Topic: Ever Been To Trial? Had a Jury? For What?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,229
Topic: Ever Been To Trial? Had a Jury? For What?
Hi Im Sharon. I am an Alcoholic.
Some 20 yrs. ago I was involved
in an accident where coming home
from a club one night I ran into
some construction less than a mile
from my house when my front wheel
hit a 2 ft. notch cut out in the road
sending me flying off the road and
hitting a concrete culvert sitting
on top the ground.
Emergency was called by a passer
byer and emergency was called.
They had to cut me out of the
wreckage and take me via the EMS
which I have no recollection of it
to this day.
That drinking and driving incident
landed me in the hospital for 10 days
with them removing my punctured
spleen so I wouldnt bleed to death
along with numerous broken bones
and contusions.
Several years later I went to trial
due to encouragement by family
because of the construction site
was a hazard and an accident waiting
to happen.
By the time I went to trial I had a
28 day rehab behind me and recovery
for alcoholism in progress and was
grateful at that time to be alive an
given a 2nd chance in life. I really
didnt want to be at the trail because
I knew in my gut I was guilty for
my actions. However, I was ordered
not to say anything without my
lawyers.
We didnt win, yet I was angry because
we lost money to the fees we owed
for lawyers.
If I could do that moment I spoke
as a witness I would have told the
jury I had gone to rehab and was
sober and working a recovery program.
And that I was aware of the construction
site and tell them picture were taken
of the area but were lost to prove the
area was improperly marked off.
And That I never wanted to go to
trail because I knew i was drinking
and driving.
Anyway....that is the past and I have
to let that part of my life go and be
thankful I dont have to go thru that
again.
My question is......have you ever been
to trial, convicted, guilty or innocent.
Did you win or lose. Lessons learned.
Some 20 yrs. ago I was involved
in an accident where coming home
from a club one night I ran into
some construction less than a mile
from my house when my front wheel
hit a 2 ft. notch cut out in the road
sending me flying off the road and
hitting a concrete culvert sitting
on top the ground.
Emergency was called by a passer
byer and emergency was called.
They had to cut me out of the
wreckage and take me via the EMS
which I have no recollection of it
to this day.
That drinking and driving incident
landed me in the hospital for 10 days
with them removing my punctured
spleen so I wouldnt bleed to death
along with numerous broken bones
and contusions.
Several years later I went to trial
due to encouragement by family
because of the construction site
was a hazard and an accident waiting
to happen.
By the time I went to trial I had a
28 day rehab behind me and recovery
for alcoholism in progress and was
grateful at that time to be alive an
given a 2nd chance in life. I really
didnt want to be at the trail because
I knew in my gut I was guilty for
my actions. However, I was ordered
not to say anything without my
lawyers.
We didnt win, yet I was angry because
we lost money to the fees we owed
for lawyers.
If I could do that moment I spoke
as a witness I would have told the
jury I had gone to rehab and was
sober and working a recovery program.
And that I was aware of the construction
site and tell them picture were taken
of the area but were lost to prove the
area was improperly marked off.
And That I never wanted to go to
trail because I knew i was drinking
and driving.
Anyway....that is the past and I have
to let that part of my life go and be
thankful I dont have to go thru that
again.
My question is......have you ever been
to trial, convicted, guilty or innocent.
Did you win or lose. Lessons learned.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
Hi sharon, I use to be here about 4 years ago under another name which is gone now. Couldnt get it back. Tryed.
Anyway seems like I recall your wreck...lol.
Ive been to a jury trial twice. Once for 3rd degree burglary...once for dui murder , hit and run.
Found guilty of the first, did 13 months. The second one only DUI. 6 months.
What ive learned ? Tell them you want a lawyer..Ofcourse if I dont drink, I dont have these problems......Hi Anna, glad to see youre still here.
You can be proud. Still here helping,For that I thank you.
Anyway seems like I recall your wreck...lol.
Ive been to a jury trial twice. Once for 3rd degree burglary...once for dui murder , hit and run.
Found guilty of the first, did 13 months. The second one only DUI. 6 months.
What ive learned ? Tell them you want a lawyer..Ofcourse if I dont drink, I dont have these problems......Hi Anna, glad to see youre still here.
