NYC Girl, 9, Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter
By LARRY NEUMEISTER, AP

NEW YORK (Oct. 7) - A 9-year-old girl pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter Friday, admitting she fatally stabbed her 11-year-old playmate after a tug-of-war over a rubber ball went sour.

The girl, identified by the city only as Shanice K., was accompanied by her mother and defense attorney Nicole Barnum in Brooklyn Family Court, the city said in a statement after the proceeding.

During the plea, Shanice admitted that she stabbed Queens Washington once in the chest at a Memorial Day gathering in Brooklyn, the city said.

Judge Jane Pearl ordered that Shanice remain in a non-secure setting pending sentencing. She also ordered an investigation into the child's background and reserved decision on whether additional forensic evaluations should be conducted.

"We are confident this is an appropriate resolution of this tragic matter," said Assistant Corporation Counsel Suzette Rivera. "The plea takes into account the great harm caused by the respondent and holds her accountable for the untimely death of Queen Washington.

"As to the case's ultimate disposition, we will consider all placements and programs which will, in our view, address the respondent's needs for evaluation and care that are consistent with public safety," Rivera said.

Shanice and the victim were described as close friends. Relatives of Queen have said she was a straight-A student who loved books, dancing and playing jump rope.

The girls' mothers were best friends as well when Queen was invited to Shanice's home in the East New York section for a Memorial Day barbecue.

Police said the death occurred when Shanice's mother had stepped out of her apartment to borrow something from a neighbor.

She returned to find that her daughter had plunged a steak knife into Queen's chest, police said. Queen stumbled into a hallway and collapsed.

Police who could not recall a younger suspect being arrested for a killing in the city said Shanice confessed shortly after the stabbing.


10/07/05 21:23 EDT

wow...

damn...

she should have given her the ball.

Nice.

What the hell is a nine yr. old doing with a knife?

oops, sorry, i just thought...

force of habit, u know...


[Edited 10/8/05 16:36pm]
[Edited 10/8/05 16:36pm]