-Caveat Lector- The Philadelphia Daily News, August 23, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Girl, 11, held as adult by Ron Avery Daily News Staff Writer A veteran homicide detective says he believes the 11-year-old girl charged in the the stabbing death of a South Philadelphia woman Friday "has no idea of the consequences of what she did. "I'd say she has the mind of a 5-year-old," said the detective yesterday. On Friday evening the girl was apparently angry about something. Police believe she walked down Beechwood Street near Snyder Avenue - a half-block from where she lives on 22nd Street - carrying a six-inch butcher knife and simply stabbed a 55-year-old woman she did not know. The victim, Rosemarie Knight, died of a single stab wound of the chest shortly after the 5 p.m. attack. A woman outside the girl's home yesterday, who would not give her name, said her sister adopted the girl about six months ago. She told the Daily News, "She has the mind of a 3-year old. . .She is mentally retarded. That's a medical diagnosis." The woman said while the girl has been naughty at times, she characterized it as "normal kid's stuff." She said the child has never been considered dangerous or violent. The girl was charged Saturday as an adult with murder and possession of an instrument of crime. She faces an arraignement on Wednesday. Her lawyers will probably try to get the case tried in juvenile court. Cathie Abookire, a spokesman for the District Attorney's Office, said under state law any child 10 or older is automatically charged as an adult in a murder case. Knight, a hair dresser, died on her 27th wedding anniversary. The girl walked another six blocks carrying the bloody knife before entering a hair salon at 18th and Shunk. Heads Up receptionist Yolande "Dolly" Valente said the girl told her, "I just stabbed someone through the heart." She then asked Valente to call the police. Valente said the girl told her she was "mad" because her cousin hit her with a belt, "so I stabbed a lady." Valente, who spoke with the girl until police arrived, also felt the child was mentally or emotionally disturbed. Valente said, "I asked her, 'Did the lady bother you?' " She said the girl responded, "No, she was walking her dog." Knight was either beginning to walk the dog or just finishing when the attack occurred in front of her rowhouse. The dog was inside the house with its leash still on when neighbors responded to Knight's cries for help. She told neighbor, "a girl stabbed me." Apparently, the woman who adopted the child takes in foster children. Neighbors say there are usually seven or eight children in the house. The woman, who identified herself as the girl's aunt, said the girl's story about being hit with a belt is not true. Asked why the child became violent, she said "We have some theories." Last year 11-year-old Larry McCray of North Philadelphia, became the youngest child in the city charged with a homicide. McCray acted as a lookout during a robbery-murder. The murder charge was dropped when the boy agreed to testify against the alleged shooter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] � 1999 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. 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