Case Review #1

Gardner a 16-year-old accused of murdering two people by intentionally crashing her car into them stands trial in the juvenile court system. Police say Gardner stole a Chevy Tahoe from her parents’ home in Layton on June 29. She later told officers she had been on her way to meet a 17-year-old friend in Roy and was planning on “purchasing drugs, taking the drugs, and then crashing her mother’s car with both of them inside in an attempt to kill themselves,” charging documents state.
She was fleeing from an officer who tried to pull her over when she slammed into the back of another car while going almost 100 mph, killing the occupants of the other vehicle (Links to an external site.), 20-year-old Maddison Haan of West Point and 19-year-old Tyler Christianson of Ogden. The crash occurred about 1:10 a.m. on June 30 (Links to an external site.) in Roy near the intersection of 3500 West and 6000 South.
Gardner is also charged with failing to stop at the command of an officer and failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death, third-degree felonies.
Gardner had no history in juvenile court prior to the crash. Charges indicate the teen had been suicidal in the past, had a history of running away from home and was hospitalized for treatment shortly before the incident.
Discuss the elements of the crimes, and Gardner’s criminal capacity? What are the possible defenses to this crime?

Your response must be a minimum of 3 pages double spaced.
Grading Rubric:
1. Discussion of the elements of A crime
2. Discussion of the elements of Gardner’s crime
3. Discussion of Gardner’s criminal capacity
4. Discussion of possible defenses to Gardner’s crimes
5. Display of analytical and critical thinking skills
5. Overall readability and organization