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Murder suspect ‘traumatized’ by slayings, lawyer says

CommentsComment on this article
Feb 5, 2008 12:00 AM (250 days ago) by Luke Broadwater, The Examiner
This story ranks # 4,450 of 4,376
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
Friends of the Browning family mourn Sunday night outside the family’s Cockeysville home where John and Tamara Browning, and their sons Gregory, 13, and Benjamin, 11, were found dead Saturday.
(AP)
Friends of the Browning family mourn Sunday night outside the family’s Cockeysville home where John and Tamara Browning, and their sons Gregory, 13, and Benjamin, 11, were found dead Saturday.

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Baltimore County teenager charged with murdering his parents and two brothers while they slept is “traumatized” and might have falsely confessed under police pressure, the teen’s attorney told a judge Monday.

“You have a traumatized 15-year-old who gives a confession after hours of repeated denials,” said Steve Silverman, who represents Nicholas Browning, the Cockeysville teen accused of killing his family Friday. “He’s traumatized. He’s absolutely traumatized.”

With moppy dirty blond hair, Browning wore the county jail’s orange jumpsuit during the video bail review hearing in front of Baltimore County District Judge Barbara Jung, who denied him bail.

Browning said little, but responded to the judge’s questions with a clear, direct voice: “Yes, ma’am.”

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The court appointed a guardian for Browning.

Silverman referred to his client as an “honors student” at Dulaney High School who played lacrosse his whole life and varsity golf for two years.

He’s a Boy Scout, close to becoming an Eagle Scout, and plays the cello, the attorney said.

“It appears he’s never been in any trouble before,” Silverman said, adding that he planned to request a hearing to have Browning tried in juvenile court.

Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey denied that the teen was pressured into confessing. “We have great confidence in our detectives’ practices,” Toohey said.

John Browning, 45, along with his wife, Tamara, 44, and sons Gregory, 14, and Benjamin, 11, were found dead in their Powers Avenue home Saturday around 5 p.m. by Nicholas Browning as he returned home, police said.

John Browning practiced law with the Towson firm Royston, Mueller, McLean & Reid. Tamara Browning was a PTA president.

An eighth-grader at Cockeysville Middle School, Gregory was the cougar mascot at sporting events. Friends described sixth-grader Benjamin as a “happy kid.”

Nicholas Browning, whom classmates said had “a lot of friends,” confessed to the slayings, according to police.

Browning told officers he had argued with his father and used the man’s gun in the killings, police said.

Silverman said Monday that he would not discuss details of the case, including the alleged argument.

Police said Nicholas shot the family Friday night, dumped the gun in nearby bushes and spent Friday night and all day Saturday with friends.

When driven back home Saturday around 5 p.m., Browning went in the house and came back out to tell his friends that his father was dead, police said.

The news shocked classmates, teachers and neighbors, who said Nicholas never exhibited any signs of sociopathic behavior or mental illness. Silverman also said Monday that he didn’t think the teen was mentally ill or took any anti-depression medications.

“He wasn’t on anything that I know of,” Silverman said. “That’s not an issue at this time.”

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

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Comments from Examiner Readers

6:58 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 15, 2008 re: "Cockeysville murder suspect portrayed as 'arrogant, rude'"

 xkittenx said:
Can i just say i didnt no the family but this is all speculation no one will eer no the extent of the abuse Nick suffered if any,Or if he was maybe treated differently than his brothers as he was older.My heart goes out to the whole family including Nick who is himself just a child. please remember NO ONE NO'S WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOOR'S one things for sure something has gone tragically wrong in this young man's life for this to have happened.....

 3 agree | 1 disagree
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5:14 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 17, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader continued from previous entry said:
continued from previous entry.. nothing ever happened to my stepfather for all the years of physical and mental abuse you see it was ok to do that to your kids back in the 70's & 80's after the last incident and me running to the police station and the fairfax county police did not do anything i told my school counselor and she never did anything or helped me eiether so i ranaway, i tried to commit suicide thinking i would be better off dead cause nobody would help me. i ended with living with my grandmother. i seriously thought about ways i would kill my stepfather i even took his shotgun out of the case and put it to his chest while he slept on the sofa one night i pulled the trigger but the gun was not loaded, he never awoke. i still am scared on some parts of my body from his abuse and the scars and feelings in my head will never heal but life goes on and i have not seen him in over 15 yrs i feel bad for what nick did and i can relate to it. abuse by anyone is wrong.. ~ Lance