You can be proud. Still here helping,For that I thank you.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 27
I had a friend once that needed a character witness to keep from going to jail. He was on probation for drinking and driving and got busted for alcohol in his system. He swore that he was sick and it was NyQuil. They asked me to stand up for him and it went something like this:
Do you believe your friend was drinking?: Absolutely not
Why?: Because he lives next door to me and if he were drinking I would have been drinking with him.
You mean you always drink together?: No but almost always start our drinking together.
When he drank, how often did you drink together?: Every day
Did you drink in the mornings?: Yes
Whats the earliest you ever drank together?: Probably around 4am
4am??: Yes we were hunting (there was some low laughter in the audience)
There were several more questions like this I think because the attorney was becoming entertained with my answers. Prosecution passed on cross.
I think the judge thought my answers were to unbelievable to be not true and he dismissed the case against my friend.
Looking back that could easily be a Saturday Night Live skit.
Do you believe your friend was drinking?: Absolutely not
Why?: Because he lives next door to me and if he were drinking I would have been drinking with him.
You mean you always drink together?: No but almost always start our drinking together.
When he drank, how often did you drink together?: Every day
Did you drink in the mornings?: Yes
Whats the earliest you ever drank together?: Probably around 4am
4am??: Yes we were hunting (there was some low laughter in the audience)
There were several more questions like this I think because the attorney was becoming entertained with my answers. Prosecution passed on cross.
I think the judge thought my answers were to unbelievable to be not true and he dismissed the case against my friend.
Looking back that could easily be a Saturday Night Live skit.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,229
Sometimes I still have resentments
towards my family for not listening
to me back when. I knew what I had
done and owned up to my mistakes
after I went thru rehab and got recovery.
But noooooo....family insisted that
the policeman that night took pictures
and had proof that the city did not
make the construction site safe.
For me, I did see the barracades and
the markers to channel the traffic away
from the notches cut out in the road.
They think I blacked out before running
off the road, but I remember being
nervous about getting home at 2 in the
morning.
Maybe I was speeding and lost control.
Still, i would have never gone to trial
because I was at fault and my husband
wouldnt have had to fork out all that
money because of it.
Anyway....
That accident was in Feb. 1990 and I
went thru rehab in Aug. 1990 when I
hit bottom and trial wasnt till the following
year.
Im glad I was sober to experience
that in my life and enjoy watching
court tv with trials each day.
Glad mine wasnt a murder trial.
towards my family for not listening
to me back when. I knew what I had
done and owned up to my mistakes
after I went thru rehab and got recovery.
But noooooo....family insisted that
the policeman that night took pictures
and had proof that the city did not
make the construction site safe.
For me, I did see the barracades and
the markers to channel the traffic away
from the notches cut out in the road.
They think I blacked out before running
off the road, but I remember being
nervous about getting home at 2 in the
morning.
Maybe I was speeding and lost control.
Still, i would have never gone to trial
because I was at fault and my husband
wouldnt have had to fork out all that
money because of it.
Anyway....
That accident was in Feb. 1990 and I
went thru rehab in Aug. 1990 when I
hit bottom and trial wasnt till the following
year.
Im glad I was sober to experience
that in my life and enjoy watching
court tv with trials each day.
Glad mine wasnt a murder trial.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
Thanks for the welcome Dee. The Manslaughter trial.....its just part of drinking..The day after the wreck..Im out on bond ....Going to look at my car in the impound....driving drunk in my Mothers car...I saw my Cutlass and it just broke my heart...Did I care about the Guy that died ? Not at the time. He ran the stop sign ...I was drunk and speeding..sure...but HE RAN THE STOP SIGN..that was just a setback in my drinking at the time...
.. I cared about my car and next drink...........Never made another payment on that car either..
All my cars I ever had I wrecked..I drove them till all the tires blew..No fenders left, busted windshields...bald tires ..smoking engine...cigerette burns all in the seats ......dented quarterpanels...And Id think...I WORK MY ASS OFF!...I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS BUCKET OF BOLTS!...
But after a few drinks the car didnt look that bad..nothing looked that bad after a few drinks...alittle bondo here and their...some paint...really not that bad a car....that is called ALCOHOLISM.......
.. I cared about my car and next drink...........Never made another payment on that car either..
