We Want Justice Update: Burned Alive Over a Video Game?

Thank god I live in Canada, where we recognize that we don't try children as adults BECAUSE they're childern.

You guys break your own rules when it seems you feel like it.

A child's brain is a child's brain. Compared to an adult's, they're underdeveloped. That's an absolute.

And because of that, there is no excuse for "deciding" to charge children as adults.

And don't get me started on children serving life without parole.

What is it with the USA – the supposed leaders of democracy: dealth penalty, children serving life?

Years ago, even the 13 year olds would have been treated the same. It is long overdue for young kids to be punished and not let off with just a slap on the hand. They know what they did was wrong.

My family's thoughts and prayers are with the victim.

How well do we really know our children?
Were there signs that these boys could be capable of doing this to another human?
If so, why don't we, as parents, react?
Are we embarrased that our children are not perfect?
We need to get over that and start looking out for the betterment of mankind...

Brenda Graves, San Diego, Ca.

I am so happy to hear that they will try them as adults. This has to be one of the WORST stories I have ever heard. There's not a day that goes by where I'm not praying for Michael and his family.

When I was a teen the worst we would do is toliet paper someones house if we were in a fight. We would never plot to hurt them. Michael has a long road ahead and its not going to be easy. They treated him like trash and now they can't rot in prison like trash. The parents of these boys had to of seen signs.

I was talking to my 6 year old and 10 year old about what happened and they were in shock even at their young ages they know right from wrong and say the boys should never get out of jail.

Matthew Bent is the alleged mastermind of the attack because the cops talked to the white boy first. Everybody no if a white kid and a black kid commit a crime together, the police are not going to question the black kid first because no cop wants a white person in jail only the non-white race. How do they no that the Matthew is the master mind, ask the cops who they talked to first, first in , first to win. A white childs ly out weights a black kid telling the truth anyday. You KNOW I'M RIGHT. Wishes all racist people BURN IN HELL WITH YUOR RACSITIES ANCETERS

I agree – there should be justice for this kid...and there will be. The lives of these three idiots will never be the same. Life is tough. Life is tougher when you are a 15 year old felon. Good luck with that.

I say send their parents to prison with them...how do you raise a kid into his teenage years and he thinks it's okay to set someone on fire?

"eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth". enough said.

They may be young but they are old enough to know what they did was wrong. You learn at an early age what fire will do to you if you get near it. Those boys set that poor kid on fire over $40.00. I say let them burn for what they did grounding them is not a opption

Thank you for this update. Heartbreaking on many levels, but I support the Florida justice's system to charge them as adults. They obviously knew the rubbing alcohol was flammable and knew what would happen. It's obvious this was a well thought out plan, a adult decision in deed. While it's sad to think these young boys may be put behind bars for years and there life's will be forever changed, it's nothing compared to the drastic, devastating change to young Mr. Brewer's life. My mother was burned over 70% of her body as an 18 month old child and I can tell you first hand that she is physically disabled because of the burns. Muscles are fused together during burning and she's in extreme pain (by the way, her clothing was set on fire with a match and no flammable liquid was involved). She went through many skin grafts and only had her last one at age 18. He has a long road ahead of him and hopefully the young men who perpetrated this heart less act will learn their lesson. Was this worth $40?

These may be children and they may have used poor judgement, but this was thought out beforehand and they knew it was wrong. They should be tried as adults. These are vicious adolescents. This was not a spur of the moment decision – they were equipped which meant there was intent to harm.

They should be tried as adults for they knew what they were doing and the effect alcohol lit by a flame has. It seems to me that the crimewave in Florida is high especially among the younger generation especially a hugh rate of molestations, rapes and child abductions. Is Florida that liberal to not give a damn or prosecute to the fullest extent of the law? Or is it just me?

Finally someone is standing up against this type of crime. 15 and 16 year olds are old enough to freaking know better than this! To set another human on fire is just wrong no matter how old you are!!!

I agree.... 15 and 16 year olds know the difference between right and wrong. Setting fire to another person is not something that should be taken lightly. They deserve to go to jail even at their "young" ages. Accountability for something that evil should be prison time. I pray for Michael... he should not have ever had to go thru such a horrific event. We need to get a hold of our children in America. They are getting out of hand. Murders, rapes..... it's an epidemic that needs to be stopped.

Since we have determined that 15-year-olds are adults, when will they be getting the right to vote, drink alcohol, sign contracts, marry without their parents' permission, etc?

There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for something this tragic and life threatening to happen to anyone. Absolutely NONE! The youngsters who inflicted this have to assume the responsibility for their acts. The mere thought that they even considered inflicting such pain is incomprehensible and very troubling indeed. How can anyone be so wicked ... and savage.

This goes to show us how depraved our society is becoming. Adults are acting like children, so what can we expect from our kids. They are not given any examples of accountability (all of the way to the top), and more often than not, see bad behavior rewarded or simply addressed as a "result of their upbringing" – more likely the lack of upbringing". Society is comprised of people, so when society fails, we need to look at the people that are making or changing the values of the social structure. OK to murder a baby (just call it a fetus), OK to be abnormal (just call it "gay" – still don't understand that one), OK to live together before marriage (just call it co-habitating), OK to have sex with anyone (or anything – just call it choice) With no FOUNDATION to serve as a guideline, just do whatever you t hink of as OK. Reminds me of the girl that stabbed her newborn to death – her defense – "I don't understand why everyone is so upset – it's just abortion after the fact." We have ignored the -Biblical guidelines, guidelines and moral ethics that made us the country we used to be. We made our bed (our our cesspool as I see it), so we can either change it or lie in it.

It’s sad that we have raised children who have no regard for life or even respect for others. It’s all about self, and revenge.
But then I have to look at the hateful way we adults treat each other. Just look at our U.S. Representatives, and Senators, when they don’t get their way the pout and look for revenge.

I hate to say it but we are living in a time of harvest, and we have planned some very unhealthy seed.

I'm sorry, but these boys NEED to be punished to the fullest extent. Kids are out of control these days and if the parents can't get a handle on this, then the justice system should!! This poor kid is not only suffering terribly right now, he will suffer the rest of his life. This is over $40 dollars and a bike!!! WTH??? If this child does survive this ordeal, I want him to know that there is a lot of people out here that HATE what happend to him and do WANT JUSTICE!!!

Where are these kids parents? What makes a 15 year old think that the way to get back is to try and burn the kid alive? This is really sick and I think they need more than just jail time...

I think that the teens that set this poor boy on fire should have to go see the boy in the hospital and watch while his bandages are being changed so they can see for themselves what a huge impact they all have in the future of this boy.

15 and 16 years olds are more than old enough to know what they are doing! I feel sorry for their family, because all pain they are going through because their kids actions. Very sad for a mother see her kids ending like that. Sad for everyone, specially for Michael Brewer and his family. Their lifes are changed forever.
Marcia Capella

I'm a little confused how the justice system turned a blind eye to age, when they are being tried as adults.

I think it's good they're being tried as adults. Teens who hurt other people, kill others ect should all be tried as adults because at that age they most definately know better than to do that kind of stuff. I know it's hard because they are young and you don't want them to spend the rest of their life in jail, but the case of killers or kids who do something like set a kid on fire, don't think twice about ending someone else' s life completely. They may go to jail but at least they are still living.

steal a candybar today – tomorrow steal a car - E nough said `~
15 & 16 year old ARE aware of what they are doing ...
If they are given a "free" (Juvie' court) pass, then they KNOW
they can raise >cain< and know that it will be a slap on the wrist.
The line has to be drawn somewhere/sometime to get the kids to
realize that wrong is wrong IS WRONG..... And in this situation
a young person is going to suffer painfully for a very very long time
IF he doesn't die yet from this.

Those kids deserve everything an adult would get for those crimes !
At 15 and 16 years old, you know the difference between right and wrong. Everytime I read about this story I get chills, that poor kid, his life has been changed forever........I hope those evil kids go to jail for at least 25 years each !!!!!! Maybe in jail they will get what they deserve !

Those boys/men need to go to jail for life with no parole. They need to suffer like Michael Bewer will suffer for the rest of his life.

There is nothing remotely normal about a kid setting another human being on fire. These are some seriously damaged and screwed up teenagers. Do I think they should be tried as adults? Hell yes! I wouldn't like to think about someone capable of a crime this serious not going to prison for a very long time.

These "kids" should all get the punishment to the full extent of the law. I know I dont walk around with alchohol and a lighter on me just in case. There actions were obviously premeditated. Especially given that fact they confronted the victim prior to lighting him on fire. And as for the yuounger two why should there charges be any less than what the others get there actions have still permanently changed the life of not only their victom but also the family of the victom, even the idea that they should be treated in a less harsh mannor is laughable.

these are bad kids with bad parents. I grew up around kids like these.
They have no remorse for what they did and life behind bars will only make them worse. If they are returned to society they will screw up again. If somehow they could have been taken away from their parents years ago they could have been changed.it's too late now.

Perhaps I have been "biased" by the daily reports concerning this dispicable act. When I see those young men in their mug shots, I feel like those boys had nothing but bad intentions and meant to do exactly what they did......

Maybe they didn't "intend" to kill him, but they damned sure meant to harm him.....try them as adults and put them away.

Twenty years ago this would have never happened.....parental supervision, or lack there-of is the culprit.

THis is a horrible tragedy !! What on earth has happened to the youth of this country ?? I haoe these boys spend the rest of their lives in prison...no excuses...we need to start doing things the way they do things in Singapore...we would have a lot less unruly kids if we did.

The only consideration should be whether they can reasonably be expected to know what they were doing was wrong and illegal. Calendar age should be irrelevant. In a crime as horrific as this, it is competely clear that they definitely can be, and should be held totally responsible. And when they are found guilty, throw them in cages and forget about them. I have NO sympathy for 'em. They have sacrificed their right to live among free people.

Thank heavens the prosecutors did not let any sympathy stand in the way of trying the three teens as adults. I am sorry but ALL 5 should be tried as adults. The other two now in juvenile hold were not charged with attempted murder so they would not stand to the same sentence as the three if they are found guilty. What a horrible thing to do to another human being. They are demented human beings, less than animal behavior. The one mother that apologized should have been teaching her son right from wrong. Where were the parents while these teens were out terrorizing the neighborhood? Shame on them. I cannot imagine what the family of Michael Brewer is dealing with. Our prayers to Michael and his family. Should Michael die will the three be tried for aggravated first degree murder? They should be punished to the highest degree allowed.

