Obese murderer claims cruel and unusual punishment after losing 105 pounds

motivez · 04-29-2008, 03:55 PM

APRIL 27--Meet Broderick Laswell. Since his arrest last September on a murder charge, the Arkansas man, 19, has been locked up in the Benton County jail, where he has shed 105 of his original 413 pounds. While most people suffering from obesity would probably welcome such a weight loss, Laswell has made a federal case out of it.

Claiming that he is "literally being starved to death," the 6', 308-pound Laswell Friday filed a lawsuit charging that his civil rights have been violated by jailers. According to the U.S. District Court complaint, an excerpt of which you'll find here, Laswell contends that he is being provided with so few calories that, about an hour after every meal, "my stomach starts to hurt and growl. I feel hungry again." This purported "lack of nutrition" over the past eight months, Laswell claims, is reflected in miniscule biscuits and cake sizes, the small amount of chips accompanying sandwiches, and the occasional provision of "2 small cookies." And just in case anyone thought he was only concerned about junk food, the accused killer also complains about the "drizzle of dressing" placed on his "small side of lettuce."

The lethargic Laswell claims that "on several occasions" he has "started to do some excersizing and my vision went blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out." He attributes this, of course, to diminished calorie intake, not morbid obesity. Laswell and an accomplice were arrested last year for allegedly beating and stabbing a man to death (and then setting the victim's home on fire). He is pictured in the below mug shot, which apparently was snapped shortly after he was incarcerated.

Accused Killer In Calorie Beef - April 27, 2008

He should be thanking the prison system for helping him get his weight under control. I mean, granted, 100 lbs in 8 months is quite a lot of weight and it's probably not exceedingly good to lose weight that fast, but I have to imagine the health benefits from shedding that much far outweigh any risks associated with it.

What do you guys think? Should he be given extra calories to help stave off getting light headed when he tries to 'exercise'?

Personally, I don't really even think he needs cookies. The guy he killed isn't enjoying cookies right now.

kinggovernor · 04-29-2008, 04:09 PM

that is a decision a doctor/nutritionist should make but most people that go to jail end up putting weight on.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 04:27 PM

fuck him (and being in jail there was no pun intended

)

he's getting 3k calories/day...that's more than a lot of people who didn't kill anyone.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

that is a decision a doctor/nutritionist should make but most people that go to jail end up putting weight on.

I mean, usually that's muscle from lifting weights or something though, I would guess hambeats such as this gentleman would lose lots of fat by lifting weights

It's probably the first time in his life that he's gotten decent nutrition..

JaJae · 04-29-2008, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I mean, usually that's muscle from lifting weights or something though, I would guess hambeats such as this gentleman would lose lots of fat by lifting weights

It's probably the first time in his life that he's gotten decent nutrition..

Yea I think it's all relative. When people go to boot camp the smaller guys put on weight, the bigger guys lose weight. There's nothing wrong with him losing weight as long as he stays healthy.

Linzyhop · 04-29-2008, 04:48 PM

400 lbs is morbidly obese. they're not starving him to death, they're feeding him to live.

Scrum · 04-29-2008, 05:07 PM

If he wanted to eat more than just enough to keep you healthy, then he shouldn't have murdered.

Let him "starve".

WickedLou9 · 04-29-2008, 05:31 PM

Well let's not forget that he is accused and not convicted. I think that's an important distinction.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Well let's not forget that he is accused and not convicted. I think that's an important distinction.

Not really.....he got himself jailed and didn't make bail. Now he's got to live in the system.

and (from teh story) "I feel hungry again" != "lack of nutrition"

Kytro · 04-29-2008, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

Not really.....he got himself jailed and didn't make bail. Now he's got to live in the system.

