Craigslist Killing Suspects Plead Not Guilty In Death Of California Teen Garrett Berki

Three 17-year-olds accused of posing as sellers on Craigslist and robbing and killing a California teen pleaded not guilty on Friday.

Read the whole story

Comments

[riv69man]

12:21 PM on 05/18/2011

ALL 3 SHOULD BE EXECUTED PERIOD! SHORT TRIAL, FOUND GUILTY AND PUT TO DEATH. MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THESE LOOSERS, THEY WILL JUST DO IT AGAIN AND PLEAD NOT GUILTY OF COURSE.

[Gemstoned]

01:41 AM on 05/17/2011

Sad story. Looks like some terrible mistakes were made - beginning approximately 17 years ago. Just knowing that the three suspects were making a wonderful contribution to society will make everyone feel better as we house & contain these people for probably many years to come on the public dime. What a waste. Pre-meditated armed robbery and murder is not a child's crime, and will hopefully not be tried as such.

[Halsey]

01:23 PM on 05/16/2011

I actually found the apt I've lived in for 5+ years on Craig's List and sold a futon and a couple other items there. I had the buyers come to my apt (I had to..can't cart around a dresser and a futon); but it was bright bright day and I kept the door open the entire time. Again, that was 5 years ago, and yes frankly, today I guess I could be more frightened and at the very least have one or two MEN (as I'm a woman) with me when buyers came. I believe CL serves some good purposes since it IS free, sadly it's also becoming a go-to for freaks of all kinds.
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.
Regardless of why the young man was foolish enough to go to an unsafe neighborhood, he certainly did not deserve to die. I don't agree with the death penalty. These kids are 17, so I actually think that 60+ years in a max. sec. prison will be far worse than death. They will be SO targeted by senior thugs.

[Gemstoned]

02:04 AM on 05/17/2011

60+ years? Hmmm... after some conservative math, you are suggesting that we (the taxpayers) spend about $ 10 MILLION to incarcerate these criminals. I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives to dealing with a problem like this - and just as, or not more effective. I just hate to see public monies being wasted on things like this.

For instance: Build a $5 million park in memory of the victim, and spend $5 on some quality ammo. See, this option just saved the public approximately $5 Million... and gives the family of the victim and the public something other than bad memories.

[JoeBoy254]

07:49 AM on 05/16/2011

What a waste. This sounds like a drug deal gone bad. If you are going to meet for the sale of an Item, I would have picked the parking lot of a Sheriff's Substation or a Shopping mall. That is if the item for sale was legal.

[dbrett480]

12:24 AM on 05/18/2011

The kid was trying to buy a computer. Probably not the smartest move to buy a computer in an unfamiliar area at 1030 at night, but what 18 year old hasn't made mistakes? He definitely didn't deserve to get killed for it.

[Christopher West]

02:17 AM on 05/16/2011

The monetary system is the root cause. Money is evil. This crime is just a microcosm of the system on whole. For the macro version google, Iraq War.

[dbrett480]

12:24 AM on 05/18/2011

Maybe it's how some people are raising their kids in a culture that accepts the gang lifestyle.

[TurnSeiki]

12:47 AM on 05/16/2011

What in the world did he and his girlfriend need so desperately? I really don't know why a kid from La Jolla (rich part of San Diego) would go driving around that neighborhood to meet strangers he met on CRAIGSLIST! And with a GIRL, no less! Actually, if I were the girl, I'd have thought I was being setup.

Rest in peace, kid.

[TurnSeiki]

12:32 AM on 05/16/2011

Once again, the usual suspects strike again. Yet, you're a bad person if you profile. Personally, I think it saves a lot of time and money. Why hang out in the ritzy part of town (unless you're looking for coke & meth runners) when you know all of the action is on the bad side of town with the usual players; 15-24 year-old black men? What was this kid thinking? Once he turned that last corner, he should have known he AND HIS LADY FRIEND had better make a U-turn and meet in a public parking lot. I hope this boys get 130% of what they deserve.

[IsotelusMaximus]

09:59 PM on 05/15/2011

Is this being investigated as a hate-crime?

[dbrett480]

10:58 PM on 05/15/2011

No, but a hate-crime enhancement in this case would be meaningless since the suspects are all up for first degree murder charges with gang and gun enhancements.

[MotorcycleBoy]

10:33 PM on 05/15/2011

Wow, surprise, surprise, surprise...an openly racist statement.

Yes, crimes are only committed by blacks...deebag

[Olethea]

08:30 PM on 05/15/2011

You're not even a little ashamed, are you?

[dbrett480]

06:09 PM on 05/15/2011

Two important lessons should be learned here.

1) Be careful on craigslist. Don't buy products late at night in an area you don't know. Also if you do get robbed by an armed individual, don't follow them unless you are armed and can get rounds on target.

2) "Juveniles" can be just as sophisticated as adult criminals. These "kids" set up a fairly elaborate craigslist scam, were gang members, and were armed. So next time we criticize locking-up "children" in prisons; these are the inmates that are being locked-up for good reasons.

[greetings101]

05:09 PM on 05/15/2011

i've never used craigslist for anything, but i would say its always safe to use a system like amazon to sell or buy your stuff even if you pay a small fee.

[expat50]

04:56 PM on 05/15/2011

This is not a "Craigslist" robbery/murder. This is a classified ad robbery/murder. C/List was where the ad was placed. The newspaper classifieds are just as open to this type of thing. Why focus on the "dangers of the internet" angle and not on the tragic fact that a young man was murdered during a robbery?

[chairman1969]

04:37 PM on 05/15/2011

we should have more liberal application of the death penalty in this country...

[TurnSeiki]

09:53 PM on 05/15/2011

I agree. Liberal and SWIFT! None of this 25 years on death-row business. One appeal, that's it. After that, roll up your sleeve.

[Patrick McCarthy]

03:12 PM on 05/20/2011

Agreed, and it should be acted out very publicly as a deterrent. There is no reason that we should have to pay for their rom and board for the rest of our lives.

[TXfemmom]

04:30 PM on 05/15/2011

Craigs List isn't particularly safe.  We have had carjackings, muggings, and murders associated with it for sellers and buyers in this area.

[FoxIslander]

08:41 PM on 05/15/2011

we (Seattle area) recently had a murder/ robbery from a craigslist posting...craigslist is the wild, wild, west.