I am 53 years old. Some 30-some years ago I was also in an accelerent fire. I, too, suffered burns over 67% of my body- but thankfully, like Michael Brewer, (and YES there is a "thankfully") I did not suffer burns to my face or hands. Although the circumstances surrounding my fire is unlike Michaels', there are common issues in which I can relate.
Dear Brewers: I married a man that loved me very much. He loved me WITH the burn scars. I then had three beautiful children who also love me- and really have never known me without those scars. I am "Mom"- the scars are as much a part of me as the color of my hair and eyes. After my recovery I went to college and became a RN. I worked many years in an ER setting- and I tell you truly that my experience as a burn patient made me a better nurse- a better human. I never once felt that I was denied a job nor a friendship because of my scars. I learned to treasure every moment of life. PLEASE KNOW that it will be OK. Your son will be a stronger man for this. Although I know (better than most) that you would never have wished this to happen- it did. I know my parents struggled through this time- my advice to you both is to take care of yourselves. I know that at this moment you are leaning over his bedside- going without sleep and meals. You must, MUST take care- he will need you to be strong when he comes home. He will be afraid to leave the house- as I was- for some time. But that will change. He will grow stronger. He will. This is the beginning of something new. You can do this. Again- find your strength- it WILL be OK. God Bless you all.

I still can't understand how these boys could do this to this young innocent boy. When I heard this story I couldn't believe it! I still can't forget about it. I feel for him!! I want to do something for the family, but I just don't know what. I seen the mom in an interview on the news and I couldn't stop crying. I just couldn't imagine what she is going through right now. The holidays are coming. I would like to do something for them.

Those kids are plain evil and they deserve major punishment. They did know what they were doing and knew it was wrong. They didn't care. They all should be charged as adults.

Babs, I think the author was eluding to the fact that the justice system isn't just slapping these kids on the wrist, and putting them on probation. They are actually being tried as if they were adults doing the very same crime. So, that's a good thing.... a very good thing.
I hope when Michael is able to speak, that he tells HIS side of the story and that those monsters that did this to him, are forced to listen to what he has to say. And then, somebody needs to set them ablaze and see how they like it.... eye for an eye...

I can't imagine, as a parent of a wonderful young daughter, how these young men could possibly do something so incredibly evil!!!! What kind of parents raise such hateful children? Certainly they've shown other behavior in their lives that would be a "red flag" to get help! Did they fall through the cracks of the education system or the juvenile justice system, or did nobody give a damn!!!! I think the parents should be held responsible for their behavior- lock them up too and send a message to the rest of the parents of evil, hateful, disrespectful kids that the rest of us are tired of being threatened, intimidated and bullied by people who don't deserve to live freely in our society! It's time for the legal system to "grow a pair" and stop this continued dangerous behavior! God Bless the Brewer family!

Oh and to Peter Ehrlich... that's the difference between Canada and the USA. We make our people pay for what they do, it's called consequences!! If you are old enough to know that what you are doing is WRONG, then you are old enough to pay for the consequences of your actions. Even if that means putting teenagers in jail for the rest of their lives, because we certainly don't want people that are capable of commiting such crimes, walking our streets. So don't act as if Canada is so much better than America, because guess what? IT'S NOT!! God Bless America and Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served and are serving our country!! Thank you.

Those kids knew what they were doing. They should be tried as adults. As for the comment from Canada, well I guess you raise children differently there. Here the law tells us we cannot punish them for things they do wrong or the parent goes to jail. (The abused child never gets saved by the way they never speak) So enough said. My prayers are for this young man who will never again be the same. As for the ones who did this to him may they rot in prison and then in hell.

Wow, Peter Ehrlich, what is wrong with Canada? I am a Canadian myself, and it infuriates me that The Young Offenders Act protects murderous youths like these from facing the full responsibility for their actions.

I grew up in Canada, and I was taught well enough what is right and what is wrong. REPEAL THE YOA! Let those that do the crime face the punishment. In fact, its high time Canadians stood up and got the government out of their lives. It is VERY sad to see the USA taking steps that will result in the kind of abdication of personal responsibility that currently is commonplace amongst Canadians. Yes, Peter Ehrlich, that means YOU!

Well... as to the remarks from someone up in canada... these children didnt haul off and hit someone... THEY SET HIM ON FIRE! They know right from wrong im sure... there is NO excuse at all for their behavior.. obviously you keep up with the news in the US because u commented on this one. Do you see all of the horrific things going on with children? These kids deserve what's coming to them. This boys life is ruined.. covered in burns.. thankfully he didnt die over this... and you think these boys should get a lesser punishment? Maybe thats what makes the US a stronger country.. the lack of putting up with b.s

Thats what you get for being a snitch, next time dont go runnin to the cops

Nancy Grace is on the case–we're all saved! Too bad she didn't leave a link for donations for Michael.

These guys knew what they were doing and what would happen in doing so. To try them as an adult if fine with me, it will show other teens you can't get off easy when you choose to harm, mame or kill someone.

This is in reply to Peter from Canada. If this was your child that was set on fire and you had to watch helplessly as he suffers with great pain through operations, etc. for the next 10 or 15 years I'm sure you would have a totally different reaction regarding this horrific, senseless crime. I am from Canada too and I believe our laws are not strict enough. They need to throw out the young offenders act altogether. If they are old enough to do the crime, than they are old enough to do the time.

My thoughts and prayers are with Michael and his family. May God give you strength to overcome all the obstacles ahead of you and help you through this very difficult time in your lives.

God Bless,

Maureen S.

I'm from Canada too and our justice system here is hardly that– the maximum penalty for first -degree murder for people under 18 is three years incarceration, last time I looked. It's pathetic. A sixteen year old doesn't know right from wrong, can't control his responses, etc etc- the why can they get a driver's license. The Florida charges make sense to me. They appeal to my sense of right and wrong.

An eye for an eye. Let's burn these kids.

If a 16 yr. old is old enough to drive a car then he is mature enough to understand what fire will do to a body. It's not like they tossed him in the pool as a joke or tied him to a tree. They intentionally caused body harm that could have and still could result in his death. It's sad but they knew what they were doing and they could have changed their mind at any point. I wouldn't want to see them get the death penalty but they should be locked up in a juvenile facility and get a lot of counseling before they get out. They should also have to look at pictures of that boy's body and the treatment he is receiving. I wish there was some way they could feel his pain. I also agree with Carla that it would be nice if CNN set something up so we could do something for the boy and his family for the holidays.

peter, they are young adults so they will be charged as young adults-canada isn't perfect either so stop cutting down US, and john boy's racist butt is telling people to burn in hell for being racist, when it doesn't have anything to do with race. Whoever said that the kids who burned him should look at the kid now with his bandages being changed, they still wont understand what impact they have or else they wouldn't have done it in the first place, and these kids are sick and they need a lot more than just jail time...

Hey Peter. You go ahead and stay in Canada, where you like to let murdering rapists go free no matter how old they happen to be. I am ALL for charging children as adults. Once you prove you will never be a usefull member of society... bye bye. I like the idea of these boys never being free again. They are pointless.

The media says the boys found the alcohol around the apartment complex, so it sounds like they didn't bring it with them. Sounds like some apartment resident left it out. So I'm not sure how planned out it really was, since if someone usually does plan out a crime they bring all the material necessary. It doesn't excuse them from what they did, however I do question which apartment resident left this alcohol outside and was it in a general area versus a private apartment patio or such. I also wonder since one kid was telling the others what to do, that this person was the one to convince the others it was okay to do this. Peer pressure is great these days and think its a parents responsibility these days to know who their kids are hanging with.

It seems like there is more and more violence in teens these days and not sure where it is stemming from either abuse situations, being desensitized in violent video games or movies, or lack of parental concern when teens need the most support. I think our country should start education programs (like the sex/drug... classes) for understanding what will happen to kids (being tried as adults) in cases of bad or murderous crimes and education programs for parents as well as how to help teens who are struggling.

Wishing that Michael and his family stay strong and recover from this horrible nightmare.

God be with this boy and his family. I pray he fully recovers! As far as the "kids" that did this to him, they do in fact deserve to punished fully! They are old enough to understand that you don't pour alcohol over someone and light it. They were in fact old enough to understand exactly what they were doing and exactly what would happen!!! Can you imagine if they did this at 13, 14, and 15 what they would do in just a few years from now!

Setting someone on fire SHOULD even make the bleeding heart liberals take pause... Yes... a child's brain is not an adult brain. There is plenty of proof on that score, but by the same token , this group of kids were old enough to understand that pouring alcohol on someone and lighting them on fire was wrong!
Try them as adults, and when the wounds are completely healed , then offer them the chance of parole. As long as the victim is suffering , they have no right to be out in public..... that would be true justice.

These little monsters should be doused in gasoline, set on fire and then set free to run 100 yards to jump into a pool to put themselves out like the kid they lit on fire.

Jail them for life.

If that were your son fighting for his life every hour of the day, while you couldn't so much as hold his hand while he had bandages removed which contained charred necrotic flesh, tell me how you would feel? I'm an RN, and let me tell you, it is horrific for all involved – even his caregivers who have to inflict so much pain to give this young man some chance at life. So before you start criticising Americans (or anyone else for that matter), think about it would affect you or someone you loved.

I already left my comment, but when I went through and read other comments, the one from Dennis Pence hit the nail on the head!! Everyone should read it... I could'nt have said it better myself. Thank you Dennis! Toni

For this inhumane and totally unjustifiable act of violence, trying them as adults is the right way to go. If these kids can light a CLASSMATE of theirs on fire, a former friend, over $40, then they don't belong in normal society. I'm 16, and I want to say right now that it is people like this that get adults concerned that all teenagers are violent and depraved sociopaths. In reality, there are just a few of these kind of people, and the only reason there are is because the parents are lazy and using mediums such as TV and games not for entertainment, but as a substitute for education and spending time with their own children. These are the people that makes it harder for teenagers with genuine thoughts to be taken seriously. I hope they get what they deserve- nothing.

bringing the alcohol and the lighter is a premeditated act making it first degree murder

these boys would not have done that unconscionable behavior if a law enforcement officer was right there so don't gave us that psychobabble crap that children are just children and don't have the cognitive ability to know right from wrong. they deserve to die.

Michael Brewer did not have the opportunity to be charged as a child or as an adult. For the rest of his life, both child and adult, he will have to live with the after-effects of this torture. This was torture! Will Michale Brewer be able to be released from his scars after a reasonable period? No. Neither should the torturers who inflicted this sentence upon him.

I cannot even imagine what Michael is going through. Picture yourself–or your child–in his shoes before going so easy on his torturers.

His life is forever changed. There are dreams he had that now he may never realize. School will be more difficult. Lots of the normal kid things and experiences...he will never have. This is a tragedy that did not have to happen. They didn't just attempt murder, they attempted to murder by torture. Go easy on 'em??? Really???

They should be punished for what they did. Oh Mr. Peter E. I am from Canada and let me tell you that the law is extremely far too lenient with young teens. That is why there are so many teens involved in crimes and all the law enforcement can do is pick them up and bring them in to their idiot parents who let them out as soon as the policemen are gone. And why is that ... well it's folks like you Mr. E. who think that the teens of today shouldn't shouldn't be accountable for the crimes they do. If the laws in Canada would be half as stiff as in the U.S. maybe the kids wouldn't think of doing crimes. Or better yet why don't you all invite them in your house and see if you get these young thugs in the right path. Don't think so. Nobody can tell me that at 14, 15 or 16 they don't know right from wrong.

i live in Canada too *Peter \Ehrlich* and the justice system here completely sucks.....the youngsters here get *away* with murder.
a slap on the wrist!...its totally terrible!...they know what there doing alright!...literally no respect or regards for anyone!...(not all of em)
but enough of em!.......they get what they deserve!

