INDIANAPOLIS -- An Afghan man whose 15-month-old son had heart surgery in Indianapolis has retained an attorney to help the pair obtain permanent residence in the United States.\nHakim Gul Wardak is concerned that when he and his son, Qudrat, return to Afghanistan, they might be harassed by religious hardliners who feel contact with the United States is corrupting, said Indianapolis attorney Thomas Ruge, who is representing the Wardaks.\n"The family acknowledges that American forces have done much to bring a democratic regime to Afghanistan and have helped improve the lives of many Afghan people," Ruge said Wednesday in a news release. "However, the United States is still seen by some cultural and religious hardliners as a toxic influence."\nRuge said it was unlikely the Wardaks would seek refugee status, however.\nQudrat underwent surgery March 8 at the Riley Hospital for Children to repair life-threatening heart defects discovered by an Indiana National Guard doctor during an examination at a clinic in Afghanistan.\nThe Wardaks and their interpreter were supposed to return home to the Afghan capital, Kabul, by the end of the month. But the trip was delayed until April 10 after doctors found Qudrat had been exposed to chicken pox by a hospital intern.
\nsujh: LaPorte teen sentenced in shooting death of 10-year-old friend
LAPORTE, Ind. -- A 13-year-old boy convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of a 10-year-old friend has been sentenced to four years in a juvenile facility.\nThe boy was found guilty in December in the death of Ricky Isenbletter. Ricky died of a single gunshot wound to the head Sept. 4 at mobile home park in a rural area along U.S. Highway 20, about 25 miles west of South Bend.\nThe boys and two other children left a karaoke party at the trailer park and were in a nearby trailer where the 13-year-old lived when the shooting occurred, authorities said.\nUnder state law, voluntary manslaughter is when someone knowingly or intentionally kills another person while acting under sudden heat.\nThe 13-year-old was sentenced Monday by LaPorte Circuit Court Judge Robert Gilmore, who also ordered that $5,000 in restitution be paid for the slain boy's funeral expenses.\nThe teenager was expected be kept in custody until he turns 18.\nDefense attorney Ryan Beal said the teenager, who maintains the shooting was an accident, is terrified.\n"He wants to tell everyone how sorry he is and that he misses his best friend," Beal said in court.
