Vegans or baby killers?

Vegans or baby killers?
Fulton jury to decide couple’s fate

By BETH WARREN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/02/07

This Buckhead newborn didn’t stand a chance.

By the time he saw a doctor, the 6-week-old, born at home, was dead. Fed a diet consisting largely of soy milk and apple juice by his vegan parents, the baby boy weighed just 3 1/2 pounds.

Fulton prosecutors say it’s a chilling case of murder by starvation, a painful and prolonged death. Attorneys representing parents Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31, told jurors the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to their vegan lifestyle. Vegans typically live free of animal products.

"They’re not vegans, they’re baby killers," Fulton prosecutor Mike Carlson told the jury Tuesday during his closing arguments. "Think about how long they had to listen to his screams and hollers."

Thomas hung his head and appeared to nearly collapse on the defense table during closing arguments, while Sanders sat next to him listening intently. The couple’s attorneys claim the parents didn’t realize their baby, named Crown, was in danger until minutes before he died.

Jurors began deliberations Tuesday. Prosecutors urged jurors to convict the parents of murder, which carries an automatic life sentence in prison. Defense lawyers told jurors the death is at most a case of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct that results in an unintentional death, punishable by up to one year in jail.

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May 2, 2007

OMG…thats horrible.

May 2, 2007

That is awful. They need to starve and see what that poor precious baby went through. Wonder why she didn’t breast fed?

May 2, 2007

That’s horrible, and breaks my heart. I can’t even imagine what that poor baby went through.

May 2, 2007

killers. you can be a vegan and manage to feed your child. Hello?

May 2, 2007

That’s awful. How could you just feed your baby soy milk and apple juice? Didn’t want to give it formula? Fine-then breastfeed! Not like that is an animal product!

May 2, 2007

sheesh

May 2, 2007

OMG thats just awful!!!!!! they shouldve breast fed him!!! or didnt they because it came out of an “animal” this is just so horrible!

May 2, 2007

what freaking idiots. People like that should not be able to multiply. I could go on and on about this. RYN: i think Kelsie is at the pound…going to go and get her…will update later! Thanks Deb

May 2, 2007

I’m with noodle…wtf didn’t she breastfeed then? And wouldn’t applejuice at that early an age cause horrible gas/cramping? That poor infant never had a chance. Some people shouldn’t be parents.

May 2, 2007

That is so horrible. That poor, poor baby.

May 2, 2007

i just don’t know what to say about this. it is horrble.

I think if they are smart enough to know what they can and can’t eat, then they should of been smart enough to know what a baby needs to survive. Some people just aren’t meant to be parents.

May 5, 2007

well, that’s just sad… RYN:i’ve been living in a den of chaos, madness, crazy and busy as of late. i’m anxiously awaiting the ‘time’ to sit down and compose something…anything. but i promise, i’m still around here. lol

May 6, 2007

OMG! That is horrible! I can’t imagine the pain that the poor baby went through. Breaks my heart. :O(

May 8, 2007

RYN: I sure would – and I have! I just don’t like the Redneck, hunting and fishing type of guy.