To John Boy: Your comments are ridiculous. There are three boys charged as adults: 1 white, 1 black, 1 Hispanic. There is no race card to play here. What is obvious, however, is that these boys have parents that have failed them. I wonder how many of the five involved are from broken homes? How many have their biological fathers living with them and raising them? (I would bet none.) And, how many are living in homes where the head of the household is just scraping by to make ends meet?

@ Ehrlich- Just because they are "children" doesn't mean they don't have the brain capacity to know that setting another child on fire is wrong.

The social fabric is breaking down. Fear and greed are the best motivators. Use them. If you are going to do things such as this then, HELL HATH NO FURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they did not know it was wrong all the more reason to give them the Death Penalty, No? How can we allow people who do not know right from wrong to go about setting people on fire?

For those of you who think these kids are too young to be prosecuted as adults, let them burn your child and see if you feel the same way.

All we will be hearing now is how sorry they are! It will be a little too late. At their age they know right from wrong but kids can do whatever they want today as long as they are under 16. Whoever thought up the
'Young Offenders Act' – biggest mistake ever.... Let's hope the judge gives these young adults the punishment they deserve.

I totally agree with them being charged as adults!!! What a heinous act they committed. I SURELY knew right from wrong at that age! To say they are "children" is b.s. Were you out setting people on fire at that age? Not likely. Because you KNEW it was wrong! I hope they go to jail for a long time. That poor kid who was burned will suffer a LIFETIME of pain. You cannot imagine the pain of burns like that. It's hell on earth.

As for living in Canada, which I do, the young offenders act is a joke. If you commit a crime, MURDER even, the media can't even mention your NAME?? !!! Give me a break. I think the names should be plastered on the front page of the papers!

The criminal justice system is a joke in both countries quite frankly.

I can't remember the country, but I recently read a story where their law is, in a nutshell, an eye for a eye.

Perhaps those three teens should be doused in alcohol and set on fire too. If they were in that other country, THAT is what would happen.

So boo hoo, they get tried as adults here. I have zero sympathy and hope they get the max.

I watched a friend die from burns as a child. It took weeks.
These boys should be jailed for life and their families should have to pay the rest of their lives for the victims treatments, suffering and the cost of keeping them all locked up.

They are old enough to know what they did was wrong and now should
have to pay the price.

Oh ..and for whomever wrote "Eye for an Eye" if your wife or childs body was 65% burned and you got to pay the rest of your life for the hospital bills and emotional damages I highly doubt you'd be quoting anyone.

It was not an unfortunate act...it was a stupid and deliberate one.

These kids need lifetime in jail and no parole and the parents should be sterilized ...

Get some more Mc Nuggets and turn on another TV show.

I blame the parents 50%

if it was up to me i would give them the death penalty. in a perfect world we would punish people in the same way they ruin other peoples lives! UNFORTUNATLY

these awful kids apparently have been raised as hellions! if it was up to me they would get the DEATH PENALTY!!
UNFORTUNATLY our laws are pittiful and they will get to spend their life getting three meals a day in a warm bed while poor michael has to deal with the awful inhumane thing these little bastards have done to him. they have ruined his life and scared him forever. I say burn them and send them to HELL where they belong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Peter Not a word abt the victim ..Very strange..Sympathy for the attackers! Jeez What if it was ur kid?

A child of 15 or even 13 should know enough of right and wrong and basic chemistry to know that if you douse someone in alcohol and light him on fire, he will likely be horribly injured and might even die. These kids are monsters and deserve to be tried as adults, and yes, locked up for the rest of their lives. You think they should get a slap on the wrist and second chance, because they're so young and cute and it's not not their fault, it's society's? Here's an absolute for you – the pain and suffering their victim will have to endure the rest of his life. Will he have a second chance at a normal life?

I too have a son who is constantly picked on in school. I have moved him to the next town to go to school hoping that in a smaller setting he will be safer. I was horrified when I heard about this crime... all I could think about was... this could have been MY son!!! God Bless Michael and his long recovery, I will keep him in my prayers. Parents, this should be a wake-up call.

We don't use the death penalty enough. Most people in this country would NOT give a rats a$$ if these "suspects" get the needle.

This indeed is a tragic situation for everyone involved . My heart goes out to Michael Brewer's family and to Michael. Burns are an horrific injury that will affect him for the rest of his life. My prayers are with him. As far as the teens who did this- it is quite obvious that this was a premeditated well thought out plan.I just cannot imagine how in the world someone could come up with a plan like this and actually follow through with it. It looks like at some point something in their brains would have said how wrong this was. But they even laughed about it. For this, they should be punished as adults. They knew what they were doing was wrong .

Peter in Canada...I do understand where you are coming from, however, we arne't talking a crime like stealing out of a store here. At the age of 13, a child knows darned well setting someone on fire is not a good thing. There comes a time when you have to decide if it was a lack of understadning or a malicious and known act..in this case, it was a malicious and known attack. I know your point about life without parole and it needs to be done on a case by case basis. Previously, a child was released from juvenile detention at the age of 21, however, the age now is normally 25, and even then, they can be remanded to an adult prison if the crime warrants. If the kids were under the age of 10, I could see a juvenile charge but when they hit 13 and older, it isn't a lack of understanding anymore.

Unreal anyone would think of these 3 as "kids'. They are three people who chose to punish a poor kid by setting him on fire. I'll bet they even thought it was funny. They dont deserve to be put in jail, they deserve to be put UNDER the jail. We will see how tough they are in prison. I hear Brutis is looking for a new"girlfriend". They like that young stuff. Good luck boys, your going to need it.

Realistically it's an absolute that a human's brain doesn't reach maturity until the mid-20s, so using the logic of the immature brain do we excuse 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 year olds for doing something wrong? No of couse, so much for absolutes. When I was a child I was taught right from wrong. I knew my parents would punish me if I did something wrong. Was I a mischievous kid, yes, did I burn people, rape girls, kill people, No. Why would anyone excuse someone who's attempted to set someone on fire just because he's 15 or 16? I'm sure some want to give these kids a hug. Just remember don't get on their bad side!

How sad for this burn victim. He will be scarred for the rest of his life. These teenagers were supposedly friends. What kind of friends act in such a horrific manner. The saying "Our Children are our Future" makes me wonder how much worse our future is going to be. It seems that children as well as adults have no compassion or respect for each other anymore. We need to teach our children to be responsible for their actions. There is no excuse for what these teenagers did. They should be tried and punished as adults. They knew what they were doing.

Peter Erlich:
Believe me, we're also glad you live in Canada. Please stay there! We have more than enough bleeding hearts here. Your rant against trying children as adults seems rather silly considering that the demarkation between adults and children is a somewhat arbitrary age to begin with. I would like to see them painlessly executed, but I would settle for shipping them to Canada. Then you could show us how gentle and understanding you can be after these monsters murder a few Canadian children.

While in most instances I would be on the side of children and rehabilition in cases of extream violence - and pouring a flamable liquide and lighting it on fire qualifies - is not something that requires me to even pause...if you have enough hatred and anger in you to do something like this then you need to be punished and held accountable for your actions.

To the Brewer Family - I am so sorry that your son is having to go through this horrific experiance. I was in an accelerant related fire when I was ten and suffered burns to 76% of my body surface most of the burns full thickness. Your son is in for a long road to recovery but recover is not only possible but so is a full life. Be positive for your son and know that he will survive and overcome this injury. I have undergone 25 operations and will have more as I grow older and my skin loses elasticity. Know that even in the darkest hour that God is with him and will carry him through the recovery and beyond. I was told alot of "No's" and have disproved every one of them. If at all possible have a burn survivor talk to your son and be a mentor to your son to help him see that the burns do not define him as a person, rather they give him something most other people do not have, an insight into how to survive no matter what the odds are. God be with you and your son through the rest of this difficult but managable journey.

Funny, when I growing up we knew what was right and what was wrong. We knew burning a person alive is a "wrong" act. The next time feels anykind of sympathy for these three creatures, please go on the internet and see what a burned person looks like, what pain that person is going through, the life, if that person lives, what kind of life that person will have. You might just as sick as they are.

There must be some more meaningful way to punish these kids than just warehousing them. Hearts & minds have to be changed, not just bed linens in prison. They should have to do some sort of work that makes them see first-hand what their actions have led to, such as having to be involved with the burn unit. Naturally, if I were Michael Brewer's mother, I wouldn't want these guys anywhere near my son's hospital bed, or anyone else's, but I think understanding in concrete terms what they have done is the only way our justice system will move forward.

I appreciate Ms. Jarvis coming forward to apologize, but agree with other posters that something in the family structure somewhere put the idea into these kids' heads that extreme violence is the way to deal with someone who "wrongs" you as they believe Michael Brewer did.

Re Peter Ehrlich's comments:

I live in Canada too but you should get a life and quit your bleeding heart liberalism !! There may be a societal correlation between one's age and behaviour but there's definitely no excuse for committing such a horrendous crime .
These thugs and their parents must be held accountable for and suffer the consequences of their actions. They knew exactly what they were doing and must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

These monsters should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Their parents should be sued by this boy's parents and forced to sell everything they have to pay.

May prayers are with this boy and his family. God Bless tham.

Absolutely these 3 should be charged and tried as adults...

This dispictable criminal act was commited in concert (conspiracy to commit murder), there is obvious planning involve (premeditation), there is obvious intent, and all three have plenty of time to think through their action before the act.

Our society is what it is today – it is unfortunate that our criminal justice system have to be used on minors. But it is what it is – it's pointless to blame provety or neglected parents or bad neighborhood. The bottom line is this – plenty of children born under those circumstances grew up just fine. These kids made a choice to commit a crime, and that choice have consequences, just like everything in life.

The "they are only children" arguement has gotten old. Im sorry, Peter from Canada, but a 15-year-old understands life and death, they know that death is permanent. Lighting a person on fire over $40, in my opinion, warrants you being hammered.

When I child still doesnt understand death then such a harsh punishment is not called for. Sadly you see far to often a child getting a hold of a parent weapon and accidently shotting themselves, a sibling or a parent. The child needs to be looked after, they dont understand what it means to die, that people dont come back. But make no mistake, a 15-year-old knows what it means to die.

They knew what they were doing was wrong, there is NO excuse, NONE. If you are tough enough to commit such a crime then you are tough enough to do the time. They rolled the dice when they lit a person on fire. They stood there, looked him in the eye, covered him in lighter fluid and lit the match. Screw em, lock em up. Being 15 does not excuse you from the actions and decisions you make so please stop making excuses for them. Go tell the parent of the kid that was burned that "they are just kids", let me know if they share your feelings.

