Crown Shakur
2004 - April 25, 2004
At the age of six weeks, Crown Shakur died at the hands
of parents who thought they were doing all they could do for him. Lamont
Thomas and Jade Sanders were both Vegan and wanted to stick to their Vegan
way of life, even when it came to their new born son.
Crown was fed mainly soy milk and apple juice, which
just wasn't enough to sustain his little body. Vegans do not consume any
animal products at all. Crown's parents insist they were doing the best
they could for him, he was their first and only child. Upon his death,
he weighed only 3.5 pounds.
Defense attorneys said that Thomas and Jade had no
idea that Crown was in trouble until a few minutes before he died. Prosecutors
say that Crown suffered a long, painful death. They said that the death
did not come to be due to what he was fed, however, he died due to not
being fed enough and that his nutritional needs were ignored by his parents
who did it on purpose. The prosecutors also said that Crown's parents refused
to take him to the doctor even though it was obvious that is body was wasting
away.
Crown's parents were arrested and at trial his father
denied that they had deliberately allowed their son to starve to death:
"We're vegetarians; we are against animal cruelty,
so why would I be cruel to my son? Why
would I do something with his body? We are
against animals being murdered; why would
we be cruel to him and try to do something
to his body"
Prosecutors said that the the new parents had starved
their baby on the diet they provided for him by giving him such small amounts
that he died due to complications from malnourishment. It was said that
the cupboards in their kitchen were empty. Prosecutors insisted that Crown
was starved on purpose.
Thomas told the judge it wasn't true, he denied that
he and his wife were the cause of their sons death:
"The fact that we named him Crown, we were
proud of him. We weren't trying to kill my son"
Thomas and Jade were both charged and found guilty
on charges of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and
cruelty to children. Thomas was very critical of the prosecution after
the trial ended. Jurors took about seven hours to convict the couple.
Both parents were sentenced to life in prison. Their
attorney said he was going to appeal the sentences.
For information about preventing
child abuse in the state of Georgia, click the links below. If they can't
help you, ask for someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help
for an abused child!
Call this number
to report child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
   
Share this page
with your family and friends!
My sincerest appreciation goes out to
Diane Trembly for allowing me to use one
of her beautiful Angels to make the graphics
for this set. Please visit her site,
by clicking the link below, to see all
of her amazing work.
|
