The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 6: Mens Rea
Page 10: Mental State
Five children. Each equally innocent. Each equally dead. Each death clearly caused by the actions of an adult.
Four little gravestones, one flat grave marker, next to a little hill with a lone tree.
The harm is the same in each case. And yet most people would feel that none of the adults are equally culpable.
The difference is not in the harm done, but in the MENTAL STATE of the person who did it.
This mental state, or “MENS REA” in Latin, is the critical factor in criminal law. It is what makes the difference between a serious crime and a minor crime—or even no crime at all.
Oh that’s GRIM. Unmarked plot of dug-up earth for Ricky. Clever.
This series is excellent, by the way. Good work.
I think that’s intended to be an in-ground plaque. There is no reason to suspect that the author is trying to bias the reader reaction to any one of the deaths. I suspect that the difference in grave markers is simply for the visual interest of the image.
Of course, considering Lucy meant to kill Ricky, I doubt she would spring for an expensive marker. Attorney’s fees and all will take that money and I don’t know if the stat they live in provides free markers.
A relative, say a grandmother, could have paid for the marker after the murder.