Father Kills 11 year old son

[HEY_YA!]

DO YOU THINK THIS FATHER HAD THE RIGHT ??

Toronto man who killed 11-year-old epileptic son not criminally responsible at 12:29 on September 30, 2005, EST.

LONDON, Ont. (CP) - A father who believed he was saving his 11-year-old epileptic son from a life of hell was found not criminally responsible Friday of drugging and suffocating the child after a night of video games and television.

In her ruling, the judge decided David Carmichael was a loving and caring parent, but both badly deluded and desperate when he killed his boy. "We will probably never fully understand the desperation that led David Carmichael to take (the life of) his little boy," said Ontario Superior Court Justice Helen Rady.

"He was clearly a devoted and caring parent who looked for opportunities for his son to excel."

Rady ruled that Carmichael should be sent to a medium-security psychiatric facility in Brockville, Ont., for treatment as soon as practical as both Crown and defence recommended.

Within 90 days, the Ontario Review Board will decide on any further treatment and how long he should remain there.

"I am satisfied that Mr. Carmichael poses no real threat to the public," said Rady.

"Indeed, Mr. Carmichael likely poses more of a threat to himself than to the public."

Carmichael had been charged with first-degree murder but both Crown and defence told the judge he was not criminally responsible for his actions.

Defence lawyer Philip Campbell expressed relief at the verdict.

"It brings to the conclusion a painful and extremely difficult process," he said.

Forensic psychiatrists testified during the emotional three-day trial that the 47-year-old man was suffering from a severe bout of depression and psychosis when he killed the boy.

They said Carmichael was convinced that by killing the boy, who he believed was partially brain dead, he would spare him a life of intolerable suffering and save his family from a child he saw seething with aggression to the point where he might have killed his older sister.

After his arrest, Carmichael told police his son, whose body was found at a Holiday Inn on July 31, 2004, felt everyone was laughing at him and was in a "living hell."

"There can be no question that Mr. Carmichael's beliefs were illogical, indefensible, and contrary to reality," Rady told a packed courtroom.

"Mr. Carmichael is not criminally responsible for the murder of his son because he caused Ian's death at the time when he was suffering from a mental disorder that rendered him incapable of knowing that it was wrong," said Rady.

Dr. John Bradford, who examined Carmichael a month after the slaying, said the father is now conscious his actions were wrong, and he has begun grieving the loss of his son.

Over the course of the judge-only trial, Rady heard heart-wrenching testimony from a former colleague and Carmichael's twin brother Jeff, both of whom described in vivid detail the transformation of "a loving father" into a depressed, suicidal stranger.

Jeff Carmichael testified their family has a dark history of depression and suicide.

[Mister Lamar]

Still no valid reason to kill a child, :no: , seeing stuff like this make me love and appreciate my son even more

[Joseph B]

If he was really suffering-Was it really needed with the pillow? I'm sure the overdose would of been enough, sheesh. :pinch:

[John S. Veteran]

The man doesn't deserve the air he's breathing :angry:

[AltecXP]

understandable

I hate kids, never want one

[Nashy]

I won't say yes or no.

[Commodore Max]

It's a little more complicated than that. None of us can know what that man went through, so I don't think we are in a very good position to judge him. I think he does deserve the air he's breathing.

[cwhast]

it all depends on how bad the 11yo son suffering. although u'd have to be almost dead on the inside to do something like that (in most cases), i strongly believe the father did love his son and acted in his best interest. it all depends on how you look at it, maybe even what your religious beliefs are :cry:

[psybapunk]

I have a two and a half year old son, and I could never fathom harming him like that, but I'm not depressed and going through bouts of psychosis.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

It's a little more complicated than that. None of us can know what that man went through, so I don't think we are in a very good position to judge him. I think he does deserve the air he's breathing.

586602421[/snapback]

Agreed.

Honestly, I am not even sure if I agree with it, but then again I cannot say with all certainty I disagree with it either, since I myself am not in the same exact position as the father, or for that matter the son, was in.

[icecaveman]

Why are people always so selfish? I mean if the boy was in pain why make him suffer. Some fanatical christian people are so cruel. People should have the right to die if they are in horrible pain and no way of living like they want to.

[illicit]

It's a little more complicated than that. None of us can know what that man went through, so I don't think we are in a very good position to judge him. I think he does deserve the air he's breathing.

586602421[/snapback]

I kind of agree with that. It seems as though the father was suffering from depression and psychosis at the time.

[qdave]

understandable

I hate kids, never want one

586602418[/snapback]

this is very stupid thing to say. you know that u'll have them someday anyway.

back to topic, it depends how much the child was suffering. if the dad saw the pain and it was unbearable then its ok.

