The Meaning of "Guilty"

Been following the story of two youth accused of murdering 14-year-old Stefanie Rengel, who died of stab wounds on New Year's Day 2008. The facts, from what I understand, are not in question: a boy, then 17, stabbed Rengel with a knife six times and left her to die on the sidewalk in front of her house. A girl, then 15 and in a somewhat confusing relationship with the boy, had sent several emails and text messages to him in which she told him to kill Rengel or else be denied emotional and sexual benefits.

The accused boy goes on trial for first-degree murder later this year, but the jury is, as I write this, deliberating the girl's fate - a first-degree murder conviction, second-degree murder, manslaughter or acquittal. And here's where I find myself a bit confused.

The snippets of communication between the two accused teens do seem to reveal a very manipulative girl consumed by irrational jealousy. What's more, when questioned immediately after the murder, she admitted that she was "sort of happy" that Rengel was dead. She also insisted that all her murderous messages were only a "joke." Certainly, she's not the portrait of a falsely-accused martyr.

But I have some trouble with the idea of convicting the girl - at least for first-degree murder. In fact, I'm not even sure how she could have been charged with first-degree (maybe some legally-inclined folks could provide insight?). To convict her for that would, I think, shift an unfair portion of the responsibility onto her, responsibility that I think should be borne almost entirely by the boy. 

Why? He was older, for one thing, and while 17-year-olds aren't necessarily mature, someone of this age cannot reasonably defend himself by saying he was defenseless against the diabolical spell of a 15-year-old, no matter how crafty she might have been. 17 is plenty old enough to understand that there is no moral argument for murdering someone to satisfy the anger of a loved one. So the boy, I think, should get the max. The girl? Maybe manslaughter or second-degree.

There is a caveat, though, and one that may come up at the boy's trial. If he had a history of legitimate mental instability, and the girl was aware of this, she would have to be held more accountable for knowing that her coaching and cajoling would likely lead to the boy acting on her request. That may be the missing piece of the puzzle.

Otherwise, I don't think she should have her life destroyed because some idiot took her melodrama too literally. She may be a truly awful person, but being awful isn't by itself a criminal act.