For all of the folks complaining about trying these kids as adults, imagine if that was your child who'd been burned. Would you want these criminal-minds out on the streets? Clearly something is either deeply wrong with these boys that they thought any of their actions would be ok and not punishable, or their parents are culpable. They did it in front of others, so they were hardly hiding what they did - this was blatant disregard for the safety of another and cruel. For what? $40 dollars. Give me a break.

Someone needs to treated like an adult, so if you don't want the criminals to go to jail, then fine, let the parents step in on their behalf. If my child did this, I would EXPECT them to be punished. Of course, I take the time and effort to explain to my kids the difference between right and wrong. If you don't, this is what you get. Way too many lazy uninvolved parents out there. I feel not one ounce of sadness for these kids – Michael Brewer however, I have nothing but sympathy for, because you know, he's the VICTIM.

You want to make adult-sized choices, then you should be treated like one.

Peter, I am glad you live in Canada as well, How are you going to stop children from doing these horrible things? Slap them on the wrist and tell them "No, we don't do that." This kid is going to live the rest of his life with this haunting him and the other kids can just go on with their lives like nothing ever happened?

I am completely heartbroken by this story. I pray for Michael and his family...I know their pain must be unbearable! It is so tragic that this horrific crime was committed by teenagers, the same age as the victim. While I have sadness in my heart for the boys who did this to Michael, as I know that their lives are forever changed and ruined–they will have to live with the reality that they did this to another human being for the rest of their lives–I can not fathom that just because they are teens, they did not have the sense to know that this was wrong and that setting another human on fire would have a devastating consequence. My children know right and wrong, and my children would never, ever even think about lighting anyone, or any living creature on fire!! These boys that committed this crime are obviously troubled and chances are, they have done other questionable things in the past...harming animals, etc. This kind of behavior escalates and I have no doubt in my mind that they were on a road of criminal behavior that would only continue. I am glad that they have been stopped and that they will pay for what they did to poor Michael. They should only have to spend a day in Michael's life right now to know the devastation they caused...anything they go through in being punished for this crime is NOTHING compared to what Michael and his family go through every day.

And, Peter Ehrlich, Canada is not a utopia. Canadians never break their own rules? There are parts of the U.S. system that are broken, as there are parts of the system tha are broken in Canada.

Before you start tossing stones take a look at things there. If you dont you just end up looking like a hypocrite. Things arent perfect here in the U.S. and they sure as hell arent perfect in Canada, stop preaching as if Canada is the beacon of morality.

To all those who criticize charging these teenagers as adults for this heinous crime I hope this never happens to you or your child and the culprits get 3-5 in juvenile detention and then when they turn 18 their record is wiped clean and they go on with their lives like nothing happened.

If we can trust teenagers at this age to drive motorized vehicles on public roadways at high rates of speed then we should be able to trust that they know right from wrong and burning someone over $40 is wrong and they knew it was wrong now they have to face the punishment for their actions.

If you don't want this to ever happen again you have to nip it in the butt the very 1st time. From now on teenagers will know if they intentionally try to burn someone to death they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

What these 3 punks did to this boy is totally disgusting. They have NO EXCUSE.......Im glad they are being charged as adults. They are old enough to do such a horrible crime, let them NOW FACE THEIR DOOM......I'm tired of bleeding hearts. These punks had a choice. They made the wrong one and set this child on fire. My god...What kind of parents do these animlas have? SO sad.......3 more punks tossed in jail...Lock then up forever and toss away the key..,My god! What has happened to our youth today.? They have no morals and no fear....And they o not seem to know how to live in a normal society..I hope their parents are PROUD!

May this young boy recover. I know its a long long road. God is on his side........

What happened to this boy is horrible. I think that humans of this age, although not adults, should have an understanding of right and wrong. That being said, Michael took a game and did not pay for it. That is stealing. Stealing is wrong. Michael is not entirely without blame here. The boy who was first stolen from in turn, stole a bicycle from the Michael's family, and was subsequently reported to the authorities. Probably in anger he decided to get even, perhaps because of his family life and examples, or the examples of particular celebrities so worshiped by the youth of today. But these young men went way too far to be tried as children. There is a world of difference between a 5-year old and a 15-year old. A 15 year old is on the cusp of being an adult and probably considers himself an adult... until he is in trouble. But i think if you are "adult" enough to premeditate and commit a crime of this nature, you are "adult" enough to face the consequences. And i do believe there should be serious consequences for purposefully setting someone on fire with the intent to harm or kill them. As for the gentleman who is so concerned aout racism in the case, i agree that racism is a problem everywhere, but the blame cannot be put entirely on one race. There are evil people in every race on earth, period. And they should be punished equally. If a black man commits a crime, he should be no more or less punished than a white, asian, hispanic or any race of man. You cannot fix racism by letting one race slide for previous slights. We cannot change the past, only the future.

I am very excited to see these three punks tried as adults!! As a dad of two little boys, seeing these rats tried as adults gives me some satisfaction knowing there is justice for the victims. Keeping whining about how sad it is or unfair it is that they are tried as adults. You feel that way until you watch your kid burning alive with no one to help him. This should send a clear message to others thinking of doing adult acts. Also, the parents of these future prision inmates should be spending some time behind bars. Parents need to be responsibile for their kids' actions. Congrats FL for finally getting this right!

They deserve to be punished and have their lives as well as the lives of their families ruined for what they did. If they are too young to serve a sentence, a parent or guardian of them should be required to sit in jail, in their stead, until a time which they are old enough to be punished under the law for murder. Their intentions were clear as expressed through their actions as pre-meditated. Teens all over the USA, THINK they are big tough criminals, or so dangerous others should respect them. Throw them in jail with some hardcore animals and watch them cry for their mommies. America has for too long, had a very weak system of punishment for such crimes. If crimes as these were punishable by death in a public square, they would STOP almost overnight. What kind of an animal would set another living being on fire? Those 3 have only just begun their own pathetic careers in crime. Probably go to "juvi" somewhere and later end up in a county or state prison. God Bless America. Tell the Canadian guy to put his beer can down and read the story again sober.

I am glad to see these teenagers are going to be tried as adults. You can pick up the newspaper any day of the week, in any city in this country, and read stories about young children committing horrific crimes–everything from murder to rape, robberies, arson, burglaries. You name it, they've done it. There seem to be some human beings that come into the world with NO soul; even as children they have an innate sense of what's right and what's wrong, but they don't care. They perpetrate in ways that make THEM feel good or powerful or whatever. They care nothing about other people. The problem is that these little criminals turn into big criminals. And if they aren't born with a conscience, they will NEVER get one after the fact. I'm sure I speak for many people when I say: PUNISH them SEVERELY early on for their crimes. And I mean punish! They need to feel some pain. And if that doesn't turn them around, they need to be permanently incarcerated to protect the rest of society from their viciousness.

I agree that these kids should be tried as adults. To Peter from post one, these are not children......they're monsters who know right from wrong. And to John Boy, this has NOTHING to do with RACE. All the boys involved were of different ethnicity, so race has nothing to do with it.

"Normal" children do not carry rubbing alcohol to a planned attack. PERIOD. (Carrying it is proof it was premeditated). Such blatant disregard for human life or health does not simply begin at 18. These kids after the fact FORMED A CIRCLE around the victim to prevent him from running away until the neighbor intervened, when he then ran and jumped in a pool. The victim screamed and these "children" kept their circle around him. These "children" are not normal, and this is not an act a normal child could have participated in. Do not confuse this with shoplifting, lying, etc. This is sick, even for children much younger. Obviously, there is something very very very wrong in these kids. There is no evidence we can provide out-patient treatment to alleviate this level of sickness or I would be gung-ho for that. Being locked away for as long as possible (and hopefully to receive treatment and learn by the punishment as well) is the best we can do to hope to minimize this being done to another child.

When are parents across our country going to wake up and realize that our children are living in a thug nation? That the gangster lifestyle is forced down our kids throats & embraced by our impressionable youth? They won't!! Parents have become so obsessed with their individual sense of entitlement they simply toss their kids a cell phone, an X-box or a TV instead of engaging what they brought in to this world. So when Mom & Pop Egocentric give little Johnny "Grand Theft Auto" for his b-day & later cry in front of the cameras because Johnny did something like these little thugs, well, what did you expect?

I too, do not understand why we even have a juvineile justice system when we "willy nilly" decide who to try as adults or to try as children. There is no consistancy between crimes comitted!

I am not justifylng what those kids did. It was HORRIBLE. CRIMINAL and they deserved to be punished to the maximum extent that the law provides us. BUT...it is a proven fact that your brain is not fully developed until you are in your early 20s. The last part to develop is that part that kicks in about "understandintg the consequences of your actions".

I cannot believe that those kids FULLY understood the consequences of their actions. I cant believe it, for biochemical reasons.

However, they must be punished for what they did and unforutunately, albeit too late, will come to understand the consequences of thier actions. I PRAY for that little boy that was burned. It is somewhat comforting to here PSkings story though. But that poor kid shouldnt have to suffer.

My son is 13 yrs. old, and right after this story broke he was lit on fire two brothers using Axe body spray as the excellerant. Fortunately my son's basketball shorts, and shirt being burnt was the extent of the injury, but yet and still I called the police and pressed charges against the two boys.

It was also fortunate that he had friends around him who knew appropriate ways to put out the fire so he did not get burnt.

I am sorry to hear that this young man had to go through the pain of these burns, and do feel that all responsible should be punished the appropriate way.

My prayers go out to him and his family.

@JohnBoy i am not sure if you know it or not, but none of the boys are white. Jarvis is hispanic at least half , and Jesus is hispanic as well. I do not know that race played a part in this. Just thought you might want to know that.

My god! I really believe it goes back to these kids upbringing. Where were these parents, did they account for who their kids were hanging around. As a parent you need to police your kids, spy on them, search their rooms. Learned behavior, pack mentality, don't let your kids hang around with troubled kids!

Peter, you are a wacko to make such a stupid comment...teenagers today are more grown up than you think...and when you take it upon yourself to act like an adult then you need to be treated as such..that is the problem with not treating teenagers as adults..they turn into major criminals....nip in the bud...apparently you don't have children because if you did you would not make such a stupid comment..how would you like it if that was your child that that heinous crime was done to...I can tell you if it were my kid... I would have serverly beat the living shit out of each teenager who did that ... so think before you speak..moron..

They should be tried as adults. The injuries they caused to Michael Brewer will be with him for the remainder of his life. Michael will suffer greatly for what these ghetto thugs did. The parents of those delinquents should also be punished... take away the welfare checks they raised these animals with.

I am also from Canada and I agree fully with Peter Ehrlich: what these kids did is horrible and they should be punished severely. But they remain kids.

