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Boy found responsible for killing neo-Nazi father Boy found responsible for killing neo-Nazi father
(35 minutes later)
A California boy has been found responsible for murder in the shooting death of his neo-Nazi father at age 10.A California boy has been found responsible for murder in the shooting death of his neo-Nazi father at age 10.
The ruling means that the boy, now 12, could be sent to a juvenile prison until age 23.The ruling means that the boy, now 12, could be sent to a juvenile prison until age 23.
Prosecutors argued he killed his father, Jeff Hall, 32, to stop him separating from the boy's stepmother.Prosecutors argued he killed his father, Jeff Hall, 32, to stop him separating from the boy's stepmother.
Defence lawyers said the boy, who had grown up in an abusive environment, was too young to know right from wrong when he pulled the trigger in May 2011.Defence lawyers said the boy, who had grown up in an abusive environment, was too young to know right from wrong when he pulled the trigger in May 2011.
Hall was shot at point-blank range as he slept on a sofa in the family's home.Hall was shot at point-blank range as he slept on a sofa in the family's home.
'Not naive''Not naive'
At issue in the case in Riverside County, 60 miles (96km) east of Los Angeles, was whether the boy acted with premeditation.At issue in the case in Riverside County, 60 miles (96km) east of Los Angeles, was whether the boy acted with premeditation.
In her ruling, Judge Jean Leonard said she had considered the boy's age, his understanding of the crime and his "long history of abuse and neglect".In her ruling, Judge Jean Leonard said she had considered the boy's age, his understanding of the crime and his "long history of abuse and neglect".
Jeff Hall was the regional director for a neo-Nazi group called the National Socialist Movement, and had led Nazi-style rallies in his hometown of Riverside, California, according to the Press-Enterprise newspaper.
However, prosecutors said Hall's white supremacist beliefs had nothing to do with the son's crime.
Judge Leonard said that while the boy had grown-up "exposed to guns, hate and violence in his home", he knew right from wrong.
"This was not a naive boy," Judge Leonard said, according to NBC Los Angeles. "[He] knew what he was doing was wrong at the time of the crime.""This was not a naive boy," Judge Leonard said, according to NBC Los Angeles. "[He] knew what he was doing was wrong at the time of the crime."
The boy's younger sister supported the prosecution's case by saying that her brother had planned the shooting days in advance.The boy's younger sister supported the prosecution's case by saying that her brother had planned the shooting days in advance.
The boy had also told police he did not expect to get in trouble because he had seen an episode of the television show Criminal Minds in which a child killed an abusive father and was not arrested.The boy had also told police he did not expect to get in trouble because he had seen an episode of the television show Criminal Minds in which a child killed an abusive father and was not arrested.
Prosecutors noted that the boy had a history of violence dating back to nursery school, when he stabbed a teacher with a pencil.Prosecutors noted that the boy had a history of violence dating back to nursery school, when he stabbed a teacher with a pencil.
He will be sentenced next month, and his defence lawyer said he hoped his client would be placed in a private facility that offers therapy and schooling, rather than a juvenile detention centre.He will be sentenced next month, and his defence lawyer said he hoped his client would be placed in a private facility that offers therapy and schooling, rather than a juvenile detention centre.