MovieChat Forums > Too Young to Die? (1990) Discussion > Amanda did NOT deserve the death penalty...

Amanda did NOT deserve the death penalty.

posted 18 years ago by Hollybeee
22 replies | jump to latest

It's outrageous!!! She was abused her whole life, and then this man took her in and gave her a home. He knew fully that she was 14, yet he still had a relationship with her. Then, he just dumped her, without a real thought to her well-being, only to save his career. He used her, and then dumped her, and she was only 14. She's already been "dumped" by pretty much everybody, and now even by him! Disgusting! Yes, she killed him, but it wasn't some premeditated, decided weeks in advance thing. She was on drugs, and even then, she hardly knew what was happening when the heroin was being put in her, her bf did it all. Then, he gave her the idea to kill her ex. Ok, the guy didn't deserve to die, but he was an *beep* whatever you might think. And she was hardly in a completely with it state of mind, she was totally high. He wasn't the completely innocent victim some people have played him out to be.
Finally, loads of people do stupid things when they're 15. She was being influenced by an older man, and people that age really can be immature. She was still a minor. She did know what she was doing, but people don't deserve to be penalised for what they do as a teen. How many people have crashed their parents cars, or done something else completely stupid at that age, it's a reckless, no real thought for the next day period. Besides, who has the right to take someone's life? Not Amanda-Sue, but certainly not the judge. The death penalty is what's reserved for the most ervil, ruthless killers, ie, Tookie and Ted Bundy, by no stretch of the imagination was Amanda on that level.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] mew2xy 18 years ago

But this whole thing with death penalties... its kinda hypocritical. its like, you killed someone, you're a bad person, so now we're gonna kill you!

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[–] tradingspaces84 18 years ago

no she didn't. She was drugged and wasn't in her right mind. She wasn't some horrible person or a murderer.

[–] LaraCroftLegacy 9 years ago

Drugged or not doesn't take away that Amanda was a cold blooded murder

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[–] trishtragedy 18 years ago

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
I've taken drugs at a young age and never killed anyone. 14-15 years olds do stupid things, but they're NOT idiots. They know murder is wrong. Drugs or not!!

[–] flutist56 18 years ago

I absolutely agree. I must have put everything in body you could image. Never did a rotten thing to anyone. Happiest high person in the world. No excuse!

[–] Catnip86 15 years ago

[quote]That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
I've taken drugs at a young age and never killed anyone. 14-15 years olds do stupid things, but they're NOT idiots. They know murder is wrong. Drugs or not!![quote]

There is a HUGE difference between "doing a stupid thing" and cold-blooded murder.
A stupid thing is egging someone's car, or TP'ing a front yard, things like that. Plunging a knife into someone over and over again is murder. Anyone that does not understand the difference is an idiot.

[–] hooper-xxx 10 years ago

Here here. These people are making excuses for a murderer because she was young and white. If she'd been a 15 year old black girl, they'll be screaming for her blood.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] dollyknight620 17 years ago

I know you dont know me but I am one of those children that were left behind..I was 8 and my little brother was 5. I just want to thank you for atleast understanding what a horrible person she was. I am tired of all these people feeling sorry for her..that was the sole intention of her providing this false info in this movie...it is complete *beep* she was a manipulative bitch and from someone else that was on this board said, she hasnt changed much! so thank you mjholly...

[–] dollyknight620 17 years ago

okay you are going on nothing more than what the movie said..you dont know *beep* about the situation! this whole movie was *beep* and was not the true story they say it was...she is the one that provided this info and of course it is turned all around to make you feel sorry for her! The man that she killed was MY father! and he was a good man that did not know her age regardless of what you might think. he was trying to help her.and this was premeditated...by HER..she hired the man played by Brad Pitt to help her..it was not the other way around..she called my father weeks before threatening him...you cant always believe what you watch on TV and until you have had someone taken away from you so tragically by another you have not right to say who and who doesnt deserve the death penalty!

[–] charmsngifts 17 years ago

I think a life in prison would be worse than being put to death, so I'm glad she's in jail for the rest of her life, weither she was abused or not, had a terrible life is still no excuse for killing anyone, even being on drugs is not an excuse, she made the choice, simple as that and she has to pay for that. I watched the movie, and yeah I felt sorry for her but at the same time, I felt she deserved to go to jail for the rest of her life. I think it's sad that they didn't get all facts before doing that movie, But it's good that you are here to set it straight dollyknight620, thank you. :)

[–] dollyknight620 17 years ago

charmsngifts,
thanks so much for your kind words..and I also think that life in prison is worse than death and well as long as I am alive that is where she is going to stay. She is not supposed to be entitled to parole ever anyway. I wish they wouldve gotten the facts straight,too. but I dont think they wanted to have to pay for our story so it was loosely based so they dont have to get it straight. and really I dont think they ever intended for it to be more than a TV movie. I know it became bigger because Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis are in it. I am just upset now because it is being portrayed as a TRUE story when its not all true. But its okay I am taking care of all that now. well again thanks for your kind words. have a wonderful 4th.