 1 agree | 1 disagree
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4:53 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 17, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
I was physically and mentally abused by my step-father and mother from age 7 until i was 18 i was whipped with my step-fathers belt from head to toe many many times, he tied me up in our shed behind the house and left me there lots of times, he would punch me in the face causing black eyes i was a very skinny kid and could not defend myself my step father was over 6 foot tall and weighed well over 300 pounds..to me he was a monster! i hide the abuse for many years because he told me if i said anything to anyone he would kill me my mom and grandmother. as i got older the abuse got worse and one day while he was punching on me i was able to break free of his hold and i ran thru the patio glass door and ran to the police station and the police officer drove me back home and the officer and my stepfather stood in the driveway and smoked a cig and the officer said "boy ya better start listening to your folks" i thought by telling the police the abuse would stop and i would be then be safe

2 agree | 2 disagree
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6:44 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 5, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
I believe that Browning is already paying for life sentence because he has killed his entire family.

3 agree | 3 disagree
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12:21 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
How convenient for Nick to cast dispersions on two parents who cannot be present to refute his claims. Perhaps Tammy and John were trying to cope with Nick's ever expanding list of poor behavior choices and defiance of parental authority. I do not condone Nick's solution to his supposed problems and sincerely hope that he pays for his crimes for the remainder of his life in prison.

10 agree | 2 disagree
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8:18 AM MST on Fri., Aug. 1, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
Abuse.....that's a bunch of bull_ _ _ _ ! It does give the McDonough School youth something to aspire to!

 2 agree | 2 disagree
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7:04 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 31, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
The line of defense Nicholas Browning's lawyer proposes is sickening. It is an insult not only to the victims, but to children everywhere who are suffering through the trauma of real emotional and physical abuse.

 6 agree | 1 disagree
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3:52 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 31, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
When I read articles about this case my prevailing thoughts are of the survivors, particularly Tammy's sister and family. I can not even begin to imagine the array of emotions they are feeling all while having the responsibility of being the legal guardian for Nick. My prayers are for them, more than for Nick, as they are faced with an upcoming trial where they will have to relive the events of that night and listen to maligning comments about the Tammy & John. All this while having to handle the Browning estate, their own family & jobs. My message to them - although it will be of little comfort to you, please know that the thoughts and prayers of many are with you.

7 agree | 3 disagree
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9:01 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
I did not know the family, but even if Nick was abused as he asserts, the murders were not justified - particularly those of his brothers! I have a feeling that the only thing his parents were "guilty" of was not acknowledging just how ill Nick was. Things have certainly gotten better, but there is still a stigma attached to mental illness. Or, perhaps he was receiving treatment and was not properly monitored. At least one of the Columbine killers was on a medication linked to teen homicide and suicide. Whatever the case, this is a horrible tragedy and my heart goes out to friends and family of the Brownings.

 4 agree | 3 disagree
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8:36 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
i knew this family since our kids nick and my daughter who was close to nick since 6th gr i find these tales so crazy i do know john and tammy were hard on them all with school n sports yes ill say too extreme but to kill them he is a smart young man he could of went to someone anyone for help and yes why the boys what did they do to deserve to be killed

 3 agree | 3 disagree
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8:33 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
i knew tammy and nick im still stunned ok nick if this was true im deeply sorry i wish you would of came to us or someone if things were so bad but may i ask you why did you kill the boys why your brothers what did greg do what abuse did they do to you to make you kill them you could of passed by and never went into them n left why

 4 agree | 3 disagree
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4:21 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
I was a friend of the Brownings, knowing John particularly well. With the exception of Nick, you could not know a finer family. It saddens me that Nick is using his parent's money to hire scum to tell lies about the parents and little brothers that he planned to and admitted to murdering. That is a crime on top of a crime. I pray for Peace and Justice.

 9 agree | 3 disagree
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2:25 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
Nick Browning is not only a vicious and violent murderer but he is a pathological liar. Thank God, the outlandish testimony of Dr. Neil Blumberg was not accepted by the Court and that we don't have to worry about Nick Browning being out on the streets when he reaches the age of twenty-one to continue his career of murdering. However, it's too bad that Nick is not eligible for the death penalty. We can only hope that the eventual sentence will be Life Without Parole.

