Originally Posted by Slow_Rolla
Though there are other subjects i might agree with you on, this isnt one.
1. We are the same people that could possibly be brought in to preside as a jury in any case therefore every person has a right to express their judgement on any given case.
Very true, HOWEVER, you have not been chosen to make this call. There is a difference between saying, "wow what you did was really fucked up I hope you learned/learn your lesson" (which I whole hartedly agree with) and the approach of "Wow your a fucking retard I hope you never drive again and rot in prison for the rest of your life"
Originally Posted by Slow_Rolla
2. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial and no one here is denying him that, he will get it.
I dont condemn him to shit, i just dont think he should be turned lose out on the streets without learning a lesson for such a hot headed thing that he did.
I am not saying they should, what I am saying is it is not up to the members of this board (or any other) to instantly convict him based on his own admission of guilt, he came here somewhat humbly asking for assistance admitting his wrong doing. He did not come on saying "Hey man I got a DUI and wrecked my car who do you know that can get me off"
Originally Posted by Slow_Rolla
Being pulled over by the cops and arrested isnt much of a wake-up call, its more like a slap on the wrist. The consequences of ones actions (jail time and fines out the ass) are the wake-up call, that say life is real and you are responsible for the wrong actions you make. Its bad enough he was doing 120, but to do that while intoxicated is just plain wreckless. Wreckless of his life and wreckless of the lives around him.
I agree the initial arrest among other things isn't a wake-up call but what is to come will be if totalling his car wasn't enough but once again, that is not for us to decide, it's for the legal system.
Originally Posted by Slow_Rolla
I could list him a bunch of lawyers, but all of them will only be able to do so much. He could get off on some of the charges do to technicalities that a lawyer could find, but in the end is that really fair? I think if he was really going to be fair about things, he would forget the lawyer, and prove that he really realizes what he did was wrong, and throw himself at the mercy of the court system.
Thats where I disagree, there is no mercy in the court system, especially not in VA. The whole thing with the court is that the decision should be based solely on the merits of the case etc etc, Lets say Judge XX is presiding and his daughter was killed in a DUI accident, would he get a fair trial? I sincerely doubt it without a good attorney, and you don't exactly get to decide who presides over your case.
Ritz, I am fully aware of what COULD HAVE happened, however here in america we don't punish people on what could have happened we punish based on what does. I am in no way excusing what he did, and I fully agree that what he did was definetly wrong but I am also saying (unless you are on his jury) it is not up to any of the people here to condemn him for his actions that is the purpose of the court and legal system. This being said it is also not up to us to decide his punishment, thats what I have a problem with. It's just not our place to make that decision.
I think I have more than adequately explained why I made the previous statements, if you think that they are wrong then so be it, why don't we just start having public hangings again? It wouldn't be much different.