' children would not just have benefited the kids -- Harris herself would not now be at risk of spending the reset of her life in jail.
All in all, how can the presumption that parents have an absolute right to their children superceed an apparent danger to the safety of both mother and child?
posted by eponcz at 2:21 PM
3 Comments:
HANG HER! THROW HER IN RIVER TO MAKE PEACE WITH HER CHILDREN otherwise they may haunt her for the rest of her days!
I just don't get what all the confusion is about with regard to giving this woman the death penalty. It is my belief that LaShaun Harris has no reason to live... her children are gone, her mind is gone, and nine times out of ten her family's love may be gone. Anyone who can do this to their very own babies (or any child) has to be in touch with the devil! From the stories I've read from her family members, LaShaun Harris has been plotting this for some time.
I love God and I do not believe any of us have the right to judge another but as I make my decision on this case, I ask God for forgiveness.
MAD MOTHER OF THREE!
This situation focuses on the extreme. What about the mothers who abuse their children on a consistant basis throughout their lives. Is that not worse than death?
DAB --
Thank you for your comment. I agree that my post focuses on the extreme. Thankfully mothers aren't throwing their children overboard on a regular basis, but as you pointed out, many children are abused by their mothers on a regular basis.
Abuse can be horrific. It is scarring, painful, and heartbreaking.
While child welfare systems are certainly far from perfect, hopefully abused children can find some refuge. Unfortunately, when a child is killed, there is no chance at rescue and rehabilitation.
LaShuan Harris' children lost all chances when they were thrown into those waters. I hope and wish that there are some chances for the many children suffering abuse today.
Post a Comment
<< Home