USA: OREGON: HIGH SCHOOL KILLER RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE

Описание: (11 Nov 1999) English/Nat
An American high school killer will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Kip Kinkel has been sentenced to nearly 112 years in prison for the shooting rampage at his Oregon school, and the murders of his parents.
The teenager -- who is now 17 years old -- was 15 when he went on the shooting spree in May 1998 and is therefore too young to have received the death penalty.
Kip Kinkel, the 17-year-old who filled his journal with rage, self-loathing and fantasies of violence, was sentenced to nearly 112 years in prison on Wednesday for gunning down his parents and going on a rampage at his high school.
The attack in the school's cafeteria left two students dead and 25 wounded.
Kinkel will not be entitled to parole, meaning that unless the state governor commutes his sentence, he will die behind bars for the attack at Thurston High School in Springfield, in May 1998.
After hearing days of wrenching statements from victims' relatives and many of the wounded, Judge Jack Mattison
said it was more important to make the victims feel safe than to try to rehabilitate Kinkel.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"While this prosecution was successful in doing what needed to be done, namely forever protecting society from Mr. Kinkle, in addition to helping our victims feel safe for their lifetimes, there are no winners in this incident."
SUPER CAPTION: Doug Harcleroad, Lane County District Attorney
After being expelled from school for having a stolen gun in his locker, Kinkel killed his parents at their home on May 20, 1998.
The next day he donned a trenchcoat and drove to school with three guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition and opened fire on the packed cafeteria.
He later told doctors he had been hearing voices telling him to kill since he was 12.
Experts testified he was psychotic, probably paranoid schizophrenic, and deeply depressed.
He was 15 when he went on the shooting spree and therefore ineligible for the death penalty.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I feel intense anger but no hatred towards Kip Kinkel. I don't know the guy. I never will. I am angry to see the hate that runs through other people, all the pain. I feel that I got off quite light. I don't have the emotional fear that a lot of people do. I don't fear loud sounds. I don't have nightmares."
SUPER CAPTION: Gabriel Thomas, shooting victim.
His attorney expressed his dissatisfaction and said he will appeal the judge's decision.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I mind that this sentence did not end this case today, that it has in fact preserved it for at least a couple more days. And I think that's a disappointment, should be a disappointment for everybody, not only for Mr. Kinkle, but also for this community and those victims. We needed closure. I don't think this sentence has given us closure."
SUPER CAPTION: Rich Mullen, Kinkle's attorney
Before the sentence was issued, Kinkel read an apology from a small sheet of white paper.
"I absolutely loved my parents and had no reason to kill them." He read "I had no reason to dislike or try to kill anyone at Thurston. I am truly sorry for all of this."

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