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Wednesday, April 12, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Weather For Today: Wednesday, April 12, 1989
Source: KU Weather Service
Hayden signs child abuse-murder bill
by Alan Morgan
by Alan Morgan Kansan staff writer
Gov. Mike Hayden yesterday signed into law a bill that would make the killing of a child through abuse a felony murder.
According to the law, persons accused of killing a child as a result of abuse could be tried for first-degree murder instead of manslaughter, the previous maximum charge. Involuntary manslaughter has a maximum jail sentence of five to 10 years, and voluntary manslaughter has a maximum jail sentence of 10 to 20 years.
First-degree murder, however, can result in a life sentence.
Dennis Prater, associate professor of law, said there were two circumstances that would account for a first-degree murder charge: premeditated murder or a felony murder.
"What typically happens in a felony murder is that during the course of a robbery, a person is shot and killed," Prater said. "Although it was not premeditated, it is still first-degree murder."
Prater said that when applying the new law to child and the child's death would account for the felony murder.
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year that murder
during child abuse was not a felony murder. Prater said the court's opinion was that if an adult was abused and killed, it would be manslaughter. They applied that idea to child abuse.
The new law does not overturn the court's ruling but creates a law that was not present at the time of the ruling.
Doug Witt, director of child services for the Mental Health Association of Douglas County, said the law would provide a strong message about society's stance on child abuse.
"One benefit of the law is that it will continue the message that child abuse is bad and that we need to stop it." Witt said. "If a stranger murders a kid, there is a child in town who needs to be held as a child and kill him. If a kid is killed, a kid is killed."
"I don't think it will act as a deterrent," Witt said. "Adults that abuse their children to the point of killing them do so in a fit of rage. The adults who abuse their kids don't want to."
On Campus
The bill, supported by several senators, was first introduced into the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill passed the Senate 39-0 in February and the House 125-0 in March.
- The Non-Traditional Student Organization will have an awareness day for non-traditional students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wescoe
- The Campus Vegetarian Society will have an information table set up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the lobby at the Kansas Union
- The Spanish Club will have a conversation table from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in Alcove C at the Kansas Union.
■ The International Club will have an informal luncheon at noon today in Alcove A at the Kansas Union.
The KU History Club will have an organizational meeting at 4 p.m. today in the Walnut Room at the Kansas Union.
The first meeting of the KU
Cycling Club, Team Kansas, will be
at 5:30 p.m. today on Wescoe Beach,
at serious and women,
and serious and ladies ride.
- Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders will meet at 6 p.m. today in the second floor conference room at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
The Dungeons and Dragons Club will meet at 6 p.m. today in the Pioneer Room at the Burge Union
Environs will meet at 6 p.m. today in Parlor C at the Kansas Union.
- The KU Society for Fantasy and Science Fiction will meet at 8 p.m. today in the Oread Room at the Kansas Union.
The Campus Vegetarian Society will have a vegetarian cooking class at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Ecumenical Christ学院。There is a $2 registration fee.
■ The English Club will present Guido Reverdoit, visiting professor from Italy, speaking about "America in Italian Literature: From Myth to Legend" at 8 p.m. today in the Pine Room at the Kansas Union.
■ The KU Chess Club will meet at 7 p.m. today in Alcove A at the Kansas Union
The Baptist Student Union will meet at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the American Baptist Campus Center, 1629 W. 19th St.
The KU Macintosh Users Group will meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow in 100 Staufer-Flint Hall. A guest speaker from Informix Software will talk about "Wing X," a graphic spreadsheet program.
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