dad threw daughter off cliff to avoid child support

[Amby 490]

LOS ANGELES — A father who had no interest in his 4-year-old daughter did the unimaginable — hurling her off a 120-foot cliff to avoid paying child support, a prosecutor said Monday during the man's murder retrial.

Cameron Brown, 47, has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder in the death of Lauren Sarene Key in November 2000. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole.

Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum said during his opening statement that Brown killed Lauren because he didn't want to pay about $1,000 a month in child support.

Defense attorney Pat Harris countered that it was an accident when the girl fell from Inspiration Point in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Hum portrayed Brown as an uncaring father who tried to shirk his parental responsibility at nearly ever turn. After Brown learned the girl's mother, Sarah Key-Marer, was pregnant with Lauren, he sought a paternity test that eventually proved he was the father, Hum said.

"Does he show any interest in the child he fathered?" Hum asked. "Absolutely not."

Only when he was forced to pay child support did Brown finally see his daughter — about three years after she was born, Hum said, adding he only saw her 12 times on visits before she died.

Hum argued that Brown and Lauren went out to the cliff where nobody could see them, and he "hurled" her into the Pacific Ocean.

"This man picked up Lauren, whom he fathered but was never a father to, and threw her off a cliff into the water below," Hum said.

Brown, wearing a dark suit and a red tie, stared at Hum during his opening statement and showed no reaction.

Harris gave a different account of his client's relationship with his daughter, insisting the case was nothing more than "character assassination." He dismissed the prosecution's contention that it was a "good-versus-evil" struggle between Brown and Key-Marer.

"It was two parents trying to work out arrangements so they could have a happy child," Harris said.

Harris said Brown carried a picture of Lauren in his wallet, gave her gifts and toasted with his friends when he learned he would get visitation rights. Two weeks before her death, Brown filed court documents seeking more visits with Lauren, Harris said.

"It doesn't make sense," he said.

Brown was tried three years ago, but a mistrial was declared after a jury deadlocked on the severity of the crime. Some jurors favored a first-degree murder conviction, while others voted for second-degree murder or manslaughter.

Both sides intend to call experts to give their opinions on how Lauren died. Jurors will also take a trip to the cliff to see where the alleged crime occurred.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534978...test=latestnews

[bhajishah 4]

here we go again, you had to do it didnt ya amby. tho PC cops are coming 50, 50!! someone take the first and RUN!!!!!

[Amby 490]

huh?

[meowmeowmeow 1]

damn....

[bhajishah 4]

Its psychotic schizophrenia, vs multiple personalities.cut up your devil kid. Psycopath, sociapath thow you kid off the cliff day on VJ !! Where is brother Dean. did I do good with my generalized summation of disorders going on!! THe stress of the free world, families need to be tighter in America keep an eye on your village idiots!!

[NArocks 13]

Think all the peeps is gone to comment on this, however what a d#ck even if she fell ( as he says ) where the hell was he. Jesus everytime you turn on the news or open the paper there is someon killing children. Kill yourself not the kids it's not there fault.....

for the baby

Edited July 28, 2009 by NArocks

[mawilson 2,133]

What a waste of a perfectly good child.

He could have at least taken out a life insurance policy on her and made it look like an accident.

Idiot!

[Niels Bohr 72]

Threaten to kill yourself that way you can avoid paying child support.

[NArocks 13]

No don't threaten JUST Do IT keeps us from having to foot the bill for the crazy house

Threaten to kill yourself that way you can avoid paying child support.

[Amby 490]

What a waste of a perfectly good child.

He could have at least taken out a life insurance policy on her and made it look like an accident.

Idiot!

the bright side of all things

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

in before the lock!

oh wait, this isn't an aj thread.

[NArocks 13]

in before the lock!

oh wait, this isn't an aj thread.

[dalegg 143]

LOS ANGELES — A father who had no interest in his 4-year-old daughter did the unimaginable — hurling her off a 120-foot cliff to avoid paying child support, a prosecutor said Monday during the man's murder retrial.

Cameron Brown, 47, has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder in the death of Lauren Sarene Key in November 2000. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole.

Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum said during his opening statement that Brown killed Lauren because he didn't want to pay about $1,000 a month in child support.

Defense attorney Pat Harris countered that it was an accident when the girl fell from Inspiration Point in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Hum portrayed Brown as an uncaring father who tried to shirk his parental responsibility at nearly ever turn. After Brown learned the girl's mother, Sarah Key-Marer, was pregnant with Lauren, he sought a paternity test that eventually proved he was the father, Hum said.

"Does he show any interest in the child he fathered?" Hum asked. "Absolutely not."

Only when he was forced to pay child support did Brown finally see his daughter — about three years after she was born, Hum said, adding he only saw her 12 times on visits before she died.

Hum argued that Brown and Lauren went out to the cliff where nobody could see them, and he "hurled" her into the Pacific Ocean.

"This man picked up Lauren, whom he fathered but was never a father to, and threw her off a cliff into the water below," Hum said.

Brown, wearing a dark suit and a red tie, stared at Hum during his opening statement and showed no reaction.

Harris gave a different account of his client's relationship with his daughter, insisting the case was nothing more than "character assassination." He dismissed the prosecution's contention that it was a "good-versus-evil" struggle between Brown and Key-Marer.

"It was two parents trying to work out arrangements so they could have a happy child," Harris said.

Harris said Brown carried a picture of Lauren in his wallet, gave her gifts and toasted with his friends when he learned he would get visitation rights. Two weeks before her death, Brown filed court documents seeking more visits with Lauren, Harris said.

"It doesn't make sense," he said.

Brown was tried three years ago, but a mistrial was declared after a jury deadlocked on the severity of the crime. Some jurors favored a first-degree murder conviction, while others voted for second-degree murder or manslaughter.

Both sides intend to call experts to give their opinions on how Lauren died. Jurors will also take a trip to the cliff to see where the alleged crime occurred.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534978...test=latestnews

I'm curious without witnesses how they would know he hurled her off as opposed to his story. Definitely negligent anyhow, but how are they going to prove this?

[NickD 203]

I didn't want to pay child support either, especially to my ex, knew damn well my kids would never get the benefit from it. Was quite a court battle, but I got full physical custody of my kids so I could take good care of them and get them through college.

It never crossed my mind to toss my kids off a cliff, but really can't say the same about my ex, clarification, that was just a thought. A good friend of mine got nailed for child support, 50% of his gross pay, didn't have enough money to even think about starting a new life. He loved his kids, but the reason for his divorce was his wife was playing around. Maybe he was too soft, could never get straight answers from him why she had custody. But his experience made me fight for my kids, I would not give up. But it did help when my son told the judge he would commit suicide if the judge forced him to live with his mom without any coaching from me.

Sounds like this guy is really screwed up not being able to identify the true source of the problem, hope he enjoys his life in prison.

[mendeleev 68]

If the State can somehow prove he threw her, obviously no sympathy for him. But we all agree the State has to prove it, right?