Court To Charge Wis. Teen Accused Of Attempted Homicide As Adult
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – Attorneys in Wisconsin are fighting a decision to charge a 14-year-old accused of attempted homicide as an adult.
Last month, Kali Bookey was accused of slitting the throat of her brother's girlfriend in New Richmond, Wis.
Investigators said Bookey admitted to punching the girl up to 30 times, then smashing two ceramic bowls over her head and using the broken pieces to cut her neck.
Bookey told authorities she was jealous of her brother's relationship with the girl, and that she told her victim she was a psychopath looking for her first kill. Bookey also asked the victim if she wanted to die immediately or bleed out, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors charged Bookey with attempted homicide.
Bookey was shackled and dressed in a T-shirt and jeans for a hearing Monday. Afterward, defense attorney John Kucinski said he'll try to move her case to juvenile court. She could face up to 40 years in prison if she's convicted as an adult.
"It's beyond me how you'd ever want to automatically treat some kid 14 as an adult. The only purpose of treating them as an adult is to punish someone, so that's illogical. But, I think the judge is good, I think he's a thoughtful person. I think we'll find out a lot more," attorney John Kucinski said.
Anyone 10 or older charged with first-degree attempted homicide is automatically considered an adult under Wisconsin law.
The judge in the case said he is considering whether or not to charge Bookey as an adult.
The next hearing in this case is set for Aug. 31, but it could be months before a decision on charges is made.
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