Rhino
08-02-2007, 10:12 AM
Aug 1, 10:05 PM EDT
School Shooter Wanted Teasing to Stop
By TODD RICHMOND
Associated Press Writer
BARABOO, Wis. (AP) -- A 16-year-old boy charged with murdering his school principal testified Wednesday that he brought a shotgun and revolver to school not to kill the man, but to make him stop kids from teasing him.
Eric Hainstock is charged with first-degree murder and could face life in prison if convicted. Hainstock shot Weston Schools Principal John Klang on Sept. 29 as Klang struggled to wrestle the gun from the boy.
Prosecutors must prove that Hainstock intended to kill Klang the moment he pulled the trigger. Hainstock's attorneys asked the boy repeatedly if he meant to kill the principal.
"No, I didn't," Hainstock said. "I didn't plan to hurt nobody."
Sauk County District Attorney Pat Barrett claims Hainstock was a bully himself and angry at Klang because the principal twice suspended him in the days leading up to the shooting on the morning of homecoming.
But Hainstock's attorneys contend he suffers from attention deficit disorder, was abused at home and endured endless teasing at school while Klang and teachers looked the other way.
They maintain Hainstock brought guns to school in an effort to make people listen to him. Hainstock attorney Jon Helland said they plan to ask jurors to consider finding the boy guilty of a lesser charge of reckless homicide.
In a flat tone, Hainstock testified he transferred to Weston Schools as a sixth grader....
Kids there stuck his head in the toilet, stuffed him in lockers, threw him in the bushes and called him names, he said....http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCHOOL_SHOOTING?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
School Shooter Wanted Teasing to Stop
By TODD RICHMOND
Associated Press Writer
BARABOO, Wis. (AP) -- A 16-year-old boy charged with murdering his school principal testified Wednesday that he brought a shotgun and revolver to school not to kill the man, but to make him stop kids from teasing him.
Eric Hainstock is charged with first-degree murder and could face life in prison if convicted. Hainstock shot Weston Schools Principal John Klang on Sept. 29 as Klang struggled to wrestle the gun from the boy.
Prosecutors must prove that Hainstock intended to kill Klang the moment he pulled the trigger. Hainstock's attorneys asked the boy repeatedly if he meant to kill the principal.
"No, I didn't," Hainstock said. "I didn't plan to hurt nobody."
Sauk County District Attorney Pat Barrett claims Hainstock was a bully himself and angry at Klang because the principal twice suspended him in the days leading up to the shooting on the morning of homecoming.
But Hainstock's attorneys contend he suffers from attention deficit disorder, was abused at home and endured endless teasing at school while Klang and teachers looked the other way.
They maintain Hainstock brought guns to school in an effort to make people listen to him. Hainstock attorney Jon Helland said they plan to ask jurors to consider finding the boy guilty of a lesser charge of reckless homicide.
In a flat tone, Hainstock testified he transferred to Weston Schools as a sixth grader....
Kids there stuck his head in the toilet, stuffed him in lockers, threw him in the bushes and called him names, he said....http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCHOOL_SHOOTING?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US