What they did does not change who they are. Otherwise, if you can bend the rules and change who they are as you wish, why stop halfway ? Why don't you try them as foreign spies guilty of high treason and execute them? Or better yet: try them as dogs. We shoot dogs, you know. It seems many of you would love just that. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind, as they say. It is making America blind, that's for sure.

A teen's life is forever changed...he was burned alive with 65% of his body with 2nd or 3rd degree burns..whether it was an adult or teenager who committed this crime..the end result is the same..The life of Michael Brewer and his family is forever changed..The people responsible for this needs to be held accountable and put away behind bars..A 15 and 16 year old should know right from wrong at their age unless they are mentally disabled..and from what I have been reading they are not. I agree with the charges that have been filed against them...and I pray that Michael will survive and be able to live his life to the fullest!

Is $40 really worth ruining your life over kids? no, its not....

15 and 16 year old is quite old enough to know right from wrong. This crime is horrendous and these boys SHOULD be tried as adults. MAX PENALTY.

See what a generation of "Time Outs" does... These "children" are nothing more then visious punks that need to go away for a very long time. And I can't wait for the trial and their parents tell the Court, What a good Child and Son he was. That he would never hurt a fly... BS

So how would these offenders be punished in Canada, 6 months in juvenille detention, counseling, go on some wilderness retreat for troubled youth, house arrest, maybe nothing at all? Please, they planned out the attack and knowingly lit a kid on fire over some frivolous video game dispute. The victim is burned on 65% of his body and will be on a ventilator for life, his childhood is basically ruined and he will be scarred for life both physically and emotionally. These three deserve to go prison like any other criminal who commits violent crimes, the argument that because of their age they did not know any better is completely and utterly asinine. So in that 2 or 3 years between now and when they're 18 going to have some revelation that its actually wrong to light someone on fire? If they wanted the video game back their were certainly other options for doing so that they certainley knew about. Go to the cops, tell a parent, tell a teacher, instead they choose to light the victim on fire, their choice, their decision, made coherently with premeditation. Harsh though it may seem for a 15 year old to be punished as an adult for a crime, but stop thinking for a minute about the three offenders and feeling sorry for them, and think about the other 15 year old kid whose lying in a hospitol in pain because he was burned alive. No sympathy here!

Am I living in a bubble, or are these type of "kid" crimes more prevalent in Florida than elsewhere? There . . . I asked the question.

Lionel Tate (was 14 when he was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1999 battering death of 6-year-old Tiffany);

Nathaniel Brazill (was 13 when he shot his teacher in the head in 2000 because he was angry that he had been sent him home early that day – for throwing water balloons).

Michael Hernandez (8th grader slit the throat of a classmate in a bathroom at Southwood Middle School in 2004, and stabbed the kid over 40 times);

Teah Wimberly (was 15 when she shot her friend to death in school this year);

William Gorzynski (15-year-old who, last month, stabbed his brother to death with a kitchen knife as they argued over the volume on their home computer).

Perhaps my reading is too limited, but are there this many "kid" killings concentrated in any other area of this Country?

15 and 16 year olds know right from wrong. All three should be tried as adults.I hope all three get life in prison and suffer everyday just like their victim will have to do

i dont care how old they are. Let them fry!!! In a case like this, where their guilt is CLEAR, and they obviously pre-meditated to BURN THIS POOR KID ALIVE, they should receive nothing less than the harshest penalties under the law. I generally believe in second chances but I consider this crime FAR more heinous than a crime of passion in which someone shoots someone else, as they clearly conspired to torture their classmate in one of the most horrible ways possible. I hope they never see the light of day again.

there is an old saying. do the crime,do the time. an eye for an eye. i believe that if you are guilty, reguardless of age, you should suffer the penality. those 3 boys knew what they were doing when they put that alchol on him. maybe they should do the same to the three. pour alchol all over the three guilty boys and set them on fire and let them see how it feels. then we will ask them how they feel about the pain that was caused on them by what they started in the first place. does it feel good? are you sorry? WHAT!!!!! like i said an eye for an eye.

I say an eye for an eye. Too bad the victim's family members can't set these no good pieces of scum on fire and burn them alive. I hope they all rot in hell. Nice parents they must have to raise them to do this to another human being!!!

Peter, you have to realize that ADULTS DO THE SAME THING. A child knows the difference in right and wrong especially 15 and 16 year olds, and they know that setting someone on fire is WRONG. They need to suffer the consequences that come along with doing such a horrible thing. These kids deserve to be tried as adults. That poor kid is going to suffer for much longer than they would be if they weren't tried as adults. I too think about this poor child everyday. To think it was all over $40...what is this world coming to?!

My heart goes out to the parents of this poor boy and yes, to the parents of the culprits. It's so easy for us to immediately blame the parents but none of you know what they have done or gone through and NO you don't always see the signs that your child is capable of something this horrible. I am a mother of a teen who committed an act that completely devestated my world. He didn't hurt anyone BUT still, his actions shocked me and everyone in my family and to this day, I struggle with the what if's and completely blame myself as his parent. I DID seek counseling and was 100% involved in his life and yet STILL did not know the extent of his anger. I think it's very unfair to immediately blame parents when there is so much in this society that does effect our children. Unless this story shows the lack of parenting I won't jump on the band wagon and blame. It's so easy to throw stones and hope to GOD none of you have to experience what some of these parents of these teens are going through. Noone ever thinks THEIR child can do something like this but truth of the matter is once your children get to a certain age, there are sooooo many more influences then just the parents. You can only pray that your parenting and guidance has guided your children onto the right path but they still have minds of their own and outside influences can play a huge part especially when trying to feel accepted. I pray for everyone involved.

Actually Mr. Ehrlich, I'd prefer expanding the death penalty to people from the age of 16 and above. I think many Americans would agree. It's a pity that the U.S. Supreme Court denied it for people under 18.

You can think of me as you wish. I have absolutely no sympathy for true savages.

sanjosemike

Peter, these "children" knew what they were doing, coordinated an attack and changed a young man's life forever. 2 – 3 years is all that separates them from being legal "adults".

Regardless of rather they are tried as adults or not they need to be punished severely for the atrocity they have committed.

It's so easy for you to pass judgement but you aren't the kid on the ventilator struggling for life right now (and you aren't his father either).

If this were you (or more importantly your kid if you have them) would you still be so judgmental of our justice system?

I am a Canadain and I agree that these boys deserve to be tried as adults. What did they think they were doing, giving this boy a little hot foot. I doubt it. They knew what they were doing and should be punished for it. Too many times up here in Canada these juvenile delinquents hide behind our youth laws and get a slap on the wrist. I'm sorry it peeves me off that the bleeding heart liberals stand back and say "they didn't know what they were doing" This is a load of crap. Never do these bleeding hearts think of the victim. Sorry Peter you can stuff your attitude on this one, we are far too lenient here in Canada with our youths and the bad ones know how to take advantage of it. You would have a different tune if it was your son lying there in the hospital suffering. Let these boys be tried as adults and maybe in 20 years revisit their cases and see if they deserve a second chance but not before. This is over $40 what would they have done if it was something really serious.

Do the crime,do the time. These kids were, no doubt put into timeout instead of being taught that wrong choices bring swift action not talk.

I do believe these young adults should be punished. These kids were between 15yrs old to 16yrs old and deserves whatever punishment comes to them. My main concern unfortunately is the legal system not being even accross the board from state to state. I couple of white high school football payers beat a hispanic to beth but only get 24 months in jail. Again they killed a young man and really got a smack on the hand for MURDER WHILE YELLING RACIAL SLURRS. The community say these kids are good boys but how good can you be if you MURDER an other human being with your bare hands . If these boys get sentenced to more time than those boys that actually KILLED a man then a great injustice will have occured and nobody is man enough to step up and say the legal system from state to state is a JOKE.

I agree they should be punished for the crime. What they did was horrible. Punish them as much as the law allows a child to be punished. They are children they should be tried as children. This is not rocket science.

This really upsets me. Charge them as adults and throw away the key. These will be the same ADULTS who will get out of prison and repeat offend over and over. THROW AWAY THE KEY!!! In 20 years, yeah maybe they will be sorry for what they did to a fellow human – but that boy will STILL be burned and scarred. THROW AWAY THE KEY. I feel for all the parents involved, because they are all affected negatively and all have to deal with loss. My heart goes out to you and the victim.

Also my comments have NOTHING to do with race – I just re-read more comments, and let me be clear.... I DONT CARE IF THOSE ADULTS WERE BLACK WHITE RED OR GREEN...... what they did was wrong and THEY KNEW THAT.....

I have the answer:

Q: What is the perfect age to tell if a kid does or doesn't know what he is doing is totally wrong? So then he or she can be tried as an adult.

A: The parents. The parents should serve also jail time with thoes kids. Why? is simple, this is an example: I can give my kids today (age 2, 4 and a match with gasoline, and tell them to burn something and I give you my word that my kids (not even the 2yr old) by ignorance will set fire or harm anyone, becuse at my house my kids are treated with respect, and if they do some wrong we dont go out and beat them, we talk to them. I know what they did was wrong and yes they should pay, but real parents out there know that the real guilties are the parents. I bet you that 3 kids don't have a family like you and me, they probably where living with their parents but learning all alone with no good examples to follow. I bet you maybe all the 3 are beaten and scream at constantly in daily bases when they do some wrong and not corrected like parents should do.

My recommendation is that the kids should be sent to prison for no less than 10years and their parents for no less than 30yrs. And whoever was involved in direct care of the 3 kids, also be sent to prison for no less than 15yrs, this my friends will sent a strong message and believe me.

The perpetrators should have one of their arms doused in alcohol and set on fire so that they know some small measure of the pain they inflicted.

Peter – I am happy you live in Canada and not here also. What these 'children' did was a deliberate act of human torture that will resonate forever in that victim's life. His body and mind will be scarred permanently. He will have nightmares about those 'children' and what they did to him. It will take him years to regain just the simplest basic functions and that is if he survives the next year or so of grafts. There is not enough pain medication to keep him out of pain without keeping him in a coma so each day will be a new experience in pain.

We aren't talking about a bunch of 5 year olds that were sitting around playing with a lighter and accidentally set someone on fire without understanding the consequences of their actions. These actions were planned and so should the punishment.

They know right from wrong at 15! Put them away.

disagree with you Luis – 15 and 16 year old boys are WAY different than ages 2 and 4 – trust me. Wait until your kids hit there teens – not saying that your kids will burn someone, but trust me, they are teens, not angels. You should do some research – one of the boys who did the burning, his family did a live public apology to the victim and his family. They looked like a pretty normal family to me. Stop pointing the blame at others and make those who commit crimes responsible for their actions. No scapegoats please. No disrespect either, just my thoughts.

These boys should have known better. I have teenage kids and they know that if you pour alcohol on some one and light them, they will catch on fire. This boy will be in pain the rest of his life. Why should they be tried as children, get out in 3 years and live the rest of their
lives while this boy suffers for the rest of his.life. They deserve
everything that is coming to them.