 8 agree | 3 disagree
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9:52 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
I feel so sad for his surviving family members, not only do they have to grieve the loss of the slain, but they have to try and make sense as to why Nick did this. All these stories portray Nick as some Monster, and maybe he is, we may never know what is truly in his mind. However, this IS America, we have a thing called due process and innocent until proven guilty. It is not up to any one person to decide his fate, it is up to a jury. And in the greater scale, it is up to God. He will have to answer for what he has done, and everyday for the rest of his life he will have to live with the thought that his family is gone, forever and nothing is going to bring them back. No matter what is said I believe this young boy is going through somthing terrible...the mind of a 15 year is so fragile, we need to remember how we felt at that age...everything was so terrible, it was never our faults! What he needs is help...not condemnation!!! He and his family will be in my prayers.

 6 agree | 12 disagree
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8:21 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
Nick needs to be lock away for good its sad to know that people these days they are crazy.

 3 agree | 3 disagree
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8:06 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Neil B. said:
The kid just needs to be locked away. There is nothing that can justify killing 4 people. He forfeit his future when he killed his family.

 9 agree | 3 disagree
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6:50 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Doctor says abuse led Cockeysville teen to slay his family"

 Examiner Reader said:
Defense attorneys.....scum of the earth. They are the reason that nobody is held accountable for their actions these days. Police lock people up...defense attorneys find ways to let them go.

 9 agree | 3 disagree
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5:00 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 30, 2008 re: "Shrink says abuse led to slayings"

 Examiner Reader said:
Nicholas Browning should pay for his crime before any consideration !

 4 agree | 3 disagree
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9:27 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Teen charged with killing family to undergo psychiatric evaluation"

 Examiner Reader said:
animal!!!!

 9 agree | 7 disagree
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8:21 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
Why would the source be unhappy about that being put on the internet? It isn't anything alarming.

 6 agree | 7 disagree
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8:54 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 6, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
i doubt your reliable source would like you putting their knowledge on the internet

 6 agree | 6 disagree
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6:17 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
I was told by one reliable source that he is "holding up under the circumstances". I have not heard from Tammy's sister or Nick. I hope to soon. Anyone know anything else? and thanks for asking.

 6 agree | 6 disagree
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9:18 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
How is Nick?

 9 agree | 10 disagree
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8:36 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 27, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
Thank you to those who responded. I did find a way to contact Tammy's sister.

 8 agree | 10 disagree
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4:29 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
How do I tell him how to contact me? (short of internet, which I agree isn't safe.) And how would I find Tammy's sister? I left my contact info with the Funeral home who handled the services. They were informed to let the brothers and sisters have this info. Again, my other cousins did not respond, and Nick's Grandmother doesn't know me. His late Grandfather was my relative and they divorced years ago. Thanks for response. And the prayers. I truly appreciate it.

 8 agree | 9 disagree
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2:10 PM MST on Sat., Mar. 15, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
Who ever was from Ohio and wanted to know about Nick, you should talk to Tammy's sister, I won't say her name on the internet.

 8 agree | 9 disagree
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8:08 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 14, 2008 re: "Sociologist: Browning case cuts across family barriers"

 Examiner Reader said:
Someone was edited. All the person said was that he/she could help but this was not the place. I wonder who is editing these columns, and why. Nothing upsetting or offensive was in that answer. Strange.

 9 agree | 10 disagree
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7:53 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
Tell him how to find you. I'm praying for the family.

 9 agree | 10 disagree
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5:48 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
It's been over a month now since Nick killed my second cousin John, (his father)and the rest of his family-my distant family. I never had the pleasure of meeting Tamara or Greg,or Ben,and now never will. Being in Ohio, I can not find out what is happening with Nick now. I never met him either, but I am sure that Johnny would want us to at least know what is going on with him. Is anyone who knew them still able to keep informed on this? Unfortunately, neither Lee nor Sally (John's brother and sister) have responded to my cards. Understandably. Can someone else help us out over here?. Thanks.

 9 agree | 9 disagree
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1:53 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
I did not know what he was referring to and was asking. There is nothing previously written (that I have seen) that seems like it would ellicit such a response. Maybe the writer was thinking things but not articulating them well enough for viewers to understand the thinking process. You seem to be quite mean.

 10 agree | 9 disagree
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4:46 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
The article that referenced the phrase "we gave birth to the kid that will kill us in exactly 16 years" was removed because it was inappropriate. Your comment "I am not sure what article or comment you are referring to in your comments, or are you responding to the thoughts in your head?" is also inappropriate.

