OMFG. The b*tch that killed my friend is getting a max of ONE YEAR in jail.

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

Methadone is a prescribed drug, but I'll bet she was on Heroin. Fvckin junky. Don't worry, she will burn in hell.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Queasy
Did I read that correctly that there was problem proving she was on drugs? What the hell happened?

Richardson testified she was on medication, including methadone, but she
did not believe it affected her driving.

Yeah, you only swerved onto a wide shoulder and nailed a grown man dressed in brightly-colored spandex in the middle of the day. I'm sure it didn't affect your driving you worthless bitch.

did they bring in any expert witnesses like a doctor to testify the affects of the drugs could or should not have affected her driving?

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

That's a crappy deal. It sounds to me as though the DA chickened out, because it's unclear to me why they would agree to a plea to a misdemeanor when she admitted she was on drugs, and someone died. I'd suggest you contact the DA and express your displeasure, as well as writing to the local newspapers.


EDIT: I need to read more carefully. She was acquitted of first-degree vehicular homicide (which I assume is a felony), which is how we got to the present situation. At least that makes more sense. The DA at least did the right thing IMO, regardless of the outcome.

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: DonVito
That's a crappy deal. It sounds to me as though the DA chickened out, because it's unclear to me why they would agree to a plea to a misdemeanor when she admitted she was on drugs, and someone died. I'd suggest you contact the DA and express your displeasure, as well as writing to the local newspapers.

Civil suit is the way to go. 1 year in jail is ridiculous for taking someone's life.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

The biggest thing is that he wasn't even in the road. He was way over in the emergency lane (which is like 6 feet wide). You have to be impaired or retarded to make that gross an error behind the wheel.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: virtueixi

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

And Fausto, I am sorry for both yours and his family's loss. Sad indeed.



Methadone is a prescribed drug, but I'll bet she was on Heroin. Fvckin junky. Don't worry, she will burn in hell.

Wow, just wow......Methadone can also be used as a means to control chronic pain. In fact it's used widely for that. So using Methadone does not automatically make her heroin junkie.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: The Boss

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

I think this is taking things too far. I too am a cyclist, and I've been hit by cars myself. Frankly I think this woman should have been prosecuted for a felony, not a misdemeanor, but I also think this was probably fundamentally an accident. It certainly wasn't murder (or at least there's no evidence to indicate that). I say the DA should have taken the case to trial as a felony, and let the chips fall where they might. Ultimately this woman probably should have a felony conviction, but the sentence itself is less important IMO.

 

[AStar617]

:thumbsdown:

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: DonVito
That's a crappy deal. It sounds to me as though the DA chickened out, because it's unclear to me why they would agree to a plea to a misdemeanor when she admitted she was on drugs, and someone died. I'd suggest you contact the DA and express your displeasure, as well as writing to the local newspapers.

Civil suit is the way to go. 1 year in jail is ridiculous for taking someone's life.

I dunno. The woman is likely more or less judgment-proof, and a civil suit won't bring the decedent back. I assume there probably already has been one, since the incident was three years ago, which is as much or more than most states' statutes of limitations (though I don't know as to Georgia specifically).

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

^your stupidity amazing.

fausto, i agree, people do get more jail time for killing dogs. If she was on Methadone then she should have been charged with DUI, was there a test given?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

^your stupidity amazing.

fausto, i agree, people do get more jail time for killing dogs. If she was on Methadone then she should have been charged with DUI, was there a test given?

They took blood and she testified she was on it.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson

Originally posted by: virtueixi

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

And Fausto, I am sorry for both yours and his family's loss. Sad indeed.



Methadone is a prescribed drug, but I'll bet she was on Heroin. Fvckin junky. Don't worry, she will burn in hell.

Wow, just wow......Methadone can also be used as a means to control chronic pain. In fact it's used widely for that. So using Methadone does not automatically make her heroin junkie.

dude, my brother in law has been popping methadone for years and years for chronic pain managment. If you ever saw him you would swear he was a heroin junkie.

 

[Ilmater]

A friend of mine was hit head-on by a drunk driver. The police had tried to get this woman (the drunk driver) put into jail or a mental institution for YEARS, but they kept saying that the police couldn't prove she was a danger to society, so they kept releasing her. I don't even know what happened to her because I don't want to know. He survived, but he barely even recognizes people. He can't really talk, and is still in a wheelchair. I'm really afraid that I might find out that she got an easy term. I just had to let that go and deal with the fact that my friend can't be the person he once was rather than dwell on this other woman's life.

I'm sorry for your loss, but as I said, it's better to just move on and not think about what COULD have been or what she SHOULD have been sentenced to. It doesn't do anyone any good.

Best of luck man.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

do you even know what 1st degree murder is?

it will be 1st degree ONLY if the driver had an INTENT to kill your friend. It will be like "oh look at that cyclist, I want to run him over" This is 1st degree murder

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

As far as I know, Fausto is into cycling and since this guy was his friend, I'm guessing he was also into cycling and took proper cautions to avoid such accidents by wearing appropriate clothing (shiny cycling uniforms). If this lady didn't see him in daylight, sorry, that's not an accident, but rather 1st degree murder.

^your stupidity amazing.

fausto, i agree, people do get more jail time for killing dogs. If she was on Methadone then she should have been charged with DUI, was there a test given?

this coming from a mentally retarded bollock juggler... oh the irony.