The parents of these children should face jail time and their other kids should be taken away. To try to burn someone alive over $40 is sinister and had to be learned from an out of touch family. The apology the parents gave was more about being sued than heartfelt sorrow. How can you raise a boy to try to kill a friend over money? Florida should take a good look at these deadbeat parents now!

If your child was the victim of this terrible crime, you would be singing a different tune instead of protecting the rights of the suspects, child or adult.

Thank God I live in America where "children" who are vicious and murder others can be tried as adults. If anyone feels differently maybe they have not had a "child" ruin a life close to them. Children steal, rape and murder every day. Serial killers did not become killers as adults. They killed animals as children. I am sick and tired of people not being punished for crimes and ten years down the road we wonder how they went under the radar so long.

These kids should get 1 yr for every scream emitted from this poor child heard on the 911 call. It is absolutely horrifying.

Peter, we all know Canada has problems with people being accountable for their actions. Canadians are the last people who should tell someone how to run their country. 15 and 16 year olds know this is wrong. His life is ruined and I have to wonder why these three indiviuals deserve another shot at their lives.

Peter, the issue isn't whether they are children or not. The issue is knowing right from wrong. No one, in their right mind, would possibly argue that teenagers don't understand their actions. By trying them as children, we are setting an example that these actions are forgivable because they cannot comprehend what they were doing. That's absurd and you know it.

They knew what they were doing. End of story. I question the parents in this situation; what kind of morals and values were instilled in these teens? Instead of attacking the United States, why don't you think of the real underlying issues – I'll give you a hint; it's not our laws.

It is obvious that the problems with these delinquents started at home. If their parents bothered to teach them right from wrong, they never would have conceived of doing something so brutal.

If they are going to commit adult crimes, they deserve to be charged accordingly. Look at the mugshots of these so called "children". Where is the remorse? They set another child on fire!

How come nobody is talking about the violence these kids were exposed to when they were little kids? How come nobody taught them about compassion? All kids need to witness that other people have feelings too. Where did all the hatred come from...they didn't get that way by accident. Were they exposed to the media while their parents were not around to supervise them and to instruct them on common decent behavior. Did their parents enjoy the violent programming right along with them? "Frying" them after the fact isn't teaching them anything but more violence. I agree they should be made to watch Brewer's suffering while his bandages are being changed, maybe then they would get it.
But maybe it's too late.

Give 'em a "timeout". That'll straighten 'em out, huh?

While the decision to set this boy on fire was to a degree thought out, though the descriptions of the event make it sound clumsily carried out, it in no way was an "adult" decision. Healthy adults wouldn't do this. These boys are children. They are not capable even at 13, 15 and 16 years of age of thinking with the reasoning ability of adults who can carry an idea to it's conclusion and possible consequences. That's way we call children at these ages minors, and do not allow them the same rights and privileges of adults. These boys should not be tried as adults. They are not adults. My sympathies are of course with this poor young man and his family, and I hope he will fully recover. I don't see however, that punishing children as adults will aid that recovery. We could lose as many as six lives here. Let's focus on help and support for the boy in recovery, and treatment along with yes, appropriate consequences for children not adults, for all the children who participated in this crime. We might just save them all. And isn't that better?

The victim here will never get to be an adult living the way most of us do. He will be scarred for life and maybe even living in pain as well. Why weep for these criminals. They sould be charged as adults and be made to pay a high price for their crime. There are many many young people in the same circumstances as these criminals who choose not to engage in criminal behavior.

I must comment again–but regarding these "children" being tried as adults. To think that a 16 or 17 year old doesn't understand the consequences of their actions, but on their 18th birthday, they suddenly gain that valuable knowledge is ridiculous. I can understand that teenagers may not understand the consequences of some things...if you get into a fist fight with someone, a teenager is probably not going to think it will result in death...but sometimes it does! That is an incident that MAY be an example of not grasping the consequences of your actions.

But to light someone on fire!!!?? Completely different story! These "children" are plenty old enough to know that setting someone on fire is WRONG and is dangerous and deadly. They set out to hurt Michael...they brought the alcohol, knowing it would be flammble, with the intent to douse him and light him on fire! Even a small child knows that fire burns and would never even think of lighting someone on fire. To think that these boys didn't realize that by pouring alcohol on him, and striking a ligher and flicking it on him, that he and his clothing would catch on fire and that would be a very, very bad thing and that it would cause great pain and harm to him is ludicrous. Unless they have the mentality of 2 year old, the consequences of setting another human being (or any living creature) on fire is obvious. They are sociopaths with no regard for human life. Do we want them in a few short years, bigger and stronger, roaming the streets to victimize others? If a $40 game is worth inflicting the worst kind of pain on another boy, your own age, who you know...then what will they do when something bigger comes along that they think they need to get revenge about?

They should thank the Lord God above that their method of revenge or justice is not, in turn, inflicted upon them!

There should be no "age" requirement to be tried as an adult for murder or vilent rape, etc.. Millions of people go through their teens knowing what's right and what's wrong, both morally and legally. Some people even in adulthood never grow up and never abide by the rules. When we reach the age of reason (7 ?) we know how to behave. I think it's wrong when I hear people say – They are only children, their minds are not developed – Baloney ! These same "children" will become tomorrow's criminals. Stop them now.

These kids know what they did was wrong. I did stupid things when I was there age, but nothing close to this magnitude. They should pay the price as adults for doing something to someone that will forever scar him physically and emotionally. If this happened to your child I'm wondering if your attitude would be the same........I don't think so.

These kids did not steal a car, break windows of a house or do something that could be easily fixed. They put another kid on fire! They had to be planning this. They had to bring items with them, they had to be looking for the kid, and you think they should be treated like a child? Not many KIDS would set another kid on fire. The VICTIM in this case has to live with these burns the rest of his life and probably is in pain everyday. And people think the KIDS in this case WERE just kids that made a bad mistake?

My prayers are with the boy struggling for his life and his family.

One question? what would the other boys parents be saying right now if it was the other way around and they got burned. Nuff said!!

I am glad to hear that these kids will be tried as adults. Keep in mind these boys are high school age. They should have the sense to not set another human being on fire intentionally! They knew what they were doing. No one should "take it easy on them" because of their age because in my opinion, them being the age that they are, they should know better. If they slap them on the hand and let them go, they are only going to grow up and be the age where people actually consider you an adult and each do a similar crime thinking that they can get away with it and that will just leave more victims out there for them. They need to be taught that other people's lives aren't something to play around with. A crime is a crime, no matter how old you are when you know better, you're just going to have to learn there are consequences to your actions.

Well Peter Ehrlich, I am Canadian as well and sure wish we had stronger punishments in our country. I will have to disagree with you considering these boys are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. If they keep getting a slap on the wrist, they will keep on hurting others. I don't care what age you are, if you are old enough to do a crime you are old enough to do the time. Society in the US and Canada is messed up and will keep getting worse if these losers aren't strictly punished. I think both of our countries let people off too easy and that is why the crimes keep happening. I like Texas, they have the express lane for the death penalty. I think that rapists should have their dick cut off too. May make the others think twice about harming our babies. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

I believe they should be treated as adults, That is why so many young people commit crimes.. they think they can get away with it.. I don't think so.. These boys knew what they were doing.. Although I am so sorry for their parents because I am sure they were good parents.. sometime's no matter what we do as parents we have no control.

To John Boy...enough with the race card! That is soooo played out

Pat- Whoever the hell you are, How dare you post something like that!!! You need some serious help. It scares me to think people like you think that way. You better just hope that the wrong person does'nt find out who you are, (and I'm sure it won't be impossible) because they might not think twice about doing something as bad(if not worse) to you... LITTLE MAN.

Agree with you Mary. Parents aren't always in control of their kids's actions. There are plenty of criminals out there who have great parents and come from a loving home. They need some kind of harsh punishment. They know too well that if you burn someone, it will cause pain.

But God fobid you spank one of them. That's the biggest load of *&^% I"ve ever heard. If there was punishment at home, there would be alot less of this BS.

If these children did not know what is right from wrong, I will blame the parents. But you can't take take the parents to court for that. These kids committed a crime beyond their age, so let them face an adult treatment and pay for their parents' deficiency in moral education. The US justice system can send children to adult courts for such crimes. This is justice. I only wish my country, Canada, did the same.

I have raised only 2 children so the experts may challange me on this ... but .. I never though for a second that my children were perfect angels. It should not be surprising what children are capable of. If you havent raised any you have atleast been one. These "children" that did this knew exactly what they were doing. They know that if you burn yourself it hurts. So they KNEW that if you pour alcohol on someone else and set them on fire what the consequences were going to be. I agree with treating them as adults. They didnt beat the kid up, THEY SET HIM ON FIRE... This is not what a child is capable of verses what an adult is capable of this is what monsters are capable of. Treat the "children" like adults. Punish them. Or we could just put them in time out so that when the "children" go out to play next time maybe they will actually kill someone. Afterall, kids will be kids.

So what if it was your 15yr old child looking at life in prison...would all you hypocrites be so ready to lock them up and throw away the key? Of course not. You would want your child to be given a second chance to have a productive life.....15 yrs for each one that had direct involvement with the crime period. And If it were my child that got set on fire I would be furious, but I would also understand that they were 15yr olds who committed this crime and that no matter how much time they served in prison my son will be none the better for it. What's done is done.

I think a life sentence is the right punishment

John Boy thats not an issue, Im tired of people bringing race into things, the fact is we are all human, race doesn't matter.

Peter must be a Leafs or Sens fan because only Leafs and Sens fans wine about stuff. Peter the system is messed up. I hope you never take office in Ottawa.
Go Habs Go!

To Mike, hang in there buddy and get well.

STUPID ANIMALS, WILL GROW INTO BIGGER ANIMALS, PUT THEM BACK IN THE JUNGLE WHERE ANIMALS LIVE.

I am puzzled that Peter and John Boy have no compassion for Mike, except for the guys that did this. I am sorry to Leaf and Sens fans for my remark earlier.

I am wondering about the other two guys involved in this. I feel they should get punished as well. The reports said there were five.

In response to Peter's comment: Thank God that here in the United States we have real justice. If these kids can do something like this now, I shudder to think of what they'll do as adults. For the safety of the general public, they should be removed from society. That, I think, should be the main focus of our justice system. Moreoever, let's not be naive and overlook the fact that justice is not only about punishment and protecting the public, but also about retribultion. Quite frankly, these kids should get what they deserve. By the way, the Supreme Court just this week heard arguments about the constitutionality of sentencing juveniles to life in prison without parole. This is not something we don't struggle with everyday. No one is flip about these types of decision. And really, Mary, you would "understand" the limited capacity of his tormenters if your child was in horrific agony and facing a lifetime of pain and disfigurement? I can't help but be dubious of that claim. We lose credibility when we trade in rationality for rhetoric.