 27 agree | 17 disagree
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11:16 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
7:38pm, what are you talking about? Where did you get that quote? Nick turned 16 on the day of the funeral, a week after the killings. I am not sure what article or comment you are referring to in your comments, or are you responding to the thoughts in your head?

 14 agree | 12 disagree
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7:38 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 2, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
Nick turned 16 on the day of the funeral, not a week later. You don't think he knew that someone under 16 couldn't get the death penalty? What would provoke someone to say "we gave birth to the kid that will kill us in exactly 16 years"

 28 agree | 21 disagree
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5:44 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 2, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
I went to school with Nick and people say he was jealous of his brother Gregory because he was a lot more popular. What Lockwood said was true. He really was a arrogant and made fun of everyone, especially mentally challenged kids.

 17 agree | 14 disagree
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11:26 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 1, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
Nick and his arrogance are to blame, not his affluence.

 37 agree | 27 disagree
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8:51 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 28, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
4:59am, Tues, 2/26, I don't get it. What does playing two sports in the spring (taking a lot of time from the daily schedule) have to do with this? First of all, people can write whatever they want here. This is not a court of law. Don't worry; what people write here will have no bearing on Nick's case if the lawyers do their jobs properly and eliminate biased juror candidates.

 30 agree | 29 disagree
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2:11 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Mike said:
Goodbye - Little Nicky

 25 agree | 36 disagree
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4:59 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 26, 2008 re: "Cockeysville teen waives arraignment on murder charges"

 Examiner Reader said:
Why bother to even have a trial since so many have already have found Nick to be a cold blooded murderer. I see a 15 year old who was an honor student, boy scout, member of both the lacrosse and golf teams. By the way, these 2 sports are played in the spring of the year. All of these require an enormous amount of time out of a dailey schedule. I don't condone what he is accused of doing, but don't believe everything you hear and only half of what you see.

 33 agree | 30 disagree
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9:07 AM MST on Mon., Feb. 25, 2008 re: "Court postpones arraignment of Cockeysville teen charged with murder"

 Examiner Reader said:
Cold blooded Nick need to rot in jail!!!

 43 agree | 34 disagree
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7:12 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 21, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
Typically when we hear stories like this, the perpetrator had a horribly abusive life, and almost always came from a broken home. It is devasting, not only because these parents obviously devoted so much of their time and energy to their children, but because Nick (unlike most criminals) had so far to fall. He had it all, and went from such a comfortable, loving home with a bright future to an empty long life of struggle ahead of him. He'll never have dates, a serious girlfriend to become his wife; he'll never have family vacations, go to college, see his friends get married, have children...The people who loved him the most are gone, and now he is among people who really don't give a hoot about him. We don't know what was going through his mind at the time. This may be irrevelant, but a college friend of mine had a teen brother who had acted extremely irritable and downright mean for a year before he suicided. An autopsy showed he had a brain tumor. You just never know...

 44 agree | 20 disagree
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6:29 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
mThose congratulating Lockwood for his courage for speaking out against Nick’s character have got the wrong idea. Lockwood was not friends with Nick, and cannot be used as a reliable source. He probably jumped at the opportunity to give his opinion about a boy he never liked. Nick never exhibited behavior outrageously prominent for that of a 15 year old boy – come on, there are plenty of kids without tact who joke about killing their parents, it may not be good, but it’s not a warning sign for a potential murderer. Nick was insensitive, but not to everyone. I think it’s hard to comment on this issue, because I did not know Nick personally. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a sociopath, but for you all to assume his character and motives is presumptuous and unintelligent, for who is to say if you had been him you wouldn’t have done the exact same thing. I’m pretty sure that the whole party scenario is false, the kids who dropped him off at the house gave me no such information.

 39 agree | 47 disagree
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10:59 PM MST on Sun., Feb. 17, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
as a friend of both Nick and the Brownings I would like to let you know that some of the information in all the articles about this horrible situation are not true. In order to get higher ratings and views the networks and newspapers will take statements from anyone, including people that never knew them. Also, how can you say things about this family (including Nick) without knowing them, especially when a lot of the information you are getting is false.

