Was 8-Year-Old Deadly Shooting Suspect Coerced Into Confession?
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Was 8-Year-Old Deadly Shooting Suspect Coerced...
It's one of the strangest cases...an 8-year-old boy is trained by his father to use a 22-caliber shotgun for hunting. Now, the child is accused of turning that shotgun on his father...killing him...
It’s one of the strangest cases…an 8-year-old boy is trained by his father to use a 22-caliber shotgun for hunting. Now, the child is accused of turning that shotgun on his father…killing him and another man in his Arizona home. Diane Sawyer has more.
Published: November 24, 2008
Arizona—It’s one of the strangest cases…an 8-year-old boy is trained by his father to use a 22-caliber shotgun for hunting. Now, the child is accused of turning that shotgun on his father…killing him and another man in his Arizona home.
8-year-old boy: “I think I shot my dad because he was suffering, I think.“
The videotape shows the 8-year-old boy confessing to the murder of his father, and his father’s friend.
Boy: “I went upstairs and then I saw my dad…and then I got the gun and then I fired it at my dad, twice. And, then I think the gun went off at that time.“
Police: “And, where did that shot go? At Tim, again?“
Boy: “Yeah.“
But now the question…was the boy coerced into a confession? Did he tell the story just to please investigators?
Police: “If you’re not honest with me, and you’re not truthful, then it ain’t gonna look good.“
And, will the confession hold up in court? No attorney or parent was in the room when police questioned the third-grader. Defense attorneys have asked the charges be dropped.
Police: “Did you shoot your dad?“
Boy: “I think so.“
Police: “Did you shoot him because you were mad at him?“
Boy: “Mmm.“
Police: “How often do you get in trouble?“
Boy: “Most of the time.“
Police: “You get in trouble a lot? For what kind of stuff, honey?“
Boy: “Lying.“
Police: “For lying? Okay. But, you told the truth now, didn’t you? That’s a good kid, you know that?“
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