Friday, October 1, 2010

Charges dropped against 11-year-old boy in shooting death of custodial dad (Independence, Missouri)

We've posted on this case before. Previous articles have clarified that dad DAVID PAUL CHAMP was not only severely abusive and neglectful (and with a violent criminal record) but CUSTODIAL, as the mother was alive and living out of state. See our earlier post here:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/08/11-year-old-accused-in-custodial.html

So how did a guy like this get custody of this boy? Who gave him custody? Why was the boy apparently pushed into killing this monster to save himself, since no one in authority would get him out of this home? Who are the people who knew this boy was being abused, and did nothing? STILL no answers to those questions.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/01/2266892/charges-against-11-year-old-dropped.html

Charges against 11-year-old dropped in shooting death of father
By DON BRADLEY
The Kansas City Star

Charges against an 11-year-old Independence boy who had been accused of murder in the shooting death of his father were dropped today by a Jackson County Juvenile Court judge.

Juvenile Officer Mary Marquez, who asked the judge that the charges be dropped, said it was clear that the boy had been severely and chronically neglected and “had no choice” when he shot his father, David Paul Champ, 52, a scrap dealer, on Aug. 2 inside their home at 1016 S. Woodland Ave.

Family members who were in the courtroom this afternoon supported the dropping of the charges, and no one objected to the motion. Judge Marco A. Roldan withdrew the juvenile felony charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

The boy, who appeared in court wearing shackles, did not show any reaction. He was one of the youngest ever to face a murder charge in Jackson County.

The judge let stand a child-in-need-of-care petition in the case, which means the boy is eligible for treatment and care through the juvenile court.

According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, David Champ had done three stints in prison, including a five-year stretch in the 1970s for assault with an intent to kill and auto theft.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/01/2266892/charges-against-11-year-old-dropped.html#ixzz1194p6vDz