 42 agree | 48 disagree
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3:05 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 13, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Mike said:
You know - there are millions of people in the world and tons of kids turning fifteen and sixteen every year in all countries. These kids are testing their parents and butting heads with them every year. I was a teenager myself and I went through it. However, how many shoot and kill their fathers? How many shoot the rest of their family? I'm sure that Nicholas seemed like a good kid growing up. But it's coming out now that he has had issues over the past year. I'm sure he was thinking that he now had this nice house and all this money - and was ready to party and drive his brand new car! This kid has no appreciation of what he had but I'll bet his prison cell will show him now. I can't believe he decided to have a party at his house on Saturday knowing that his family was there left to die. He was upset that his father told him that he had to go on his traditional family ski trip. The average family can't afford a ski trip or a second vacation home. Let Nicholas rot in prison!

 40 agree | 42 disagree
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12:16 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 13, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
I know people who knew and loved John Browning. It sounds like he recognized that Nick was trying to go down the wrong path and that he made him stick w/boy scouts, etc since it was positive and healthy. What we all need to realize is that if we have a child who exhibits bullying behavior and seems negative and arrogant, we need to seek professional help instead of trying to handle it ourselves. What I wonder is whether military school could have helped (Dr Laura's typical solution for an attitude boy) or if there even is any help for a child with such a mean streak and on the flip side, a charming personality when needed.

 35 agree | 33 disagree
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5:01 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Challenger said:
Seems to me Nicholas, he was set up. Let the judge rule and the good lord above.

 46 agree | 47 disagree
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4:56 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 McDonald Berger-King said:
...Those who knew the Brownings will tell you nothing could be further from the truth. John was home for dinner with his family and coached his boys in lacrosse. He was a scout master who spent countless hours bettering the lives of not only his own sons, but many others. He was a devoted father and husband who provided for his family. If "privilege" means being educated and working hard to provide for your family, many of us are guilty... Well, I made my remarks as theory or suggestion. One of John's partners mentioned Browning worked for his boys. I live for my kids. The Browning tragedy has many unanswered questions. John seemed like a very decent, self sacrificing guy who did all he could. What, though, went wrong? Why didn't someone in his circle recognize the venom Nicholas had for his folks? Why did he bully people smaller and more vulnerable than he? Including his own brothers? Nicholas sounded like a powder keg ready to blast. Sociopath? Judging by some his actions, maybe.

 39 agree | 32 disagree
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4:49 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Challenger said:
The defense team will blame it on Video games, hormones and corrupt society.

 57 agree | 29 disagree
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3:35 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
I doubt Nick is remorseful about the crime, now that I hear how he treated those he disliked or was angry with. He is probably really bummed to have been caught. He thought his dad's rules were too constrictive? Now he will have no say at all. It sounds to me like his lawyers are good enough that he may be protected from the general population. He will probably end up in Shepherd Pratt. Some nuts will begin to write him in lockup and he will probably date and marry. That is what has happened with all the other attractive, affluent teen parent-killers. Believe it or not, they get fan mail.

 52 agree | 39 disagree
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12:56 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Nicholas Browing indicted in Cockeysville family’s slaying"

 Examiner Reader said:
Very sad case. Articles in various media had folks mentioned that John Browning worked for his kids. Affluence aside, perhaps John's work hindered his influence with his boys, now obviously and notably Nicholas. We chase the proverbial carrots to make better lives for our families. Things cannot make up for time lost. My Dad worked hard to provide for us. He had to as I'm the oldest of seven. No affluence and not much in the way of material possessions; yet 12 hour days 5 days per week and another eight on Saturdays created a distance.************* Those who knew the Brownings will tell you nothing could be further from the truth. John was home for dinner with his family and coached his boys in lacrosse. He was a scout master who spent countless hours bettering the lives of not only his own sons, but many others. He was a devoted father and husband who provided for his family. If "privilege" means being educated and working hard to provide for your family, many of us are guilty

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12:53 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Student: Nicholas Browning joked about killing family"

 Examiner Reader said:
This is a horrible tragedy and my heart goes out to the friends and family of the Brownings. I did not know the family, but I felt physically ill when I heard about this. It is only natural for people to look for answers to the question "Why?" with an occurrence such as this. I would not be surprised to learn that Nick was being treated for depression. If a child has the genetic predisposition to this illness, it is very likely to hit hard when he or she reaches puberty. There are far more treatment options available these days than there used to be, but unfortunately many of the medications have not been properly evaluated on children and teens. A teen's brain chemistry is very different from that of an adult. I could be totally off base, but I knew of several teenage boys growing up who exhibited similar behaviors to Nick's. Two committed suicide while still in their teens and one inflicted physical harm on his family and threatened with worse until he received help.

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