Topic of the Day: Georgia Father Sentenced to Life
13 On Your Side wants to know your thoughts:
For more than two years we’ve been following the story of Justin Harris the father of Cooper Harris a 22-month baby boy who died as a result of being left in a hot car.
The Atlanta native claimed that it was a horrible accident; but, security video and phone records proved to show otherwise.
According to video taken at a fast food restaurant Justin Harris was recorded placing his son in his car seat and kissing Cooper on the head.
This was the norm for Harris who would take his son to eat before dropping him off at daycare; on this day however he missed his turn which leads to the daycare and went on to work.
Security video from his job shows Harris reaching over to the passenger seat of his small crossover and getting his laptop. He then went to work, carpooled in a friend’s car for lunch; Harris ran some errands buying light bulbs and then was seen on video placing the bag of light bulbs in his vehicle and returning to work.
7 hours later Harris got into his car and drove off, that’s when he says he noticed Cooper’s lifeless body. According to temperature records it was about 92 degrees that day; with the windows rolled up, fire officials say the temperature in the car would have become dangerous in mere minutes.
Since a child’s body temp gets hotter 3 to 5 times faster than an adult Cooper would have been in distress in minutes; Cooper then would have experienced an incredibly high core temperature, triggering neurological dysfunction, nausea, disorientation, delirium and seizures before dying.
Today, Justin Harris was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
13 On Your Side wants to know your thoughts:
Do you think the punishment fits the crime? Why or why not?
