No snafu03, they are not 'over-simplified' and no-one would seriously try to diminsih the tragedy and seriousness of teh taking of a life.
But over-simplification is the road to knee-jerk reactions, and before we know it, we have a system where people are judged on their ethnicity, or ecconomic status.
Which brings me to New Judge's point - where you appear to be lamenting the fact that people's 'lifestyle choice' is not a cornerstone of the legal system,a although i cannot for the life of me understand why any young woman would take the stress and strain of single motherhood as a 'liffestyle choice'.
It is easy to take the moral high ground from our position - by definition of our discussion here, we have access to a computer, and the education in basic literacy to be able to use it, and a degree of detached logic that enables us to discuss a situation whcih we are highly unlikely to experience first hand.
It is our moral responsibility to look at circumstances and wuider pictures that affect members of our society who do not have our fortunate circumstances, and to extend a degree of understanding and compassion to them, while still ensuring that appropriate legal action is taken.
To simply glibly dismiss this poor woman and others like her as failing to cope with her lifestyle choice is a callous and hopefully minority view.
Perish the thought that anyone should be judged for a lack of empathy.