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Charles Darnell andJaren Hare were found guilty on all counts against them (manslaughter, third degree murder and child neglect) in the death of Hare's 2-year-old daughter Shaiunna, who was killed by strangled by the family's pet python in 2009. Sentencing is set for August 24 at 1 p.m. One of the jurors who asked not to be identified said the decision was an emotional decision, but the right one and a decision they were collectively 100 percent comfortable with.
"They were responsible for the safety of a 2-year-old who could not provide for her own safety and they had every opportunity to have understanding that there was some kind of risk involved in having such a large animal that could, even under the most remote circumstances, it was possible that the child could be injured and it was their duty to make sure there was no possibility that a two year old would either be bitten or harmed," said the juror.
During closing arguments, prosecutors brought in the tank where Gypsy was kept. A quilt placed on top and held together with clothespins was the only thing holding the snake inside the tank.
"Ridiculous," said prosecutor Peter Magrino, pointing to the tank.
Just prior to the child's death, investigators say the python had escaped, as it had done several times before, and was found in the hallway.
Darnell allegedly found it, put the python in a mesh bag and back into its tank before going to sleep that night. Still, the python managed to escape and find its way to Shaiunna's crib about 12 feet away in the small trailer home.
Darnell woke up to find the python wrapped around the 2-year-old who had bite marks on her forehead. Even though he tried to kill the snake, it was too late. Shaiunna was already gone.
In his closing arguments, Magrino called the couple "irresponsible caregivers" who housed a dangerous Burmese python improperly around the toddler, calling her death "needless, senseless and careless."Labels: conviction, human death, python