An Oakland County court will hold a sentencing hearing this week for the student who shot and killed four other students at Oxford High School.
The hearing will help a judge determine if Ethan Crumbley is eligible for life without parole. The U-S Supreme Court has said courts considering such a sentence for minors must weigh factors including a defendant’s age, home life, and circumstances surrounding the crime.
Criminal defense attorney Deborah LaBelle says children should never be sentenced to life without parole, regardless of the offense.
“We believe that you can become a human being and contribute. And that belief will enable in them to do that. It's every correctional facility talks about they want kids with hope, not hopeless kids inside.” said LaBelle.
The Supreme Court has said juveniles should get life without parole only in “rare” cases.