CNN: Four charged after girl killed in 'excruciating ordeal'

[DFWdem]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/27/teen.slain.ap/index.html

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A 15-year-old girl was stabbed, beaten, set on fire and thrown into a river, and four acquaintances were charged with murder, authorities said.

The killers of Christine Marie Ham lured her to a small park behind a public housing complex in southwest Philadelphia on Saturday and attacked her, authorities said. Police said she was still alive when she was thrown into the Schuylkill River and managed to crawl out, but bled to death on the shore.

On Tuesday, Derrell Savage, 20; Demarcus Hamms, 19; Felicia Dawson, 19; and John Garrett, 17, were charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and weapons offenses. They were ordered held without bail until a hearing next Wednesday.

More at link

The good news is the 17 year old is not eligible for the death penalty because of the recent Supreme Court ruling. Good thing, because I'm sure he couldn't fully understand the consequences of his actions since he's a minor.