Street racer charged with manslaughter

[Asharus]

No, I do not believe this person should be punished for this. He didn't force anyone to race him.

Do you get charged for manslaughter when you don't take your friend's keys away when you know they're going to drive home drunk?

 

[beatle]

The person has to take responsibility for their own actions. It's not a race if there aren't at least 2 cars, and if someone drives faster than they should, they should be held accountable. Nobody put a gun to his head and told him to speed, and nobody took the wheel from him and caused his accident.

Street racing is completely stupid, however. I'll be glad when I turn 25 and I get out of that insurance bracket.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

Agreed.

 

[KK]

Fvckin double post bullsh1t. :|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|

:beer:

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

Agreed.

Agree also, I don't think a jury could find this guy guilty of manslaughter. But then again half the people out their are dumber than average.

KK

 

[amcdonald]

If i'm not mistaken, they will more than likely plea bargin this kid's case from manslaughter down to community service.

 

[boyRacer]

I think he should be punished but i dont think he deserves this.

 

[nan0bug]

Originally posted by: amcdonald
If i'm not mistaken, they will more than likely plea bargin this kid's case from manslaughter down to community service.

Yup. Thats how it works. The initial charges don't really mean jack, they always trump them up so that they can try and get a plea bargain later. The kid will get charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and a bunch of speeding fines, but the manslaughter charge will not stick.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

As a street racer, I'd have to say, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time."

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

So do you suppose this person would have died had the other decided not to race?

Yes, he could have been speeding by himself. Or he could have lived if HE decided not to race. His own decisions killed him, not anyone else.

It's hard to say whether or not someone would have been hurt since it's all speculation. The main point behind the manslaughter charge is deterrance. We had a similar case up here in Grand Forks a couple years back and the people who lived were convicted of manslaughter. The idea is that if you're going to accept the personal risks behind something so blatently stupid, you can accept responsibility for those who may be effected as well.

Yes, and the idiot who killed himself was the one who was effected. He faced responsibility on the spot. There is already a deterrance in that the idiot who raced died. The other guy should face misdemenor charges of reckless endangerment, not felony manslaughter charges. The reckless endangerment is for other people who could have potentially been hurt, not the idiot who CHOSE to race and paid the price. He is responsible for his own death, and he got the death penalty for it. Case closed.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: PowerMac4Ever
As a street racer, I'd have to say, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time."

My little brother's book title for skewl is similar to that:

"If you can't do the time, don't do the crime"

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: KK

Agree also, I don't think a jury could find this guy guilty of manslaughter. But then again half the people out their are dumber than average.

KK

We know which half you're in!

 

[jjones]

You'd think that it would likely be reckless driving, but I agree with palad that because he was an active participant in an illegal activity in which someone died, the law may provide for the charge of manslaughter. But I don't know really; if it were up to me, reckless driving would be the charge.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: bradruth
Yes. They endangered countless lives, not just their own. As such, they should be prepared to face the consequences when someone dies because of their actions.

That someone died because of his own actions, and he faced the consequences. They should charge him with reckless endangerment of innocent bystanders, but not with manslaughter of a racer who knowingly put himself at risk

So do you suppose this person would have died had the other decided not to race?

Yes, he could have been speeding by himself. Or he could have lived if HE decided not to race. His own decisions killed him, not anyone else.

It's hard to say whether or not someone would have been hurt since it's all speculation. The main point behind the manslaughter charge is deterrance. We had a similar case up here in Grand Forks a couple years back and the people who lived were convicted of manslaughter. The idea is that if you're going to accept the personal risks behind something so blatently stupid, you can accept responsibility for those who may be effected as well.

Yes, and the idiot who killed himself was the one who was effected. He faced responsibility on the spot. There is already a deterrance in that the idiot who raced died. The other guy should face misdemenor charges of reckless endangerment, not felony manslaughter charges. The reckless endangerment is for other people who could have potentially been hurt, not the idiot who CHOSE to race and paid the price. He is responsible for his own death, and he got the death penalty for it. Case closed.

Ok, THIS time nobody innocent was killed. If people were really deterred by the risk of death, why do so many people not wear their seatbelt? Or abuse alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs? What about horribly unhealthy food? People are NOT deterred by the chance of their own death as one might think. Especially the type of person that would street race. Adrenaline junkies aren't going to stop doing stunts and crap like that because someone died doing it. They know the risk and accept it. When their stupid ass is going to get thrown in a federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison, maybe then they'll think a little differently.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: amcdonald
This guy doesn't deserve jail time.
Why can't the guy who lost control be responsible for his own life?
Did the other kid force him into a street race?
I'd bet money that this guy won't ever race again.

I agree he shouldn't be prosecuted heavily. maybe a license loss or something, but you are right, it was not him who lost control of the other car, and it may not even have been him who wanted to race, maybe it was the guy who died.. who knows, either way it really sucks for him (the guy still alive) and the other guy's family.

 

[AgentEL]

There was a similar situation that happened near my home (but much more tragic).

One night, around 10 pm, two guys decided to race each other an a road that is relatively empty. According to the police report one of the cars went around the curb and swerved near a minivan causing the driver (female, only passenger, high school senior) to swerve into the side guardrail. Her family was following the minivan and were shocked to see their daughter crashed on the side of the road. The girl passed away.

Turns out the boys went to the same high school as the girl. News spread about what the boys did and became the most hated people on campus. They left an empty chair for the girl at the graduation ceremony.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Asharus
No, I do not believe this person should be punished for this. He didn't force anyone to race him.

Do you get charged for manslaughter when you don't take your friend's keys away when you know they're going to drive home drunk?

You probably could. I think there have been convictions for that.

 

[klah]

Here is the applicable OK statute: http://www.oscn.net/applications/OCISWeb/deliverdocument.asp?citeID=69314

Homicide is manslaughter in the first degree in the following cases:

1. When perpetrated without a design to effect death by a person while engaged in the commission of a misdemeanor.

2. When perpetrated without a design to effect death, and in a heat of passion, but in a cruel and unusual manner, or by means of a dangerous weapon; unless it is committed under such circumstances as constitute excusable or justifiable homicide.

3. When perpetrated unnecessarily either while resisting an attempt by the person killed to commit a crime, or after such attempt shall have failed.