Custody Battle Is Waged Over Comatose Girl

[Thom Little]

During her 11 years of living, nobody seemed to care very much as Haleigh Poutre shifted from home to home and abuse to horrifying abuse. But now, when the only questions left seem to be when and how she will die, this little girl finally has everyone's attention.

Haleigh, who has been in a coma since September because of an injury to her brain stem, is now the focus of a court battle here that combines the most tragic kind of child custody dispute with wrenching questions about how to end a life.

On one side is the state of Massachusetts, whose social-service system failed to prevent Haleigh's abuse and is now seeking to remove her life support.

On the other is Haleigh's stepfather, Jason Strickland, whose wife adopted the girl and who has been charged in her abuse. He believes the girl should be kept alive -- but he also might be prosecuted for murder if she is not.

"Your client has, at very minimum, a profound conflict of interest in this case," said Margaret H. Marshall, chief justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court, addressing a lawyer for the stepfather during a hearing here last week.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/11/AR2005121100826.html

[TheWraith]

1. This man desperately needs to be prosecuted. NT

[kittycat1164]

2. that poor child........ n/t

[roguevalley]

3. the child, at last, must come first, hang the adults.

[Javaman]

4. nothing like a scumbag dad looking out for his own best interests...

So, here comes the absent abusing step father to "save" his daughter...yeah right. He's looking to save his own neck. Ignore his false impassioned pleas for this poor child's sad life. As long as she is a live he doesn't get charged with murder. This man is the living embodiment of everything that is wrong with the right to life cause.
It has nothing to do with the child but everything to do with his welfare.
Pig.