A hanging in Texas

By Chris Kromm / January 5, 2007

My post earlier today, linking the strange fascination with Saddam's hanging to our country's out-of-step embrace of death sentences, especially in Texas, has turned out to be sadly salient:

HOUSTON -- A 10-year-old boy was apparently mimicking Saddam Hussein's execution when he hanged himself from a bunk bed, police and family members said.

Sergio Pelico was found dead Sunday in his apartment bedroom after watching a news report on the execution of the former Iraqi leader [...]

Julio Gustavo, Sergio's uncle, described the boy as happy and curious. He said Sergio had watched TV news with another uncle on Saturday and asked the uncle about Saddam's death. [...]

"I don't think he thought it was real," Gustavo said. "They showed them putting the noose around his neck and everything. Why show that on TV?"

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