Almost a year since Amy Joyner-Francis was viciously beaten in the Howard High School of Technology bathroom and died as a result of those injuries, the verdict was delivered this morning against her assaulters. Trinity Carr was found guilty of both third-degree criminally negligent homicide and criminal conspiracy. Zion Snow also got the third-degree criminal conspiracy verdict. Chakeira Wright was found not guilty because of a lack of substantial evidence suggesting she was involved in the conspiracy to attack Joyner-Francis. It was also revealed she attempted to pull Carr off Amy during the assault.
Delaware Family Court Judge Robert Coonin read the verdict this morning. I can’t say I like this verdict. I never liked the official “cause of death” and found it to serve the girls who killed Amy more than the cause of justice. None of this will bring Amy back.
The final decision can be read below:
The Season Of Myths 
We should use this case as a learning example to deter future violence, both for students and for school personnel.
LikeLike
Months after Amy’s death, another teen in Delaware died – Janaia Barnhart was murdered in the group home where she resided. Janaia wasn’t a “bad” kid, she had special needs an needed supported education and living. The News Journal glossed over her death with a couple column inches and never followed up, yet the newspaper couldn’t write nearly enough about Amy. The disparity in how the media treated these two murdered children couldn’t be more evident. Finally, according to ProPublica, “A Delaware Department of Justice spokesman said on March 21 that the agency has closed its investigation into how Janaia Barnhart died. He said there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges.”
At least Amy’s family will see some pittance of justice meted out. Janaia’s will never receive that compensation.
Delaware’s justice system is arbitrary and capricious. And I’ll leave it at that.
LikeLike