Snake Kills Local Child.

[gozetec02]

Here in San Antonio a man was indicted for manslaughter.

About a year ago there was an incident where a Gaboon Viper got loose and found its way over to the neighbors carport. Their 5 year old son was out side playing. He saw the snake and reached down to touch it. He was bit and died before he could make it to the hospital. The snake was put down and the man was arrested. He is trying to make the case that he was not responsible for what the snake had did.

He got the snake online for $125.

What does everyone think about this does he deserve whats coming to him?

Texas does have laws about keeping non native venemous snakes but they are very vague.

IMO It is his responsibility to house the snake securely and he should be held responsible for the death of that little boy.

[Marla]

I agree. I think manslaughter or negligent homicide is an appropriate conviction based on the facts as you presented them. Gaboons are beautiful snakes, but I certainly don't want one roaming my neighborhood.

[Alkaurkharim]

I say put a Gaboon Viper in his carport and let him get bit and see how it feels.

If he survives maybe he won't be so inclined to use the "It's not my fault" defense.

[QuenteK25]

I agree that he is responsible. It is one thing to have a firearm in a lockbox at home and have a teenage boy next door come over, find the key, unlock it and knock his own block off. But if you have a venemous snake, it escapes (that's your own negligence), and it bites someone, that's all on you!

[Smulkin]

What an asshat. Negligence embodied right there - he is definitely responsible.

[gozetec02]

Its people like this who mess things up for the rest of us.

[hhw]

I'm against keeping anything venomous snakes with a lethal bite, but if people must do it, it should be required that:

a) The neighbourhood be notified that a venomous snake is being kept
b) Some sort of tracking device be implanted on the snake
c) Some sort of proximity sensing device and alarm that sounds off if the snake ever leaves a designated area
d) An implant with embedded tranquilizer that can be released by remote control

I'm not sure how feasible d) is, especially considering the nervous system of reptiles (is it even possible to tranquilize them?), but a) to c) are readily doable and these extra precautions, on top of responsible husbandry, would help a lot to reduce some of the risks involved in keeping venomous snakes.

[chong_python]

hhw, i agree with what you are saying, but think about it.
do you really think that that is realistic. Deffentily 100% not. There is no what you can have an alram system in the neighborhood to warn familes of the snake's escape. Im my opinon there shouldnt be any venomous snakes aloud outside zoo's. Its absouloutly unnessary(sp?) for a viper to roam a community, take it as if it was your son that was killed, or even your brother or friend, so if your for having captive venomous snakes, first put your selves in the shoes of the family that just lost a child due to some idoit who decided it would be cool to have a snake that could kill some 1.

[gozetec02]

As a matter of fact the only way they found out that the snake was his is because it had a microchip embedded under its skin identifying the owner.

[rex322]

does anyone know how it got out? it really couldnt of been his fault. we all make mistakes, and who knows. maybe there was something wrong with the enclosure.