All my cars I ever had I wrecked..I drove them till all the tires blew..No fenders left, busted windshields...bald tires ..smoking engine...cigerette burns all in the seats ......dented quarterpanels...And Id think...I WORK MY ASS OFF!...I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS BUCKET OF BOLTS!...
But after a few drinks the car didnt look that bad..nothing looked that bad after a few drinks...alittle bondo here and their...some paint...really not that bad a car....that is called ALCOHOLISM.......
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,237
I go to court in a few months regarding my DUI...I was going to continue paying my lawyer and try to fight it, but you know I was guilty...what I did was wrong, so I'm going to court with an honest heart and pleading guilty...my conscious will be clear, and that is worth so much....
A work in progress
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
When you go to trial, you aren't saying you didn't do "it"--you are exercising your right to have your guilt (or civil liability) proven. The law gives us all that right.
I don't think anyone needs to feel guilty about asking for a trial. There are other ways to make amends if you feel you have done wrong. I'm not suggesting anyone shouldn't do what they can to make amends.
(Legal public service announcement concluded. We now return you to your regular Program. )
I don't think anyone needs to feel guilty about asking for a trial. There are other ways to make amends if you feel you have done wrong. I'm not suggesting anyone shouldn't do what they can to make amends.
(Legal public service announcement concluded. We now return you to your regular Program.
)
i've done my almost
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,934
Originally Posted by over50 
The Manslaughter trial.....its just part of drinking.......
I have two duis which both included totalled cars. My story could have been yours.
...but it's not just a part of drinking. It's a part of YOUR drinking.
Kjell
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9
No KJell. I didnt kill him. Guess I should have been more clear. My fault their. The man was 87 and slumped over the steering wheel before he went through the intersection. Bad heart. His wife was in the car. Thats what she told the paramedics.
Ofcourse after she talked to a lawyer and saw $$.....her story changed. No injuries in the wreck were fatal , broken ribs, cracked back. The trial cleared me of killing him.
I had to quit playing God to get sober, how about you ?
Ofcourse after she talked to a lawyer and saw $$.....her story changed. No injuries in the wreck were fatal , broken ribs, cracked back. The trial cleared me of killing him.
I had to quit playing God to get sober, how about you ?
i've done my almost
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,934
Originally Posted by over50
No KJell. I didnt kill him. Guess I should have been more clear. My fault their. The man was 87 and slumped over the steering wheel before he went through the intersection. Bad heart. His wife was in the car. Thats what she told the paramedics.
Ofcourse after she talked to a lawyer and saw $$.....her story changed. No injuries in the wreck were fatal , broken ribs, cracked back. The trial cleared me of killing him.
I had to quit playing God to get sober, how about you ?
Ofcourse after she talked to a lawyer and saw $$.....her story changed. No injuries in the wreck were fatal , broken ribs, cracked back. The trial cleared me of killing him.
I had to quit playing God to get sober, how about you ?
Like I said above, my story still could have been yours. I'm very lucky no one was harmed as I crashed both of my cars in both of my duis.
My point was it's not just a part of drinking. It's a part of very selfish behavior (again, I speak from experience).
Yes, I quit playing God too. I'm an AA'er and that's sort of the point of it all.
Best of luck to you.
Kjell
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 9
June 1990---I'm driving drunk on beers and run a stop sign.
Got plowed on my right side by oncoming car. Both side windows crashed into my face cutting it all up. I was told later that having the windows up actually saved me from further injuries since it absorbed some of the impact.
The force of the impact caused my car to run up onto the sidewalk knocking over a fire hydrant.
During those seconds of it happening, all I thought was "this is it, i'm dead"....I was 20 at the time.
I thank God it was a residential area after midnight when no one was walking on that sidewalk. I would have never forgiven myself had I hurt someone.
The shocking part was that the guy that hit me was SO concerned for ME and unconcerned with the fact that I was drunk and caused him to hit me. All he kept saying was "calm down, it's ok"....my face was full of blood.
Thankfully that guy didn't have a scratch on him.
Cops came, and handcuffed me right there with a full bloody face....people were coming out of their houses to see the mess unfolding. It was extremely embarrassing.
Got sewn up at the hospital and carted off to jail. Parents bailed me out the next morning and I went before the judge soon later.
I'll NEVER know why, but I was only charged with "DWAI" which is called "Driving while ability impaired"....I guess I should be grateful it wasn't DUI...but still....I just paid a little $500 fine and suspended license for 6 months.
