February 16, 2005
Going on "O'Reilly Factor" tonight
I'm set to go on Bill O'Reilly's talkfest tonight on Fox News Channel.
Tonight's subject has to do with a local Atlanta case where a mother killed her own five-week old baby by shaking her to death in December of 1998.
34 year-old Carissa Ashe pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter last week in Fulton County Superior Court, bringing to an end her murder trial.
Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes sentenced Ashe to five years probation and to have a sterilization procedure performed in order to prevent her from having any more children. Ashe has had two more children since the death of her baby daughter Destiny Ashe in 1998.
The premature infant had been hospitalized for weeks and was killed two days after going home to her mother. Ashe told police the child simply stopped breathing.Local media reports that there are multiple fathers of the seven children, but conflicting reports as to how many. There is no indication that the father is present in the home with Ashe currently.Ashe, who has no prior criminal history or complaints of abuse, could have been sentenced to 20 years in prison on pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter — defined as a killing committed with a sudden, violent irresistible passion after the assailant has been provoked.
Instead, Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes ordered Ashe to serve five years on probation and to have the tubal ligation within three months. If she doesn't comply, prosecutors can try her on the initial murder charge.
The judge questioned Ashe to make sure she was voluntarily agreeing to the procedure.
"It was her choice to go forward," said Jan Hankins, director of the Fulton County conflict defender's office, which represented the mother.
Two of Ashe's children are living with her mother, while four are in state custody, Howard said. Her oldest child ran away from home, he said.
I'm set to be on around the bottom of the hour (Fox News Channel - 8P ET/5P PT), in what the producer describes as the longest segment of the program.
O'Reilly tapes during the 6P hour, so I ought to be back home in time to watch and live-blog it here.
Posted by mhking at February 16, 2005 03:58 PMI agree with him about the mother, but he figures that the DA is the target. I haven't heard the particulars of the arrangement, but I think that O'Reilly should present the full case against the DA before he goes off on a joust.
Posted by: Mike H. at February 16, 2005 04:25 PMOT Warning:
curious as to what you think of this:
http://wizbangblog.com/archives/005109.php
Thanks
Posted by: Eric in Denver at February 16, 2005 04:30 PMKnock em down Michael, I cant wait to watch!
Posted by: Scooter at February 16, 2005 05:56 PMGood luck on the Factor, Michael!
Posted by: Fausta at February 16, 2005 07:43 PMGood for you and wish I could watch but we don't have Fox in my cable package here.
Posted by: Dex at February 16, 2005 08:11 PMWatched it. Good segment. Fine job.
Posted by: Interested-Participant at February 16, 2005 08:48 PMFirst time I have seen you Michael (tonight on the Factor). Why can't everyone have as much intelligence and common sense as you do?
Posted by: Kelly at February 16, 2005 08:58 PMSaw O'Reilly this evening, looking forward to hearing more from Mr. King.
Posted by: N Gee at February 16, 2005 09:07 PMMichael was great. I didn't know a great deal about the case. I will do some research. I am also doing some reseach on Project 21.
Posted by: Rleslye at February 16, 2005 09:23 PMSaw Michael King on Fox. He was great!
O'reilly was upset because there was no public outcry on this case. My response.
Black on black crime is very high in the Metro Atlanta area. It carries so little "weight" as to case solving because there is just so much of it. It is just numbers.
There was no black leadership outcry because there was no white person to blame. Just look at their record of the past for proof.
The Mayor of Atlanta and the leasership of Fulton County won't say anything because they need companies relocating to the Metro area and the convention/tourist money. They do not want to scare them away by the high crime stats and lack of law enforcement / justice system convictions.
I welcome your opinion.
Posted by: Mike at February 16, 2005 11:19 PMMike, you hit it right on the head. The black "leadership" doesn't care.
Posted by: Scooter at February 17, 2005 01:49 AMMissed you last night, but found a feed on FR this morning. Michael, you did an excellent job - you were clear and articulate and didn't rise to any of the bait Bill threw your direction.
Posted by: King of Fools at February 17, 2005 09:57 AMI thought that was you when I turned on Fox. Great job!
Posted by: Steven J. Kelso Sr. at February 17, 2005 03:58 PMAs a mother of a fifteen month old baby girl this story outrages me. My husband and I had three miscarriages before our little miracle was born. Life is precious and some people don't get it when they continously make babies, sponge off the system and don't respect the sanctity of marriage. This mother deserves to have her tubes tied and sit in jail for a very long time. That way she can reflect on what she did and remember that each child is a blessing and we have no right to take it away. The problem in the United States is family is not important and there is no regard for the laws that were established. Some lawyers and judges are disgracing the judicial system and the importance of human life. We have to remember this was one of God's little miracles and she could not defend herself. The judicial system has failed her and our future. Life is life does not matter what religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
Posted by: Anna at February 17, 2005 05:01 PMThe judge in this case, Rowland Barnes, was just shot dead in an Atlanta courthouse. The suspect is in a highjacked car fleeing from police.
Posted by: Bob at March 11, 2005 10:21 AMUpdate on the Ashe case tonight on the O'Reilly Factor.
Posted by: gt93grad at May 13, 2005 02:57 PM