Tossed Shopping Cart Could Have Been Prevented With Stricter Rules

(DNAinfo).

The two 12-year-old boys charged with pushing a Target shopping cart from a fourth-floor walkway onto 47-year-old Upper West Side mother Marion Salmon Hedges this weekend returned to family court today with lots of questions, according to their lawyer. If convicted, the boys each face 18 months in a juvenile detention center. Meanwhile it has come out that the walkway the boys are said to have thrown the cart from would have been illegal if it had only been built by the city.

According to officials if the walkway had been on city property it would have had to have had an 8' foot fence around it, but because it was built by a private developer it didn't have to. So naturally City Council members are trying to change the rules. "Something has to be done to protect pedestrians on the sidewalks below," Councilman James Vacca (D-Bronx), chairman of the Transportation Committee, said Thursday. He is now introducing legislation that will make the rules the same for private developers as it is for the city.

Not everyone thinks that is a great idea, however. David Blumenfeld, the building's builder, points out to the News that the walkway's walls are already 42" high (shoulder height for the alleged cart pushers) and that there was no way architects could have seen this coming. "I don’t think people designed for [accidents like] this," he said. "You can’t anticipate an act like this."

Meanwhile, the boys returned to family court today and one of their lawyers told the judge that her client had "a lot of questions" about his fate and really wants to go home (he's been in a juvenile detention center run by ACS since Sunday). "He's 12 years old, he reacts like a 12-year-old in terms of understanding where he is, why he's here," she said. Further, she says the boys mother is "very nervous" but has sympathy for Hedges family. "As a mother and as a person, her heart goes out for this woman," the lawyer said. "I just hope we remember that this is a 12-year-old and this is tragic, it really is."

Hedges has been in a coma at Harlem Hospital since the incident. When speaking to the press earlier this week her husband has emphasized the young age of her alleged assailants. "They’re children, and children who have been left on their own without supervision," he said. "Right now my focus is on my wife’s well being."

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By Garth Johnston in News on November 4, 2011 12:45 PM

Comments [rss]

U.N. Owen

I feel bad for the kids' mom. She looked really sad, and sounded about how 'terrible' she felt for the woman.

As Farr as these two piles of shit are concerned, it's plain as pie, they'll NEVER amput to anything, they'll NEVER achieve anything, no steady work, no steady schooling.

The ONLY thing they WILL do 'well' in (figuratively speaking), will be popping out MORE little dirtbags, from different girls - and won't support ANY OF THEM.

Just put them in a box, turn on the carbon monoxide, and be done with them.

Do NOT waste ONE tax-
Ayer's PENNYo. ANYTHING for them

remyngtin

scumbags

whitecastlerock

These kids acted with depraved indifference and feel bad because they got caught. Vacca the scumbag voted to extend Bloomberg's term limit. Something needs to be done so people stop voting for assholes like him.

Nicole Lee

These kids are disgusting animals. Don't try to excuse their violent behavior as the poor judgment of a child. They know better.

If it was their XBOX at the bottom of a 4 story drop instead of Marion Hedges I highly doubt that they would have dropped a shopping cart on it!!!!!!

You bet your ass they knew better.

18 months in juvenile detention? They're being grounded for almost killing someone. This is asinine.

They should be locked up until 18 and then placed on probation FOREVER at the least!!

Jacinta Plenbo

You know, women would not get raped jogging through the park if there were no parks. People would not get in car accidents in parking lots if there were no parking lots. Nobody would get hit by cars going over the speed limit in residential neighborhoods if there were speed bumps every 10 feet. Do we need to wrap the world in bubble-wrap to prevent violent miscreants from hurting the innocent?

rnrnys

You're right. And if there were not shopping carts, there would have been nothing to throw.

On the other hand, if parents of these "miscreants" never had them, we could have shopping carts and not worry about them being thrown.

And Mrs. Hedges would have had a nice Holloween with her family.

69GeorgeWBush69

I knew not to do that shit when I was much younger.

U.N. Owen

Same here. I did some 'nada' things, but, I NEVER thought I'd throw a heavy, metal object off a roof, or such - in the HOPE of hitting someone.

These two should be EUTHANISED.

Blogarithm

I like how they refer to it as an "accident." They "accidentally" raised a shopping cart to a level higher than their shoulders and then pushed it off.

stewart_nyc

I agree with the title. Stricter rules are needed, such as this:

Antisocial juvenile delinquents should be incarcerated or institutionalized for as long as necessary.

Brenda Tobias

Ya know, saying the construction of the overpass is to blame is kinda like aerosol bottles now having warnings to not huff. A little personal responsibility goes a long way. 12 is not 2. A 12 year old (unless seriously impaired) knows exactly what he or she is doing. A 12 year old engaging in this type of behavior is not destined to be a well adjusted contributing member of society. Serious time and serious help are the answer. www.HereSheIsBoys.com

Jessie M

"one of their lawyers told the judge that her client had "a lot of questions" about his fate and really wants to go home"

I bet Marion Hedges would say the same, if she could speak. Disgusted.

Jessie M

18 months???!!!! Are you kidding.

CalDreamer

A twelve year old knows exactly what he is doing in this situation. These "boys" should be confined until they are at least 18 years old and then executed.

Alessandro Casagli

It's like blaming the twin towers for being there while the airplanes were passing.

brooklynRick

City council should have decreed that all buildings have a airplane protecting fence around it!

Samantha G

"He's 12 years old, he reacts like a 12-year-old in terms of understanding where he is, why he's here" Meaning the kid is scared shitless now that he's in trouble.

U.N. Owen

And like a 12 year-old, he KNEW what they were about to do was WRONG. Even If one didn't (and, I'm being VERY generous), the SECOND kid must've known, and should've said 'stop,' orSOMETHING.

But, hey DIDN'T, and, THEY DID.

Gas the two of them. We don't need to pay for even a fucking pair of 'Patakis' on their feet.

Dump them in Potters Field, and, wipe the whole nasty memory of them off.