[–] charmsngifts 17 years ago

Thanks for replying, I'm glad I found this site cause I thought it was a true story, cause it said it was true. I watched in the first place cause of Juliette Lewis, she's my favorite actress. I'm glad you posted the real story on here. :)

[–] angelsoul68 13 years ago

Dolly-
I saw the movie and if it were a TRUE story, I'd say that she didn't deserve the death penalty, but in the REAL TRUE story, the one that is REAL, not the drama lifetime movie version, she deserved that. I am sorry that they didn't show the real, true story and that you were victimized by this movie. I totally believe that you're saying and they should have made that movie as based as a true story but as a completely independent movie. You have my deepest sympathy, I am very sorry!

[–] Catnip86 16 years ago

Finally, loads of people do stupid things when they're 15.

There is a BIG difference between doing something stupid like TP'ing a house at 15 and committing COLD BLOODED MURDER. COLD BLOODED MURDER, which is what she did, deserves the death penalty in return. The man she murdered did not get another chance, his family did not get another chance to be with him, why should she get another chance?

[–] bmks 16 years ago

Hollybee,

Where did you get the information on "Amanda" (which is the the real name of the killer, by the way)? You are certainly NOT basing your opinion of a real-life murderer from a made-for-tv movie right? You got the real information and found out that the movie is not exactly the true story right? And you realize that bashing the victim is truly a pathetic thing to do right? Especially when he has children who are alive and still love him. Maybe, just maybe, what really happened is not what you seem to think happened.

The death penalty is for those who kill, usually with special circumstances. This case fits that

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[–] Charlotte_720 16 years ago

It's outrageous!!! She was abused her whole life, and then this man took her in and gave her a home.

First of all, as u prob know Attinna Cannady was not sentenced to death in real life. but id like to treat this post as if she did. And abuse does not excuse crime. Yes, she was raped and it was horrible and had a pretty sh8tty life, but it does NOT warrant killing people! When someone close to you OP is murdered, like your mother, father or siblings, lets see what your opinion on capital punishment is then!

Yes, she killed him, but it wasn't some premeditated, decided weeks in advance thing. She was on drugs, and even then, she hardly knew what was happening when the heroin was being put in her, her bf did it all.

ALL murders are premediatated to some extent. And just because it wasnt weeks in advance doesnt make it any better! Oh diddums, poor little baby on heroin. I feel no sympathy, just coz she was high doesnt make it right

Finally, loads of people do stupid things when they're 15.

Yes thats true...when I was 15 I had a cigarette, drank some cider and lost my virginity...I DID NOT kill someone. It is more than 'stupid', it is a purely evil thing to do.

I feel the upmost sympathy for the victims daughter, who I know goes on these boards, and I wish they did execute her, she committed a horrible crime and just because she had a difficult childhood it doesnt mean she had a right to destroy 2 innocent children's childhoods. Is she out on parole then? If not is there any petition I could sign to keep her in, or something like that?!

[–] bmks 16 years ago

>>>>First of all, as u prob know Attinna Cannady was not sentenced to death in real life. but id like to treat this post as if she did. And abuse does not excuse crime. Yes, she was raped and it was horrible and had a pretty sh8tty life, but it does NOT warrant killing people! When someone close to you OP is murdered, like your mother, father or siblings, lets see what your opinion on capital punishment is then! <<<

Actually, she was originally sentenced to death, but they overturned it due to her age, and her age ONLY. In one of teh appeals, the judges found that she was the MOST responsible and that she planned it and wanted it to happen. If not for her age, she would have been executed by now.

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[–] bmks 15 years ago

Hollybeee,

I sure hope you are not basing your opinion on "Amanda" by the movie. Get the real facts of "Amanda" (the movie changed the facts A LOT) She (Attina Cannaday) was not an innocent young girl influenced by a man. She was a mean young girl that knew exactly what she was doing. Research this and you will see what the Judge said to her at her sentencing and maybe then you will see that she should have been in prison for the rest of her life. She was the one who set this all in motion.

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[–] Mehki_Girl 15 years ago

Got all your facts by watching a fictionalized movie did you. Her name was not even Amanda and she was the aggressor and planner. I guess if someone who was abused stabbed to death one of your family members you would be outraged about their conviction.

[–] BulmaPunkRocker 10 years ago

According to the movie, the character portrayed by Juliette Lewis do not deserve death penalty. 14 years old girl with such a terrible background... there's no excuse to kill the man, but indeed, her whole life has been hell. So, according to the movie, of course she had to go to jail, but death penalty, to me, is absurd.
In my country, there's no death penalty since the 80's, but people were killed by military dictatorship until 1990. Some evil criminal (specially pedophilles) deserve to die slowly and painly, but not this 14 years old girl.
I saw this movie in local tv when I was about 11 and I couldn't believe nobody cares how much she had been through, nobody helped her BEFORE.

Please excuse my terrible redaction, english is not my native language.