Talk:Killing of Latasha Harlins

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Since when did she punch the owner? I've seen the video. She didn't even steal anything, as best I can remember. The owner was just acting on a stereotype. Ridethefire3211

Factual Accuracy

This article says Soon Ja Du was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, but the article on the 1992 Los Angeles riots says she was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. The vast majority of web references say voluntary manslaughter, including a court transcript, so this page is probably the one that is wrong.

You Are Wrong...

You are wrong Ride, Latisha punches Du viciously in the video. So vicious that Du falls to the ground, Du would later pass out from the blows. From news coverage back then, video showed Du with severe bruising from the attack. Yes, Latisha was 15, but she was 150 lbs and nearly 6' tall up against an elderly woman under 115 lbs. Its tragic what happened, and there is blame to go on both sides.

That is what she said so she wouldn't be jailed for life for second degree murder. But this is what the police said 2 days after at a press conference: "Du was arrested Saturday afternoon on suspicion of murder, Bostic said, just hours after she was treated at a hospital for what Bostic described as "superficial injuries" she sustained in the scuffle." There is hardly blame to be divided. Du was in a tough situation that many of us would have also failed. But it was her crime.

lots of issues | leave me a message 22:53, 13 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I saw the video on a PBS program on the L.A. Riots, and Latasha immediately throws punches upon being confronted. The punches seemed powerful to me as evidenced by Du's head recoiling after each blow. And to the police, bruising, even severe bruising is considered superficial

biased

this article is biased and is only up here because of the supposed 'hate crime'. i think we should put this up for deletion.

What in the article do you feel is biased, and how so? Mwelch 22:05, 11 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Merging of Soon Ja Du and Latasha Harlins articles

Take a look and compare. These two articles are identical in scope with a few details unique to both. ie. names, ages, roles of Billy and Charles Du, Du's lawyer, video proof, Tupac. It seems like a waste of space to have the two when they don't go into the actual lives of the two individuals, and all we know about them stems from this one incident. I'm not entirely sure what the new article should be called - I'm trying to find an article which was titled after an incident with a similar background - Would this be a precedent? As voluntary manslaughter is still murder by definition, it could be called "Murder of Latasha Harlins," but I'm sure someone wants think of something that sounds "less biased." (The Lake Effect 09:03, 6 September 2006 (UTC))[reply]

Agreed with the merger idea. Definitely think that "Death of . . ." or even "Killing of . . ." would be a better title. Whether voluntary manslaughter is truly the same as second-degree murder is a subtle legal point that in truth would vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction even within the United States, to say nothing of possible legal variances in other countries. One could certainly make an reasonable argument that there's no substantive difference, and that "murder" is therefore just as appropriate a word. But it isn't Wikipedia's place to make such an argument. So, since Soon Ja Du was not convicted of murder, a "Murder of . . ." title definitely should not be used. Mwelch 20:05, 6 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'd like to try merging the two. --Seazzy 21:17, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Be bold! 8-) Mwelch 21:34, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

id like to point out..

if the crips really gave a shit about children dying (black or otherwise) then they wouldnt kill them in crossfire like they recently did. the crips were some of the main proponents of the la riots. what a joke. the fucking racist cops, the violent crips and bloods, the mindless mob with anger directed towards koreans because one elderly korean who got into a fight with someone who may have been stealing something.. i dont even know who to be mad at. the whole thing makes me sick. it may have happened in 1992 but what a rude awakening to how fucked up our society is. This isnt directed to any race, except the human race. --insertwackynamehere 22:30, 14 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Then don't steal....duhhhhh!!!

Stealing? Apparently you know something the cops don't know. Trying reading the links in the article before coming up and posting your bullshit. 130.156.31.150 22:19, 7 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Try eating me, Claude. If a 15 year old comes into my store and has balls enough to punch me in the face like that little shit did, I would have fired until empty. Then reloaded and emptied again. Stop (blatantly) playing the race card and try to say (practice in front of a mirror if you have to) that what she did was wrong. I don't need to see the rest of the links to form an opinion, just like millions didn't watch the entire Rodney King video to form theirs.

Du today?

Anyone know what Soon Ja Du is doing today? I was a little interested in what became of the woman after getting away with manslaughter nearly scott free.--Claude 04:43, 23 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Probably hanging out with Tawana Brawley. Someone else who got off scott free.

What absolute bullshit, seriously lads. Let's discuss, then change.

Who in the world puts an item IN their backpack, and then goes to pay for it. I doubt that girl was going to pay for anything, probably going to steal it.

Of course, it doesn't warrant her death but my god lads, let's get this straightened out. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 58.178.93.113 (talk) 13:31, 12 May 2007 (UTC).[reply]

yes. She was absolutely, positively going to steal it. Pulling the money out of her pocket was a dead giveaway. Obviously people who have money in hand plan on stealing and should be punished with a shotgun.--Claude 19:58, 12 May 2007 (

Here's a serious question that's bound to have me labeled a screaming racist. Why doesn't the black community become as outraged about black-on-black crime as they do about when other races kill one of their own? Just a thought. Now let the name calling begin.