Fifth graders murder trial: Two fifth-graders, aged 10 and 11, pleaded not-guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and charges related to weapons possession on March 29 in Washington. They will be tried as juveniles even though Washington juvenile court is usually reserved for defendants aged 12–18.
In February, two fifth-grade students were arrested at Fort Colville Elementary School in Washington State when their plot to kill a girl and harm six other classmates was uncovered.
At an arraignment hearing on March 29, the boys pleaded not guilty.
Under Washington state law, children under 12 years of age are not considered able to form an intention to commit a crime, according to Reuters.
Stevens County Superior Court Judge Allen Nielson ruled that the boys, aged 10 and 11, would nonetheless be tried in juvenile court, as they had the capacity to understand right and wrong, reports Reuters.
A student had seen one of the boys with a knife on the school bus and alerted school employee