[remix17]

The man doesn't deserve the air he's breathing  :angry:

586602407[/snapback]

Unless you understand what this man was going through emotionally and psychologically, you have absolutely no right to judge him. Maybe you should think about that before go back to your perfect life. Think about those who are less fortunate than you. Under these circumstances, I think the father did the right thing, if the child was indeed suffering. I feel bad for the father though. He has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his son.

It's a little more complicated than that. None of us can know what that man went through, so I don't think we are in a very good position to judge him. I think he does deserve the air he's breathing.

586602421[/snapback]

I agree.

[Ambience]

It's not within anyone's right to kill another human being. We don't know anything about this man. We don't know anything about his son. We do know he killed his son, and that in itself, is an act of wrong-doing.

[hotdog666al]

understandable

I hate kids, never want one

586602418[/snapback]

:yes: :p

[~WinGz~]

under extenuiating circumstances would i not mind this kind of thing, and this is one, becuase if you had a child that was suffering alot, you wouldnt want them to suffer for so many years, then end up passing away to it many many years of torture, but other reasons i feel is sick ,

[Fred Derf Veteran]

[Thread Moved from GD to RWI]

[Mx]

It's a little more complicated than that. None of us can know what that man went through, so I don't think we are in a very good position to judge him. I think he does deserve the air he's breathing.

586602421[/snapback]

Agreed. Poor child, but quality of living, hmm not sure.

[freedom77]

understandable

I hate kids, never want one

I think its kind of sad how some people don't want to have kids, just because they don't want the responsibility, a very unnatural instinct there.

I can see how the father may have felt but even if i did feel the same way i'd never be able to kill the child, it takes a messed up person to kill an inocent person, but to kill an inocent child... thats just wrong

[gnuman]

This brings up the question of how the father didn't go to jail for killing the kid but there was a worse case in Alberta or Saskatechewan where a father killed their severly disabled child.

The child was severly retarded, couldn't feed herself, I think she was partially deaf, confined to a wheel chair. The father was not depressed nor was the mother. They needed help because they couldn't take care of her anymore, I think they were in their mid 50s. The kid was like that since birth and think she was about 12 if not younger.

The father killed the child and he got a jail sentence, I think 10 years. You have both sides of the story of the handicapped people stating he should go to jail (handicapped not to the point she was the kid) and then people who were pro-euthanasia.

If you can't take care of the kid, and no one could help you what are you supposed to do? Who knows how bad the kid was in Toronto, I knew a kid who has epilepsy and he hadn't had a ceasure in 2 years.

The US is too much church and state and would probably give both of them the death penalty if need be. They don't believe in rehab unless of course you're drunk.

[John S. Veteran]

Unless you understand what this man was going through emotionally and psychologically, you have absolutely no right to judge him.  Maybe you should think about that before go back to your perfect life. Think about those who are less fortunate than you. Under these circumstances, I think the father did the right thing, if the child was indeed suffering. I feel bad for the father though. He has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his son.

I agree.

586602489[/snapback]

I gave my opinion, just as you have given yours, he won't be judged until after he's 6-feet under. Nice hotbutton word there to label me with though, judgemental, as if your opinion were any better. :rolleyes:

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

It's a little more complicated than that. None of us can know what that man went through, so I don't think we are in a very good position to judge him. I think he does deserve the air he's breathing.

586602421[/snapback]

thank you, i think people should first be in a persons shoes before they judge them. the man certainly desevers to breathe... :rolleyes:

i dont know what i would do in that situation. i know if i had a child that was suffering emesnly and there was nothing i could do for him i might kill him if it was the only way to stop his suffering because anything less would be inhuman.

[the long lost son]

Regardless of what the man was going through, it doesn't give him the right to take his son's life. Just because the quality of life of his son was not what it could have been, that doesn't mean he should die. If it's okay for this man to kill his son because he was going through too much, then I guess we should start killing everyone who has horrible quality of lives, regardless of their mental condition.

If it was that serious for him, he could have put his son in a home that specializes in taking care of children with disabilities. Absolutly no reason or justification for him to kill his child.

[John S. Veteran]

Regardless of what the man was going through, it doesn't give him the right to take his son's life.  Just because the quality of life of his son was not what it could have been, that doesn't mean he should die.  If it's okay for this man to kill his son because he was going through too much, then I guess we should start killing everyone who has horrible quality of lives, regardless of their mental condition.

Unfortunately some already have: http://www.worldrtd.net/

If it was that serious for him, he could have put his son in a home that specializes in taking care of children with disabilities.  Absolutly no reason or justification for him to kill his child.

586604992[/snapback]

I agree wholeheartedly