Magical Teacher Professor Landry! - Discussion 3: Skipping through Time.

[Teal Mage]

Originally Posted by SinrXIII

Actually, you -can- issue Adult sentences to a Minor, including the death penalty. It's becoming increasingly rare, and the US -has- raised the cut-off age to 18, but it's still feasible.

The fact that Kain was sentenced to the Death Penalty, in itself, was not what bothered me. Yes, I felt it was rather unlikely, but considering he was a suspect (at that time, was proven to be the killer) in his parent's murder, I assumed that meant that there was evidence linking him to the scene, and that he had motive to kill them. Thus, while it definitely would have been controversial, I didn't consider the penalty a problem.

Originally Posted by BardTheFifthLightWarrior

I imagine it would be unbelievably controversial. If he was 18, they might just send him somewhere to get mental help, minor or not.

It depends on the severity of the killing itself, I imagine. If the case had been publicized sufficiently, its possible that the Prosecution would have had to push for a Death Penalty to avoid looking soft on Minors. It should also be noted that he wasn't sentenced to Death until he turned 18, which sounds a bit like a legal loophole.

Originally Posted by IHateMakingNames

He can just not have received the death sentence. Being a kid who got arrested for murdering his parents is plenty of criminal backstory. If you really want the electrocution thing, make it an accident (Or an "accident").

Plus that gets rid of the odd time between not getting killed by a death penalty and still being in jail before the more awkward mistrial. You'd think not getting killed by the electric chair would have raised some flags or something.

As I understood it, the purpose of the Criminal Backstory was the Electric Chair, since it would make him being a non-human comparatively obvious enough to get a Super Natural Organization (within the Government or elsewhere's) attention. That's the reason he's in Amaranth in the first place, you see.

Perhaps they thought he was an alien when it happened? Either way, the news of the Mistrial would have arrived rather conveniently.

Originally Posted by Arhra

Secondly, what on earth could possibly bad enough/strong enoguh evidence to give a minor a death sentence? Did they find him squatting in the middle of a blood stained room with the parts of his parent's disemboweled corpses strewn around him or something?

Perhaps! But I was willing to handwave what the precise Evidence was, assuming the Investigators could establish both motive and had evidence linking him to the scene.

However, that said, my main issue is the personality stated.

Originally Posted by ironmajesty019

Personality: Very gentle and easy-going. He’s quite passive unless provoked or sticking up for someone (or himself). Kain wants to put his past behind him and move on. He’s trying to live a new life and make up for the time that he is lost. He’s very bright, and quite out-going when comfortable.

He sounds a bit too much like a Good Kid to get a Death Penalty. A suspect perhaps, but unless the Defense was entirely incompetent or the evidence was amazingly damning, I can't see him getting a Death Penalty if he was (what sounds like) a fine upstanding citizen.

I didn't read this section very careful in my initial review, so that mistake is mine. Assumed he was a rather troubled and unbalanced child at the time of the murder, you see. Then it could make sense.

But, that aside momentarily, isn't that kind of personality unlikely for someone who spent two years in Jail? I'd rather not go into detail about what happens to people there, but suffice to say that a passive kid like him would come out rather scarred. Not to mention bitter, violent, angry and a whole host of other justifiable emotions.

In summary, the Personality in this case is very important, and right now, doesn't hold it together.

Players may continue to weigh in if they like. I'll listen to your observations, though I can't promise to change my mind.