PORTSMOUTH
A 23-year-old baby sitter convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 2005 death of a two-year-old was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison.
Circuit Court Judge Judge James C. Hawks also gave Shawntisha Gatling two years of supervised probation upon her release.
Gatling had been a baby sitter for Koby Stewart Jr. since he was an infant, according to court testimony in March. On Oct. 6, 2005, she and her boyfriend, a relative of the child, were unable to wake Koby and called his mother to pick him up, witnesses testified.
The mother, Cyntrya Pete, took the child to the hospital, seizing and unconscious. Koby was taken off of life support eight days later.
A medical examiner said the child died of inflicted brain injury.
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There is a difference...
Involuntary manslaughter occurs where there is no intention to kill or cause serious injury but death is due to recklessness or criminal negligence.
Murder is defined as the unlawful killing of a human person with malice aforethought if the defendant acts with any of the following states of mind: (i) Intent to kill; (ii) Intent to inflict serious bodily harm; (iii) Reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life (abandoned and malignant heart); or (iv) Intent to commit a felony (felony-murder doctrine.
Finally, regarding the "wrath" comment...it's never a good idea to speak for God. He does a fine job all by Himself...which is probably why there are four whole chapters in the Bible that speak to the judgement of others and checking yourself first:
Matthew 7:3
Matthew 7:5
Luke 6:41
Luke 6:42
Murder
The wrath of God will come down and punish far greater than any judge or court. She will get what she deserves.
The death of an innocent child
is far greater than 7 years. It's called murder and deserves the max. Our judicial system needs a complete overhall.
7 years? NOT ENOUGH!
7 years? NOT ENOUGH!