Deadly Bangkok mall shooting by child prompts question: Who takes responsibility?

[webfact]

Public shock and anger over October 3’s deadly shooting rampage at Siam Paragon has turned to consternation as people realize that the 14-year-old perpetrator cannot be punished.

 

Thai law states that no child under the age of 15 shall face criminal punishment, including jail.

 

This fact prompts one question, which is now being asked loudly across Thailand: Who takes responsibility in such cases, then?

The mall shooting killed three people and injured four others.

 

Earlier this month, Siam Paragon offered 5 million baht in compensation to each bereaved family, and 300,000 baht to each victim injured. The government is making compensatory payments of 1.2 million baht for each death and 50,000 baht for each person wounded in the attack. Help has also been extended by others, including Giffarine Skyline Unity Ltd, which has offered 1 million baht to support the victims.

 

The parents of the 14-year-old shooter, whose identity has been withheld due to his age, have also vowed to accept responsibility as fully as they can in the wake of the shocking rampage.

 

But so far, it is not clear what the perpetrator and his family will do to aid the victims. The shooter’s father has already turned up at the funerals of the deceased to express his condolences and apologize to the loved ones left behind. He has also declined to submit a bail request for his son, saying that the family “intends to cooperate fully with the authorities in seeking the facts and to ensure that there is no repeat of the violent incident.”

 

Meanwhile, the boy has been admitted to the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute for psychiatric assessment.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-10-30

 

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[fondue zoo]

 

Can't help but think this is more about who pays?

 

[Will B Good]

I assumed they would not face jail at 14......but that surely doesn't mean they won't face some form of incarceration, even if it is in a mental hospital.

[fondue zoo]

Just now, Will B Good said:

I assumed they would not face jail as 14......but that surely doesn't mean they won't face some form of incarceration, even if it is in a mental hospital.

 

What are the procedures in the countries we all come from?

[fredwiggy]

If they continue to let children of this age commit crimes, especially violent ones, and get away with it, it will continue with others. There are laws in the US which holds anyone accountable for crimes, starting at age 6 in some states and older in others. Some will be held at a rehabilitation center, most supervised by social services. Between 12 and 14 for intentional murder. At the federal level, the minimum age of Juvenile delinquency is 11 years, while 28 states have no minimum age of delinquency. The standards for transferal of juveniles to adult courts varies by state and may combine statutory limits with prosecutorial and judicial discretion. ^{One case......................................................................................................................................................................}

On August 20, 1999, 11-year-old Miriam White flew into a rage when one of her family members gave her grief for letting a cat out of the house. Fleeing her Philadelphia home with a kitchen knife, she spotted Rosemarie Knight, 55, walking her dog. Without saying a word, White stabbed Knight in the heart, killing her.

Although White was only 11 years old at the time, and had a history of psychiatric problems, a local judge ruled that she be tried as an adult. The preteen defendant pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime, and was sentenced to 18 to 40 years in prison. She remains incarcerated to this day.

Can a minor go to jail in USA?

 

 

Approximately 10,000 minors under the age of 18 are housed in jails and prisons intended for adult offenders and juveniles make up 1,200 of the 1.5 million people imprisoned in state and federal detention facilities. Paying people off for murdering a relative is an insult, and shows a lack of human rights. At the very least, he should be housed in a mental facility until it is determined by a professional psychiatrist that he is capable of being released into the public again.

[fondue zoo]

I can't help but wonder that if the shootings had not been as "visible", happening at a different location, at night, and assuming the family had money, they could of applied the red bull method.

But this incident was too public and the family is obviously not connected nor do they have red bull level money.

[NONG CHOK]

I've been married to a Thai lady for 22 years, she has adult kids and they have kids too. Thai parents have no idea what being a parent is all about. Firstly as soon as kids get old enough, say primary school age, they do what they like and get home when ever it suits them. Even 3-4 o'clock in the morning is accepted. The problem is that the parents were brought up the same way and the kids don't know any better. So down the track these kids become parents themselves and they treat their kids the very same way. I know from experience when Thai Chinese fathers run the show and if his kids don't toe the line then they're looking for real trouble.

