Sickening verdict in Texas

[Ron]

Perhaps I am being a bit set in my opinions, but he HAS KILLED four people, regardless of his mindset behind it. How would you feel if it was your family he had destroyed in a moment of unthinking action in getting behind the wheel impaired?

 

 

I lost a friend in a very similar situation when I was a teen. She had been doing everything right, and was hit and killed by a woman who had mixed prescription drugs and alcohol.  That woman was also sent to rehab, and had her licence back in her pocket in less than 6 months. Admittedly that was before DUI laws were stiffened in our state. Rehab didn't help the next person she killed when she next drank and drove. Thank god the second trial saw her convicted of vehicular homicide. I cannot help but think if the first trial had ended that way there would be two people who would have lived to see their own children grow up.

I understand your feelings and I am sorry for your loss.

[W_L]

We need some humor in this thread of death and injustice

 

I wonder what car he was driving

 

Thought you would know as it is in your neck of the woods, probably an expensive truck with plenty of room in the trunk for you

[Y_B]

Not really humor...it was a real thought....I mean, this is one of those threads where you're either singing to the chorus or arguing with people you'll never change the minds of so it's pretty f*cking pointless....and I was wondering what he was driving.

 

I want a new car for xmas....I even knitted a giant stocking to hang over my garage door for santa to stick it in.

[W_L]

Not really humor...it was a real thought....I mean, this is one of those threads where you're either singing to the chorus or arguing with people you'll never change the minds of so it's pretty f*cking pointless....and I was wondering what he was driving.

 

I want a new car for xmas....I even knitted a giant stocking to hang over my garage door for santa to stick it in.

 

Can't find it, the car model was left out.

 

If you want a new car Banger, you will need to give Santa more than just cookies and milk.

 

Personally, I want a Maserati:

 

[Rndmrunner]

Ghostboy wrote:  This boy didn't decide to get drunk and kill someone, and intent has to have some value in making a decision. 

 

I must strongly disagree. The boy was sober at some point and decided to drink. If he is old enough to drive he is old enough to accept the responsibility that comes with driving and not drinking and driving is part of that responsibility. His culpability started when he drove to the bar and ordered the first drink. If you are going to drink, you don't get behind the wheel inebriated. If you can't trust your judgement once you start drinking, you leave your car at home, period. No he did not intend to kill 4 people that night but doesn't change the fact that 4 people are dead because of his actions and decisions. And while he may have to live with that for the rest of his life, he is still alive and they are not.

[Kitt]

The boy didn't get drunk with the intent of killing someone.

 

Is that easier to understand now? 

 

 

The boy did choose to get drunk. Period. End of his "thought process". He never considered what driving while impared could (and did) result in.  There is a reason people arrange things like key baskets at gatherings there will be alcohol served in - BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU HAVE GOTTEN DRUNK YOU ARE NOT THINKING CLEARLY.

 

 

By your reasoning someone picks up a baseball bat in a store and swings it to test weight and length, and hits someone walking behind them. They have no responsibility because they didn't intend to hit them?  It is still a public place where "reasonable care" is the legal standard.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Kitt

[Thorn Wilde]

I've never believed in an eye for an eye. That said, there of course has to be some kind of balance between rehabilitating a criminal and giving closure to their victims or the families of their victims, depending on the crime. I have to admit, though, I don't think it would make me feel any better about having lost someone to know that the person who did it is locked away behind bars. I think it would make me feel better to know that the person who did it is trying to turn his life around. That, to me, would be making amends. For a young person, something like this can be an eye opener. Maybe he can yet become a productive, functioning member of society. Just sticking him in a jail cell is no good to anyone.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Thorn Wilde

[Cia]

I think there are layers of responses here based on people's experiences, which is more obvious than it might be in other topics. I understand Steve's absolute horror in this situation. I was permanently maimed by a man who drank and chose to drive. Not even straight home, a mile or so from the bar he'd been at, but all over town as attested by 2 men who'd seen him 20 minutes prior to them stopping at our accident. They had plenty of time to give their statements to the cops during the hour it took the firemen to cut me out of our car. I live in pain each and every day, even on my best days, because of one person's poor decision.

 

Did he plan it? No. But I still live the consequences of HIS poor choice. Of course he's not living at all.

 

When you've lived this situation no excuse, no defense, is good enough to justify the damage.

[paul.b]

The boy and his friends were seen stealing 2 cases of beer on servalence camera ,speeding , 3 times over the legal blood achol leval and had 7 passengers in his Ford f 350. I hope in the USA when you take the test for your driving licence that it's not only against the law to drink and drive but also very dangerous. If so he has no excuses for his actions

[Tom]

I don't know if probation is enough of a punishment, but pesonnally, rehab is not near enough.

 

they used a "mental condition" as a defence so counceling should be required before all other punishments even start...I want to make sure the little bugger understands what he did.

 

I also think that because the "mental condition" used was directly conected to his parents, they should be required to do counceling and classes in child rearing.

 

hugs

   Tom

[Trebs]

If nothing else, the use of a defense that the parents treatment of the son contributed to his actions (or lack of culpability) may help the victims in a civil suit against the parents...

[methodwriter85]

   Oh, there will be a MASSIVE lawsuit.

