the worst is true: MA teacher raped before being murdered by 14 year old student

[Douglas Carpenter]

194. When I come across crimes that I cannot even begin to comprehend where the motivation is beyond my

wildest conception - such as this crime - I doubt we are dealing with an issue of conscious choice. I don't see how there is any way of knowing of this fourteen year old is beyond redemption. But from a legal standpoint - if the law is not going to say that some fourteen year old are capable of consenting for sex with an adult and some are not, some fourteen year olds are capable of responsibly buying and using alcohol and others are not, some fourteen year olds are capable of being safe drivers and some are not - If the legal system does not make those exceptions for matters considerably less serious than capital crimes - I cannot see how the legal system can completely go the absolute opposite direction of its established principles and declare that some fourteen year olds are capable of being held to an adult level of accountability.