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

I've been married to a Thai lady for 22 years, she has adult kids and they have kids too. Thai parents have no idea what being a parent is all about. Firstly as soon as kids get old enough, say primary school age, they do what they like and get home when ever it suits them. Even 3-4 o'clock in the morning is accepted. The problem is that the parents were brought up the same way and the kids don't know any better. So down the track these kids become parents themselves and they treat their kids the very same way. I know from experience when Thai Chinese fathers run the show and if his kids don't toe the line then they're looking for real trouble.

A lot of truth there. It's either being absent, too permissive or abusive when anyone steps out of line. I've seen on quite a few occasions moms walking around with sticks, with two times at the local clinic, waiting for their very small children to get out of line, where they received a whack with the stick. That's abuse, and it shouldn't be tolerated, but no one seemed to care, as if it's normal behavior. Using a weapon is a cowards way, and shows how they were raised also.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, fondue zoo said:

 

What are the procedures in the countries we all come from?

Secure childrens homes are used for detention in the UK.  Ref. Bulger murder, Venables and Thomson, two 11-year old killers.

[Robin]

If Thai parents were made responsible for their child's behaviour, they might, just might make some attempt t o teach them to behave correctly.  The trouble is, in Thailand nobody is responsible.

[Karma80]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

If they continue to let children of this age commit crimes, especially violent ones, and get away with it, it will continue with others. There are laws in the US which holds anyone accountable for crimes, starting at age 6 in some states and older in others.

Approximately 10,000 minors under the age of 18 are housed in jails and prisons intended for adult offenders and juveniles make up 1,200 of the 1.5 million people imprisoned in state and federal detention facilities. Paying people off for murdering a relative is an insult, and shows a lack of human rights. At the very least, he should be housed in a mental facility until it is determined by a professional psychiatrist that he is capable of being released into the public again.

 

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world by a long way. I don't think that's something to be proud of.

[dinsdale]

Live in a society of grown up children and these things will happen. Who takes responsibity is a throw away question meant to look intelligent. The answer/answers to this question is/are massive and very complex.

[fredwiggy]

12 minutes ago, Karma80 said:

 

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world by a long way. I don't think that's something to be proud of.

Not proud but laws enforced. And China has the most people in prison.

[Photoguy21]

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

I assumed they would not face jail at 14......but that surely doesn't mean they won't face some form of incarceration, even if it is in a mental hospital.

For 1 year then charge him with the shootings / deaths

[ikke1959]

in facto easy... as it is Thai culture.... nobody.... The child is underaged and had a mental  handicap. the parents were not involved, the government can't do anything about this, the weapon dealer and police had a misunderstanding so.... nobody responsible

[Andycoops]

Unfortunately here the SOP is that nobody takes responsibility because in Thai style it's always someone else's fault.

[Bangkok Barry]

Seems to me that the father has taken responsibility, as far as he can for someone not directly involved. At the same time, it's a pity that he hadn't been a better parent and known what his son had in his bedroom. But parenting and discipline isn't a strong point in Thailand, is it.

 

And clearly the law needs to change and anyone who commits a crime, especially murder, faces the legal consequences.

 

20 hours ago, webfact said:

The shooter’s father has already turned up at the funerals of the deceased to express his condolences and apologize to the loved ones left behind. He has also declined to submit a bail request for his son, saying that the family “intends to cooperate fully with the authorities in seeking the facts and to ensure that there is no repeat of the violent incident.”

 

[retarius]

One man's point of view: The child was 14, he should take primary responsibility. The guys who sold him the guns should also be prosecuted for the illegal act and given stiff sentences.

[Purdey]

The statute of limitations in Thailand for murder requiring the death penalty is 20 years (why have a limitation on murder?), but they can hold the boy in a psychiatric treatment until he is over 15 then charge him as a criminal.

[Maybole]

The main responsibility is on the adult who allowed him access to the gun.

[JemJem]

The boy took away the right to live of 3 people and will have caused long term suffering to their loved ones. And, it was a planned attack. 

 

He shouldn't be getting away with this crime. 

 

I know, laws are laws. So, the related laws should change. At least, that will cause such future killers to get punished properly.