Mother asks for leniency for man who killed her son
Filed under: Just For Moms, Health & Safety: Babies
A little over a year ago, I was looking after my daughter before a show my theater company was performing. The show was sold out, and one man who couldn't get in lost his temper, became verbally abusive, and started shouting obscenities at me -- even as I held my then 2-year-old daughter in my arms.
It was like someone flipped a switch. I'm not normally an aggressive person, but I was enraged -- immediately in the man's face (having handed my daughter off to a friend), threatening him, and demanding that he leave. Fortunately that's where it ended, but the point is that even the thought of someone putting my child in danger provoked an incredibly intense reaction -- I still get riled up just remembering it. I can't imagine how I'd feel if my child had actually been injured.
Which is why Gloria Richardson's story boggles my mind. Her 30-year-old son Andrew was killed at a concert, by a man who, out of the blue, punched him in the face -- a blow which caused him to fall head first into the concrete pavement. Now, after a number of weeping apologies from the assailant, she's asked the court to be lenient on the man that murdered her child.
I admire this woman's compassion, but I don't know that I could ever forgive somebody who ended my daughter's life through a senseless act of violence.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
RelatedVideos
-
Woman Searched For Insurance To Cover Costs Of Egg Donor
Infertility treatments are covered in only a fraction of insurance plans across America. Unfortunately, an infertile couple's job situation and geographic location can end up having a huge effect on the future of their family. Guest Keiko Zoll shares her story.
-
My Oops! Baby
Full Segment: Whether it's one's first child or the fifth, an 'oops!' child can greatly affect a couple's emotional health and family dynamic. We chat with people about how their unplanned kids shaped their households for the better and the worse.
-
Single Dad On Balancing Life And Work
Corey Dade, a journalist & contributing editor at The Root, discusses the hardship of having to balance family life and work.
-
Keeping Kids Safe at the Playground
Dr. Ian Smith helps you protect your kids at the park by showing you the germiest offenders in the playground.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
8-07-2007 @ 6:29PM
caitlin said...I can see that. I guess it's better for her to forgive and ask for leniency than let the bitterness and anger take over her life.
My brother in law was killed by one of his co-worker's carelessly signing off on a safety check on a piece of equipment without really looking at it. It malfunctioned, and my brother in law died a slow and painful death. My in-laws did eventually forgive the co-worker, but it was obvious that he was suffering far worse than anything they could have had done to him and being bitter over it was changing them into people they weren't.
Reply
8-07-2007 @ 7:50PM
Karen said...I've always hoped that I would be able to forgive someone who harmed me, but to be honest, I know that I would not be able to forgive someone who deliberately did something to my child. In fact, I don't imagine that I'd ever recover.
Reply
8-07-2007 @ 10:20PM
Eric said...There was a time when things weren't settled by lawsuits. You either fought to the death or you reconciled.
Reply
8-08-2007 @ 9:28AM
Lisa said...Leniency will only do a disservice to society. Someone who does such things should not have the freedom to do it again.
Reply
8-08-2007 @ 9:37AM
Jessica said...I was watching an episode of Law and Order (the original is the best and I am terribly addicted) on this topic yesterday, as a matter of fact.
Two young men killed another man for sport. They just wanted to see what it was like. One boy testified against the other and when the time for sentencing came, the parents of the slain boy were given a chance to talk.
The father was overcome by emotion but the mother looked the murderer straight in the face and said she has been trying to hate him, really trying, but hasn't been able to. She said he deserved god's love, too, and that she would, instead, pray for his soul in the terrible place he is going.
I don't think I could do it. I know I couldn't. And I have a tremendous and undying amount of respect for the parents who can.
Reply