A South Carolina teenager was recently sentenced to over 20 years in prison for stabbing his mother to death in 2015. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in early October.
Media reports say the defendant, who is autistic, was just 13 years old when he was arrested for stabbing his 44-year-old mother 28 times at their home in Simpsonville in September 2015. Prosecutors said he admitted his mother’s death was premeditated and he also planned to kill others. The judge presiding over the case said it was one of the most brutal and “perplexing” cases she’d ever encountered. During his sentencing hearing, the defendant read a statement saying that killing his mother was “evil” and he was going to try to become “a better person”.
Though the defendant is autistic, he was not diagnosed or treated until after he was in jail. His defense attorney said his mental condition and his young age should be taken into account during sentencing. However, prosecutors said that the brutality of the crime meant that he should be sentenced to the 30-year maximum. The judge settled on 23 years in prison. The defendant’s attorney said he will ensure that his client is protected as a vulnerable person while serving his sentence.
Individuals convicted of manslaughter or other violent crimes can be sentenced to decades in prison and years of parole. As a result, it might be prudent for people who are facing these types of charges to meet with criminal defense attorney as soon as possible so that a strategy to counter the allegations can be constructed.