Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Dad says his prison sentence for killing infant daughter too long (Rockland, Maine)

"It's soooo unfair! How come I have to spend 16 years in prison? I was frustrated, don't you see? So I threw my baby daughter to the ground. And yea, she died and all, but still! Other guys just do 5 to 8 years in prison! Waaa! How come I didn't get a sentence like that? I want a lighter sentence and I want it now!"

Basically that's the rant of dad (and convicted killer) ROBERT HARTFORD, JR.

http://updates.mainetoday.com/updates/man-says-sentence-for-babys-death-too-long

Man says sentence for baby's death too long
Submitted by The Associated Press on Wed, 01/20/2010 - 09:03
Central Maine Newspapers Portland Press Herald

ROCKLAND — A Rockland man says the 16-year prison sentence he received for killing his 2-month-old daughter is too long and he wants it shortened.

The attorney for Robert Harford Jr. says the average sentence for similar crimes is five to eight years.

Defense Attorney Steven Peterson says the sentence defies the concept of equality in sentencing.
The Bangor Daily News says Peterson filed the appeal of the sentence last week in Knox County Superior Court.

Harford was sentenced last month after being convicted of domestic violence manslaughter in the death of his 9-week-old daughter Ava in August 2008.

Harford initially told police he dropped the child, but later said he threw her to the ground in a fit of frustration.