Hey WW-what if it were your kid or family member that was set on fire-would you want these scums tried as juveniles and get out in just a couple of years while your family member suffers for life. This was premeditated. Teenagers need to know the consequences of these kind of actions or they will just think they can do these heinous acts with just a slap on the wrist.

Mary, that is the most ignorant thing I've seen written tonight. You wouldn't have any ill feelings for the ones who set your child on fire?? That is plain stupid on your part and I don't really believe you. These boys were 15 and 16 years old. They knew what they were doing and they knew what they were doing would cause great harm to this other body. They should be punished for what they did. And it should be a harsh punishment. They almost took away the life of another human being. I day give them life.

Tried as adults – the age to be considered an adult is 18 because they are still school aged in this country. In Europe and Australia, people have the option at 15 and 16 to either continue school in a trade or prepare for professional degrees. So the difference between saying adult or child in this case, in my opinion, is irrelevant. These boys should be charged as adults for this crime. How would you feel if your child were doused with alcohol and burned by a group of wayward teens? Would you still be so critical of the US trying these teens as adults for the purpose of taking responsibility for their actions?

I live in Broward County and I am heartbroken for Michael's family. I am 36 years old and have lived here my entire life. When I was a student we had something called corporal punishment. Now I understand alot of you will disagree with me, but I want you to stop and think about how the young adults and teens of today act vs. the way we acted. I was terrified of Mr. Freeman and the large paddle hanging out of the back pocket of his pants, that fear taught me respect. I would never have spoken to an adult the way most of our youth today do. I would have never mosied across a parking lot in front of a 3 ton vehicle with an attitude, like your in my way. In our day, the worst you did was get in a fist fight, not guns, not knives, not rubbing alcohol and matches! Parents today are scared to discipline their children, for they may be prosecuted.

I hope the that these boys (yes boys) are punished to the full extent of the law, they knew what fire would do to Michael, they knew what they were doing and they planned to set him on fire. I have zero sympathy for these boys!

I also would like to mention how hateful these boys friends and families are, they put burned baby dolls in Michael's sisters pool. Why? to threaten her? to scare her? to make her move? Question for the police dept of Deerfield Beach? Any record of these boys being involved in a Gang?

I pray everyday for Michael and his family!

Still no one has addressed the issue i presented. These teenagers that set the other teen on fire should pay but what about the teenagers from Pennsylvania that killed a man by beating him to death. Was the sympathy for him and his family. People are so hypocritical. One crime you are all like throw the book at them and then another crime which a actual person died your like oh they just made a mistake there good boys. Who decides which kids are going to be no good. Again the event that took place is tragic but you cant throw the book at young teenagers when yo have other older teens closier to 18 that MURDERED a man that had a wife and kid with there bare hands while yelling slurrs only got 24 months in jail. Please can someone speak on that.

What the hell do you mean the justice system has turned a blind eye .I think everyone of these kids should be locked away forever so they dont get the chance to try and burn someone else up.

What the hell do you mean the justice system has turned a blind eye? I think everyone of these kids should be locked away forever so they dont get the chance to try and burn someone else up.

I'm surprised Pat with the "snitch" comments could even type a thought on this subject since he is apparently missing a brain. What an idiot!!!

These itinerants should be tried as adults. They thought they were big when they did this violent act so let them pay for it BIG. They knew what they were doing...poor Michael will have to suffer for the rest of his life...let them suffer too.

I am from Canada and I know that children are children but by us keep telling them this they are going to use it as an excuse. I remember that at the age of 15 I KNEW not to throw alcohol on another kid and light them on fire. These kids should know too. Ya know what else is stupid is that these kids probably think that they were adults and didn't need to have their parents tell them what to do. They want to be stupid and make adult decisions then they should go to jail and serve adult sentences.
Canada has a horrible justice system. I think it's the one thing that we can take from the U.S. Kids have to have accountability and responsibility too other wise they will never learn.

This is the most shocking thing I have ever read. There is terrible turn and a HARDING of hearts in our world. I learned about this evil act while at work. I also learned about a child that was raped for over two hours and people watched. AMERICA does this seem right with you? AMERICA we need to step up to our duties. I firmly believe: if you kick the love of the Lord out of your house He will leave. When the love of the Lord is gone, well we see what happens. SAD for us all.

Perhaps they should be tried as child offenders and in 5 years their evil little selves can be sent to the homes of all the bleeding hearts on this blog. Maybe you should go visit a burn center and get a clue. These boys planned to murder that boy! Planned and carried it out. That is the problem with our youth today. They are not held accountable for their actions. Where are the bleeding hearts for the victim? No one is asking LE to set those boys on fire. Just remove them from society so they don't kill again!

Although the odds are that the parents have their own issues, we do not know that they had not tried to control these boys. At 15 and 16 they have bodies of an adult pretty much. I do agree it does all boil down to how the child was raised. You rarely hear of kids whose parents are involved in their lives (sports, scouting, church, family time, etc) commiting such deeds. It is usually the children who are left to raise themselves.

My earlier post should have read removed from society so they don't maim or attempt to kill again.

They need to also charge the parents with accessory.

Okay... To all of you who are saying "oh it was bad judgement" and "they have children minds"...What if it were your son or daughter these boys set fire to?? You would want the max punishment...15 & 16 yr olds know the difference between right and wrong! When I was in Kindergarten I learned that fire will burn you! There's no excuse. They all three thought about what they would do to this boy over 40 flippin dollars and they carried it out. It was a bad decision, but one they consciously made. So, let them think about it in their cells!

I agree with John Boy -he's right....The FBI would be involved investigating it as a hate crime – that is a fact. Al Shapton or Jesse Jackson would be on a flight there right now...

YOu said it JB

They should be burned themselves,let them feel the pain and horror for what they PLANNED!But no we'll put them in jail and pay for them until they turn 90 and die of old age! Tired of the justice system!

I agree with the ones that support them being tried as adults, when I was younger I was told the old addage 'commit the crime, do the time.' This makes me sick reading these teenagers can do this to teenagers, over 40.00?!?!?! No amount is worth being set on fire for. If my kid were set on fire, I would make sure the book was thrown at those monsters...I know a man that has 3 boys, 16, 15, and 8, and you know he considers his sons perfect and they can never do any wrong! He even puts them up on the highest saintly pedestal he can find...Parents like these scare the living crap out of me if they think their kids can 'do no wrong' Well I guess this is what we have to look forward to with our youth....

These little monsters should definitely be tried as adults....their crime is far worse than some that adults commit. If they were to just be locked up until 21, can you imagine the crimes they would then commit? I say lock them up and throw away the key!!!

My thoughts and prayers go out to Michael and the Brewer family.

These teenagers should get what they deserved. They know right from wrong and setting a boy on fire!!! come on now..they deserve to be punished. NO slaps on the wrists. If so im sure they will do it again!!!

It is too bad that it comes down to charging teens as adults., HOWEVER, who fault is that?! THEY made the (bad) decision to set this boy on fire. I agree, their parents should be going along to prision with them. It was their bad luck to be born to dead beat parents. With the exception of Hernandez, all of the boys' parents have been in trouble with the law. The father of Matthew Bent, arranged for a similar attack on a man that owed him money about a decade ago. It's no wonder Matthew is a nutcase with a loser father like that. It all came down to choices and these boys made the wrong one, now they can pay for their horrific choice. So while the decision cannot be easy to charge a youth as an adult, I certainly feel it's justified in this case. Break the cycle of abuse before these boys have "killer children" of thier own running around spreading even more violence.

These boys went with the intention to do bodily harm. One does not carry around a bottle of rubbing alcohol. They threw it on Michael and they knew the match would flare up. Michael will suffer the rest of his life. I don't care how or if these teens had it bad growing up no excuse to do what they did.

John Boy.....all three of the boys are charged with the same offense. They are each of a different race. How do you , in your mind, make this to be racist against the african american boy? Be careful what you wish for because it seems you are the RACIST! So I guess you will see all the others in Hell, right?

John Boy...are you for real? Enough already, I'm so sick of the racist crap. You do the crime, you do the time. All of the teens need to be punished in the same manner.

YEAH! I am glad they decided to try them as adults. They deserve what ever comes their way. It was just awful what they did to Micheal. Wonder what kinda time comes with the charge? Hope it is along time.

Gayle I completely agree with you. and DJ I believe you were addressed when it was said that we are sick of the racist card. we could through a lot of cases in this but I think being burned alive trumps them all!

anyone involved should be punished by law kids or not they knew better and until the law starts to set an example these kids are going to keep doing what they do because they know they are not going to be punished maybe if punishments were alot harder on them it will send a message to all children that we are sick of these violent crimes and hopefully another child wont be hurt

the boys should feel the same pain the boy went through. put them away for aloung time.....

The racist comment is unbelievable.These boys were looking for someone else to blame for their lifes woes just as this person is. Stand up and accept responsibility for your own life and quit looking for someone to blame because you are lazy and unmotivated.Look at mentors like Obama and Colin Powell and Miya Angelou.
I own a childcare center and can see kids as young as four that are headed for destruction. Their filthy language and violence toward others is explained to me as a part of their culture ....by their mother. The rap songs booming from the cars these kids are being put into is also influencing them greatly. Wake up parents. You are sending your children to prison.

This is what happens when we let video games and the internet become our children's babysitters and playmates. We are raising a generation of sociopaths who have no ability to reason what natural consequences are or show the slightest remorse when they are caught. Not all kids are like this (thank God), but the ones who exist in the sicko fantasy world of "Grand Theft Auto," "Halo," or "War Craft (War Crap)" have no developed sense of what happens when you dump a bottle of alcohol on someone and strike a match. What's in your kid's X-Box?

Dear Peter Ehrlick,
Welcome to Planet earth and reality. Nice to have you join the rest of us on this planet. What if your son was on his death bed after having been set on fire by some teenage punks. They didn't steal a candy bar or a toy, they set someone on fire! If a juvenile commits a juvenile crime, no problem, try them as a child, but when a juvenile commits an adult crime and can make rational decisions, they need to do the time as an adult. 15 and 16 year olds, are not children, one can drive a car, and 2 of them can in 1 years time, that is a massive responsibility, if you can drive a car you can go away forever for attempted 2nd degree murder.

I live in Canada and I am ashamed at our criminal injustice system. My neighbour, killed in her own home by a runaway drunk driver crashing into her house, 2 years less time served pre trial. You think that is justice Peter? Peter you're limited ability to think critically is the problem.

If you do the crime, you deserve the time! Wake up people. These are not innocent "children". They deserve more than they will get!

Yes, they are children but what they did was an adult crime. These children are a threat to society because they have no respect for human life. They areold enough to know that what they did was wrong, period.

This comment is for James E. I also glad you live in Canada and not part of our justice system. I am all for the teenagers NOT children are being tried as adults!!!!!

ONE QUESTION???????????????????

WHAT IF MICHAEL BREWER WAS YOUR SON?????????????????