It scares me that accused and convicted are so closely aligned. I don't think accuesed and convicted persons should be treated the same way, or even held together in the same facilites

JaJae · 04-29-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

It scares me that accused and convicted are so closely aligned. I don't think accuesed and convicted persons should be treated the same way, or even held together in the same facilites

One of the murders involved in this killing turned himself in and started talking. He said Broderick Laswell was his accomplice. Laswell claims his buddy invited him over to the victim's house, then started beating him in the head with a fireplace poker. The victim went for a gun and Laswell smacked him a few times over the head with a weight lifting bar. His buddy then stabbed the victim in the chest a few times. They cleaned up the scene and Laswell got the gasoline and burned the house down. They dumped the evidence a lake and went about their business.

I think they should hold Laswell and in hold him someplace where he can't get away.

kinggovernor · 04-29-2008, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I mean, usually that's muscle from lifting weights or something though, I would guess hambeats such as this gentleman would lose lots of fat by lifting weights

It's probably the first time in his life that he's gotten decent nutrition..

probably a combination of both, his caloric intake is way down but it is the best thing that ever happened to him.

What he did was just fill out a pro se paperwork, he is more likely bored than anything else. Everyone one loves to be a jail house lawyer.

kinggovernor · 04-29-2008, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Well let's not forget that he is accused and not convicted. I think that's an important distinction.

even if he was convicted, we aren't going to let him starve to death. Even if he wants to.

kinggovernor · 04-29-2008, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

It scares me that accused and convicted are so closely aligned. I don't think accuesed and convicted persons should be treated the same way, or even held together in the same facilites

he isn't sharing a cell with convicted murders. He is in a jail, which is usually reserved for the accused and minor crimes and prison is for those that are convicted.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

It scares me that accused and convicted are so closely aligned. I don't think accuesed and convicted persons should be treated the same way, or even held together in the same facilites

evidence of his alleged involvement in the crime led to his bail...if there was no (or little) evidence that he was involved or if it showed his involvement was less than it was then he would have had no or lesser bail.

since the evidence points to him being heavily (no pun intended) then his bail is set to make sure he shows up. I'm not saying he's guilty because he's accused. I'm saying the evidence indicates high bail. It sucks he can't make it but really who does he have to blame for that?

JaJae · 04-29-2008, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

evidence of his alleged involvement in the crime led to his bail...if there was no (or little) evidence that he was involved or if it showed his involvement was less than it was then he would have had no or lesser bail.

since the evidence points to him being heavily (no pun intended) then his bail is set to make sure he shows up. I'm not saying he's guilty because he's accused. I'm saying the evidence indicates high bail. It sucks he can't make it but really who does he have to blame for that?

He admits to being there at the murder scene and admits to hitting the guy with a steel bar in his head just before he was stabbed to death. Then he helped clean up the crime and burned the victim and his house down. He doesn't belong on the streets even if he hasn't been convicted yet.

Kytro · 04-29-2008, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

One of the murders involved in this killing turned himself in and started talking. He said Broderick Laswell was his accomplice. Laswell claims his buddy invited him over to the victim's house, then started beating him in the head with a fireplace poker. The victim went for a gun and Laswell smacked him a few times over the head with a weight lifting bar. His buddy then stabbed the victim in the chest a few times. They cleaned up the scene and Laswell got the gasoline and burned the house down. They dumped the evidence a lake and went about their business.

I think they should hold Laswell and in hold him someplace where he can't get away.

So someone claims he was involved, that isn't proof. He didn't make bail, so if he is to be detained, it should be with more relaxed rules than prison. Take security seriously by all means, but treating someone as guilty before they have been convicted is not ethical in my opinion.

Kytro · 04-29-2008, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

He admits to being there at the murder scene and admits to hitting the guy with a steel bar in his head just before he was stabbed to death. Then he helped clean up the crime and burned the victim and his house down. He doesn't belong on the streets even if he hasn't been convicted yet.

I was not arguing that he should be, I was merely arguing until a formal process has been undertaken he shouldn't be treated like a criminal. That will happen when and if he is found guilty.

David Octavius · 04-29-2008, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

It scares me that accused and convicted are so closely aligned. I don't think accuesed and convicted persons should be treated the same way, or even held together in the same facilites

Not talking about this particular case but in general we have fast become a guilty until proven innocent society