[TetRefine]

The humor in this thread isn't wondering what kind of car he was driving, but the fact that people are actually shocked and surprised a rich, white kid got off with basically a slap on the wrist for manslaughter. 

[Zombie]

The humor in this thread isn't wondering what kind of car he was driving, but the fact that people are actually shocked and surprised a rich, white kid got off with basically a slap on the wrist for manslaughter. 

 

Justice is no longer blind in Australia either

 

On 7 April, Liam Danial Sweeney attended a friend's birthday drinks at Crown Casino in Melbourne. According to the prosecution, Sweeney had been ignored when he attempted to shake another guest's hand, and stewed on this "insult" for a couple of hours. At midnight, under the influence of alcohol, he reportedly engaged in an "unprovoked and gratuitous" assault of the man, Richard Huiswaard. Sweeney smashed a wine glass into Huiswaard's face, and then punched him twice in the head... he pleaded guilty to "intentionally causing injury", which can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

 

But Sweeney will not serve a day. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine. The serving magistrate, Jack Vandersteen, explained in sentencing that he did not believe Sweeney "would last very long" in jail. "Not many people are in jail who went to Haileybury," continued Vandersteen, naming the prestigious private school that educated the kind of young man who glassed and scarred another as the result of a perceived slight.

 

Vandersteen's concern was that it may be "extremely devastating" for Sweeney's parents, one of whom is a barrister himself, to see Sweeney in court. There were concerns, too, about the impact of sentencing Sweeney due to the young man being a lawyer himself. Should he be jailed, he would not be able to practice law, after all.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/26/too-privileged-jail-lawyer-australia

[Fishwings]

Well, the shock is that they made "Affluenza" a thing. That's a whole new level of frigged up.

 

I guess it's time to trend this on twitter too -_______-

 

#Affluenza #Wow #ImRichSoICanGetAwayWithEverything #AMERICUH

[W_L]

Oh, there will be a MASSIVE lawsuit.

How much is a life worth?

[wildone]

Justice is no longer blind in Australia either

 

On 7 April, Liam Danial Sweeney attended a friend's birthday drinks at Crown Casino in Melbourne. According to the prosecution, Sweeney had been ignored when he attempted to shake another guest's hand, and stewed on this "insult" for a couple of hours. At midnight, under the influence of alcohol, he reportedly engaged in an "unprovoked and gratuitous" assault of the man, Richard Huiswaard. Sweeney smashed a wine glass into Huiswaard's face, and then punched him twice in the head... he pleaded guilty to "intentionally causing injury", which can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

 

But Sweeney will not serve a day. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine. The serving magistrate, Jack Vandersteen, explained in sentencing that he did not believe Sweeney "would last very long" in jail. "Not many people are in jail who went to Haileybury," continued Vandersteen, naming the prestigious private school that educated the kind of young man who glassed and scarred another as the result of a perceived slight.

 

Vandersteen's concern was that it may be "extremely devastating" for Sweeney's parents, one of whom is a barrister himself, to see Sweeney in court. There were concerns, too, about the impact of sentencing Sweeney due to the young man being a lawyer himself. Should he be jailed, he would not be able to practice law, after all.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/26/too-privileged-jail-lawyer-australia

I'm not sure how the legal system works in the US, but I do believe in any Commonwealth Countries it should be the same. The Magistrate has made a ruling. It is now up to the Crown (or Prosecution) to appeal that sentence to the Appeals Court. If the Magistrate erred in any way in the trial or charging of the Jury, then the whole case is up for appeal instead of just the sentence. Though, they got a convictions so I imagine the Crown won't be appealing the trial, just the sentence. That is where the Appeal Court will look at case law and decide if it is reasonable.

[Zombie]

He pleaded guilty so there was no conviction just sentencing

[TetRefine]

Justice is no longer blind in Australia either

 

A blind justice system is a utopian fantasy. It has never been true anywhere in the world, nor will it ever be. 

[Zombie]

A blind justice system is a utopian fantasy. It has never been true anywhere in the world, nor will it ever be. 

 

True, but once a case gets to court then we all get to see the outcome. What we don't know about is the cases that never get to court.

Not seen many bankers up before the beak...

[W_L]

True, but once a case gets to court then we all get to see the outcome. What we don't know about is the cases that never get to court.

Not seen many bankers up before the beak...

 

Hmm...Opens up a multi-million dollar Super PAC for "Zombie Justice"....there, now you can go on a rampage for human brains and not be prosecuted for any crimes

[TetRefine]

True, but once a case gets to court then we all get to see the outcome. What we don't know about is the cases that never get to court.

Not seen many bankers up before the beak...

 

Dear god Zombie, you don't mean to say that politicians and prosecutors should call for economy-ruining bankers to be brought up on criminal charges! If they all go to jail, who would fund the politicians and prosecutors reelection campaigns?!?!?! 

[Cia]

Do NOT make this about politics please. 

[JamesSavik]

*sighs*  It's not about "affluenza". It's about the harshest sentence the Juvenile Court could impose.

[joann414]

Agreeing with James.  I didn't even bother to give my opinion here.  Where I live, you never know what will happen.  My heart goes out to the love ones of the victims.  I just hope the same judge isn't on the bench if this happens to one of my love ones.  All I have to say.

Edited December 18, 2013 by joann414