The days of Leave it to Beaver are gone forever . . . Gosh, Wally. Teenagers are far from innocent children of days gone by and have experienced more violence via television, video games and their own backyards than ever before. Any teen that dumps alcohol on another and flicks a Bic absolutely knows what they are doing. Unfortunately our society suffers from the "lack of responsibility" syndrome. These teens should be punished as adults. The crime they committed demands it.

you know i think that these kids should be held as adults it is not like any one could have stoped them it was the three of them together that made the choice to set this young man on fire i find it heard to beleve that the 3 of them did not know how this would play out at some point in time in life it is not the mother and fathers problem to deal with and mommy and daddy should not have to be put on the spot for what there kids do ones the kids reach high school age the fact is by age 14 most kids have a mind of there owen and if you think about it and look back on your owen life you know this to be true at 14 you know everything and and come up with way to get out of things you did but you know at some point in time you would be coualt up in what you did as for the issue of when a teen should be held accountable i think one they are old eongh to drive then they should be held responable in some states driveing age is 14 but in this state it is 16

this is to the people who think this is a joke what if your kid was set on fire bye these three i bet you would change your tune then

@ John Boy – I am so over the race card! Get over it- blacks can commit crime too! I am tired of a society of people trying to play 'victim' all the time. Get off your tail, watch you kids and stop raising them to believe that if they do wrong it is b/c they are victims of society. Makes me sick.

First of all "JOHN BOY", you need to learn english and drop the ebonics and I can see why you call yourself BOY. Michael Brewer has been in my prayers ever since it happened and Im glad to see Fla charging the scum who did this as adults. Their adult lives need to be scared just as Michael's will be.
Im also so tired of hearing the blacks, (or whatever you call yourself these days, since it changes so often) cry racism when their kind get into trouble. Its high time the courts made the punishment fit the crime and I hope the punishment they receive fits the crime.
Your in my prayers Michael Brewer and I hope you pull thru this ok.

To Peter from Canada;

Since you do not like our system of trying Teenagers as Adults for Murder.......maybe we should just send all our murdering children to Canada, and we won't have to worry who will be their next victim. And Yes, I have five grown children, I TAUGHT them compassion for others, they are not perfect by any means, Compassion is the biggie that is missing in these days. So what do you do in Canada when three Teenage Children light up one of their buddies and put him on a respirator?

THEY BURNED SOMEONE ALIVE FOR GOD'S SAKE! Everything else goes out the window. Who, on earth, has the mentality to light someone on fire? And especially for something as small as $40. This just goes to show where the values of young people lie, and how worthless a human life is to them. I have always felt that it is time to re-evaluate our priorities and re-educate our children on what is important. $40 vs. a human life should be an no-brainer, but then again we are living in superficial times. I am sooooo sorry for the victim's and accused families, because they have all lost the quality of life for their children. With that said, I also feel that the boys should be tried as adults because their crime is severe, and their punishment should be the same. We have no time to look over our shoulders when these boys grow up!

I feel greatly for all the parents involved, but these teens deserve to recieve a hars sentence, just as the victim did. I would not feel safe with these kids on the street. I know it is heartbreaking ..... Hmmm prev comment stated he would like all these kids sent to Canada?

I fear for my two kids, who are just pre-teen. First I worry about if their friends can be trusted ( sad that we have come to this) then I worry if my kids will become involved in a crime in this way...I stress everyday to my kids the dangers, and also try to stress that EVERYTHING the friends are doing may not be what's right. and try to keep them in touch with empathy and FEELINGS.

I'm sorry but these children have to pay for this crime. Imagine how the burn victim feels???? If they would do this at such a young age imagine them in the future? It is scary. They have to pay. Yes, it should be treated as an adult crime. They thought it out like an adult.

I personally think the parents should be tried for manslaughter as well. We have got to start holding these parents that are raising these heartless, evil children accountable. I do not care what anybody says..the apple does not fall far from the tree. I have 2 teenage boys and they would never dream of hurting another person. This society is getting worse and worse every day. As far as knowing right from wrong, 15 is old enough to know and not only that --one has to question what else these monsters are capable of??? This was a horrible story and very saddening. Like I said I just wish the parents could be held accountable as well...there is no way that these kids turned out this cold and heartless without having a bad childhood...

Do you really belive that a 15 or 16 year should not be held accountable for his or her actions? Todays "Children" are becoming more violent and are out of control. I don't believe there is anything wrong with trying these teens as adults for such a vicious crime. It was premeditated, and that's what makes the difference in how they should be charged. At that age a person should already know right from wrong. Especially if they are raised with Morals and values. The fact that it was planned means they had enough time to think about what they were doing.

In the pictures on tv the one heavier black boy has his head down in shame, the other two still look defiant. No matter whether we punish them as minors or adults these three boys lives have taken a downward spiral and their lives will never be the same. I feel so bad for the burned boy because he was hurt so badly. In my opinion I think they should be all sent to Canada and the parents should be held accountable for not being parents.

Peter, evidently you never had any crimed committed to your family by these "children".

Are you kidding me? Mr. Peter from Canada. Do you not comprehend the severity of this crime? These boys burnt this boy alive. Prison is really to easy on these boys. What pain and mental anguish this boy is going through. I really believe these boys and all the people who watched and raped the little teenager outside the homecoming dance should be held accountable. Maybe criminally they aren't liable but morally they are. The only problem with America is that criminals and people who comit these crimes have more rights then the victims. Where were their Lawyers when these poor excuses for human being were torturing them? They had all their rights stolen from them. Even in prison their are degrees of crimes. I hope each one of these poor excuses for human being suffer the same way they forced their victims to suffer. All I have to say is they are really lucking I am not the Judge in their cases. One thing you can take to the bank is there is a God and someday we all stand face to face with him. Then justice will be swift and just.

John Boy, get real!!!!! There is no racism involved. All, black or white, are guilty. All should be punished the same. Racism?? BS!!!!!

People always have to say " put the parents in jail" It is not the parents fault that their kids make horrible choices. As parents we do have to GUIDE our kids to make the right choices, at the end of the day guess who makes the last choice, exactly. ( the kid) And guess what, remember, we are not allowed to Discipline our kids, the parent will go to jail. Remember, we can only put them in time-out. I am sure the parents of these foolish kids are in there own personal hell. An eye for an eye, does not apply anymore. " New Testament" That is all I have to say...

They should be tried as adults.

I think the parents didn't have as much interest in their childrens lives as they should have. I am married and we live off a single income just so our children will have parental supervision. Money isn't worth having your children make stupid choices.

>>>PETER EHRLICH<<>>DAVE (Canadian)<<< Dave is obviously 1 out of a few or even the only intellegent Canadian that y'all have living up there

Peter Ehrlich those boys are not "children", they are animals.

These boys should never be allowed to walk the streets again. They are sick little people.

Not only did these 3 Deviant Males plan to commit Pre-Meditated Murder, they have also been Threating, Intemidating, Harrassing,& Tormenting Michael, and possibly other Victims. For their Serious & Violent actions, they need to be charged with 1st Degree Murder-(Malice Aforethought or Premeditated.) The punishment should be in relation to the amt of injury "they" caused. The "parents" could not have missed all the signs, I assure you, they were there. They may have even encouraged this "macho" attitude or maybe they chose to ignore it, either way it was there responsibility to intervine! Criminality is an aquired behavior. Social Process is a learned criminal behavior that is on-going througout a persons life. The motive was driven by complete evil and lack of empathy. This was not an accident, it was a concious decision they agreed and prepared for in advance. The punishment should fit the crime. Let this be an example to these "parents" and possible Deviant Predators contemplating crime. I have NO sympathy for these criminals who willfully participated in this act, ONLY, for Michael and his family. They should not even consider lenancy until Michael is 100% recovered Mentally and Physically! Nothing less than 100%!! If he is suffering, why shouldn't they?

RE: Toni in TX. I agree with you 100%. I don't understand why some people are upset these teens are being charged as adults. Look at the extent of their crime. What should be a outcry is the way this victim was tortured. We're talking about 15/16 yrs. old not 6/7 yrs. old (maybe at that age they even know it's wrong). Clearly their intent was to get revenge and do serious harm to Michael Brewer. You give these boys a slap on the wrist and they're almost guarantee to commit another crime sometime again in their lives. Accountability must be taken. Remember the justice system does not make decisions based on emotions. The system have to stand for something.

Serna THANK YOU and couldn't agree more with your statement. Everyone is soooooo quick to judge the parents without even knowing anything about them. If the kid is bad, has to be the parents' fault. I pray noone who throws those stones ever have to deal with THEIR kids doing something horrible and then being condemned by the public as if these parents aren't already condeming themselves.

I would like to comment on the Canadian criticizing the USA for charging these "children" as adults... For one maybe if it was your son who was set ablaze you would have a different opinion of the youths being charged here, secondly this was not some random attack on this 15 yr old boy, it was planned, and third they tried to prevent him from putting out the flames... There is something wrong with these children who decide of their own free will to watch another human being suffer in that manner, I think they should set these boys on fire, let them suffer the same pain as Michael... Get a clue; these kids plotted out a horrific act over $40 what would have been next? Killing? Some people can not be rehabilitated, some people are just evil to the core and deserve to be punished child or not.

I think John Boy needs blow the race card out his ass... I am sorry, I don't care what color these kids are, or who burned who first or who they interviewed first... they admitted it HELLO! Lets not forget about the victim fighting for his life here... evil comes in all colors, shapes and sizes you jackass...

Can someone explain to me how these monsters can plead NOT GUILTY after setting the boy on fire????

To those who are asking why we are trying these children, if they can be called that rather than attempted murderers, let's see what if this was "your" child set on fire. Let's get real about responsibility that begins with the parent(s) and about "not knowing" the consequences, give us all intelligent people a break. Let the suspects feel the consequences of their actions and while we are at it, let's have the parents pay back the family the money for the medical bills which will be incurred on behalf of the victim.

I love the notion of coming on tv with a pathetic apology that in reality will be used in court by the defending attorney to show some type of "fake remorse" that is non-existent. As for the parent who claims no idea of how her two children could have done such a thing as they were "good friends?" Well that says it all, ignorance and with friends like them who needs enemies.

We pray for Michael and may this be a wake up call to all.

I live in Canada as well – I think the American justice system should be put in place up here. The laws here are WAAAYYYYY too soft on adults and kids.

Up here theese three might get a few months in jail – then some public service for a few months picking up leaves in a park..

Two kids (sr. students) in my high school were run over and killed by a drunk driver. The drunk driver got 4 whole MONTHS in jail. That is a fact. Killed 2 – 17 year old boys and got 2 months for each life he snuffed out.

Canadaian justice system......what justice? It's not the Police – it's the laws. The laws up here need to change.

This poor little boy will suffer for his entire life from these burns – those 3 should be tried as adults. They went there with the intent to harm him and they did just that.

GB him & his family