12-year-old stabs friend in the heart with a comb

A seventh-grader will spend two years in a Racine County girls' prison for stabbing a classmate in the heart with a comb.

How much time she spends behind bars after that could largely depend on her, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Anthony Milisauskas said Thursday.

The child originally was charged in adult court with attempted murder for stabbing a classmate and former friend, during an argument about prank phone calls. Under state law, any child age 10 or older charged with a homicide-related offense is automatically charged as an adult.

If she had been convicted as an adult, the girl could have served up to 45 years for attempted murder. Even the lesser charge she pleaded to carried a 15-year prison sentence, in an adult court.

The victim, also 12, had a metal comb handle embedded four or five inches into her chest wall, including two inches in her heart. A 31-minute surgery with bolt cutters saved her life. She is expected to recover fully, but might need more surgery. Article here.