 

[kyparrish]

OMG, only 1 year? something's broken with our legal system

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: MisterJackson

Originally posted by: virtueixi

Originally posted by: armatron
ok I don't really agree with the alcohol/drug thing.. I mean I don't know her or whatever... but all I see is her taking a prescribed drug?




it honestly looks like a horrible accident. yes, she took his life, yes it was a horrible accident to make, but it WAS an accident.



I'm sorry for your friends wife/child.

And Fausto, I am sorry for both yours and his family's loss. Sad indeed.



Methadone is a prescribed drug, but I'll bet she was on Heroin. Fvckin junky. Don't worry, she will burn in hell.

Wow, just wow......Methadone can also be used as a means to control chronic pain. In fact it's used widely for that. So using Methadone does not automatically make her heroin junkie.

dude, my brother in law has been popping methadone for years and years for chronic pain managment. If you ever saw him you would swear he was a heroin junkie.

Also. I ride a motorcycle. I PROMISE that motorcyclist have more close encounters with cars than bicyclists. I understand completely that people simply don't pay enough attention. IMO, someone that just isn't paying enough attention doesn't deserve 10 years in jail. some jailtime yes, huge fines, yes. 10+yrs in jail? no.



Personally I blame cops who are more willing to write speeding tickets than general traffic tickets. People turn right on red wihtout looking, RIGHT in front of a cop and they do nothing. People going 15 over are pulled over and ticketed.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
do you even know what 1st degree murder is?

it will be 1st degree ONLY if the driver had an INTENT to kill your friend. It will be like "oh look at that cyclist, I want to run him over" This is 1st degree murder

Yes, but if you're drunk driving and you kill someone, that's also 1st degree murder. If you drink and get into your car, it's assumed that you had the intent to kill someone.

 

[91TTZ]

If she was on methadone, chances are that she's a heroin addict.

If you really want to get this person, and I'm not saying this is right, but if you really want this person to pay, somehow get her hooked on heroin again.

 

[Freejack2]

Part of the problem in this country is owning a vehicle is almost viewed as a right. All a person needs to do to drive is pay like $50, take a short written test, and then a short drivers test.

Also road design puts pedestrians and bicyclists as an afterthought. I've even heard a story of a bicyclist getting hit when a driver who was charged as at fault for the accident, have the drivers insurance company sucessfully sue the bicyclist for damage to the drivers vehicle.

In Germany as an example, it costs over 2000 euros to acquire a drivers license, and the requirements to pass the test are pretty rigorous. They also hold a driver very responsible for their actions. Had this been in Germany this woman would have been going to jail for a very very long time. Germany perhaps takes things to the extreme but the result is good.

In this country I'm suprised she's even getting jail time.

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
there's never a right reply to these types of threads. I can understand your pain and frustration/anger, but I can also understand that if it truly was an accident, that accidents do occur, and this is just a real sh!tty part of life that some unfortunately have to deal with. The issue of medication clouds everything of course, but i'm not here to accuse or make judgements. Either way, regardless of the way the court trial turns out, may your friend RIP and I hope that you are able to peacefully cope with your loss.

Suddenly swerving to the side of the road for no reason (far enough to hit a cyclist who's riding well on the shoulder) isn't an "accident" any more than a nuclear technician shutting off the coolant pumps while the reactor is running is an "accident".

When an action has a high chance of ending a person's life, you have to be more careful. There are no "accidents". There are only people who don't take their responsibilities to the innocent lives around them seriously enough, and who should never be allowed to control more than 5hp of thrust.

 

[Acanthus]

1 year is freakin pathetic.

Mail her a picture of him once a month for the rest of her life.

 

[DurocShark]

Not only was she drugged, she crossed the fog line... The row of bumps designed to wake your arse up! Yet she kept going onto the shoulder!!! WTF?

 

[BriGy86]

people are FVCKNG MORONS!!!!

get this

in about 5th or 6th grade when i used to skate board i had 2 cars swerve at me INTENTIONALY

one of witch was a MOTHER DRIVING HER KIDS TO SCHOOL

there are many people i would gladly drag into the street and shoot in the face if it were leagal

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: kyparrish
OMG, only 1 year? something's broken with our legal system

I want to press Pause for a moment and address that concern.

I can't vouch for what happened in this case, but I've been a criminal litigator for years, and had the benefit of observing my mother, who has been a judge for 21 years.

I don't see this as a failure of the justice system, though I share your and Fausto's frustration with the outcome.

Essentially, this woman killed Fausto's friend David, due to her own negligence. She admitted to that, and pled guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide, a gross misdemeanor. The state pursued the greater charge of first-degree vehicular homicide, apparently because she was allegedly on drugs. See this page for a layperson's explanation of the gradations of vehicular homicide in Georgia.

After hearing all the evidence, the jury apparently acquitted Ms. Richardson of the greater charge, probably because they weren't convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that she was "under the influence of alcohol or drugs" under the specific definition provided for in the jury instructions. It's a curious finding, since she apparently admitted to taking methodone, but I'm not a doctor and have no idea what the pharmaceutical impact of methodone use is.

The bottom line is that I think the DA did the right thing, took the case to trial under the appropriate charges, and lost on the greater charge. IMO this woman was lucky with this outcome, but I can't see it as a huge miscarriage of justice.