Despite prosecutors’ attempts, the murderers of Delaware student Amy Inita Joyner-Francis will be tried as juveniles in Family Court.
16 year old Amy died on April 21, 2016 after being jumped in the girls’ bathroom at Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington. Though the Medical Examiner says Amy’s death was the result of a preexisting heart condition set off by the attack, multiple cardiologists say otherwise. Despite evidence in the lack of remorse by Amy’s killers, as posted to their social media pages, Family Court Judge Robert B. Coonin found that the 3 girls charged in Amy’s death will be tried as juveniles.
16 year old Trinity Carr, who was seen punching Amy in the video, faced 8 years in prison if tried as an adult on charges of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree conspiracy. She now faces only community supervision and treatment until age 19. Psychologist Robin Belcher-Timme testified that Trinity has responded well to counseling, had no criminal history, evidence of personality disorders and presents a low risk of future violence, says reports.
The 2 other girls involved in Amy’s death, 16 year olds Zion Snow and Chakeira Wright, are both charged with third degree criminal conspiracy, the highest level of criminal conspiracy allowed by law. They will also be tried as juveniles. Zion and Chakeria reportedly instigated the fight and all 3 girls confronted Amy in the bathroom. The decision by Judge Coonin has sparked national outrage, as the possible sentencing seems extremely lenient. In making his decision, Judge Coonin considered 6 factors by Delaware law:
These include whether the other co-defendants are being tried as adults, whether the child used a “dangerous instrument,” whether the child previously was subject to any form of correctional treatment, whether the child has a criminal history, whether the child caused a death, and whether the people of Delaware need to be protected from the child.
In reviewing these factors, the judge found that Carr comes from a two-parent home and has close relationships with her grandparents, including her grandfather who is a pastor of a church in Philadelphia. There are no signs of mental, emotional or substance abuse in her life, he said.
Instead, he noted that she dreams of studying nursing in college and was in the fifth percentile in her class before her arrest.
Since her arrest, she has voluntarily gone to counseling and has cooperated with her therapist and probation officer.
The attack was recorded by other students present in the bathroom. Though the full video was never released to the public, police gave a play-by-play of the fight. See on NEXT PAGE.