In hindsight, I should have got much more than that. No one even suggested I go into any kind of treatment program...I guess it wasn't mandatory at the time?? But it sure would have helped me.
I was terrified to drive drunk after that incident and it took all summer for my face to heal...I can still see very faint scars from that wreck today as a reminder.
But sadly, and dangerously....within a few years I would get complacent and drive home from bars drunk. This stupid behavior went on through the 90's and rest of my 20's....
It wasn't until I hit my 30's that I made a vow to never, ever drive drunk again...and I can proudly say i've stuck to that rule ever since.
But I was extremely lucky with that accident at 20 and I think if the exact same accident occurred today, i'd have gotton a much stiffer sentence...and rightfully so.
It's just unfortunate, looking back at it, that it was clearly a wake up call for me that I just completely ignored.
I think these 'horror stories' are extremely helpful to us...at least for me it is to read & share them...and I think a thread just on horror stories would be great to add so whenever we feel ourselves slipping, it could snap us back to reality.
Got plowed on my right side by oncoming car. Both side windows crashed into my face cutting it all up. I was told later that having the windows up actually saved me from further injuries since it absorbed some of the impact.
The force of the impact caused my car to run up onto the sidewalk knocking over a fire hydrant.
During those seconds of it happening, all I thought was "this is it, i'm dead"....I was 20 at the time.
I thank God it was a residential area after midnight when no one was walking on that sidewalk. I would have never forgiven myself had I hurt someone.
The shocking part was that the guy that hit me was SO concerned for ME and unconcerned with the fact that I was drunk and caused him to hit me. All he kept saying was "calm down, it's ok"....my face was full of blood.
Thankfully that guy didn't have a scratch on him.
Cops came, and handcuffed me right there with a full bloody face....people were coming out of their houses to see the mess unfolding. It was extremely embarrassing.
Got sewn up at the hospital and carted off to jail. Parents bailed me out the next morning and I went before the judge soon later.
I'll NEVER know why, but I was only charged with "DWAI" which is called "Driving while ability impaired"....I guess I should be grateful it wasn't DUI...but still....I just paid a little $500 fine and suspended license for 6 months.
In hindsight, I should have got much more than that. No one even suggested I go into any kind of treatment program...I guess it wasn't mandatory at the time?? But it sure would have helped me.
I was terrified to drive drunk after that incident and it took all summer for my face to heal...I can still see very faint scars from that wreck today as a reminder.
But sadly, and dangerously....within a few years I would get complacent and drive home from bars drunk. This stupid behavior went on through the 90's and rest of my 20's....
It wasn't until I hit my 30's that I made a vow to never, ever drive drunk again...and I can proudly say i've stuck to that rule ever since.
But I was extremely lucky with that accident at 20 and I think if the exact same accident occurred today, i'd have gotton a much stiffer sentence...and rightfully so.
It's just unfortunate, looking back at it, that it was clearly a wake up call for me that I just completely ignored.
I think these 'horror stories' are extremely helpful to us...at least for me it is to read & share them...and I think a thread just on horror stories would be great to add so whenever we feel ourselves slipping, it could snap us back to reality.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Merritt Island, Fl
Posts: 1,164
Heres the list
Battery
Felony Battery
Grand theft
Grand theft auto
Retail theft
Resisting arrest with violence
Fleeing and eluding
Attempted murder
Violation of probation/parole
Armed robbery
Possesion of a weapon by a Felon
Accessory to attempted murder
Fugitive from justice
Battery
Felony Battery
Grand theft
Grand theft auto
Retail theft
Resisting arrest with violence
Fleeing and eluding
Attempted murder
Violation of probation/parole
Armed robbery
Possesion of a weapon by a Felon
Accessory to attempted murder
Fugitive from justice
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,006
As an alcoholic, if any of us has drank and drove, we are no different from:
the drunk driver who had a DUI where no one was hurt
the drunk driver who killed her passenger (who knew she was getting in the car with a drunk driver)
the drunk driver who killed a single mom walking home from work
the drunk driver who killed a thief on his way to rob an elderly woman
So, in my opinion, we're all in the same boat. The saying - but for the Grace of God, there go I - is especially applicable when it comes to drunk driving.
But I digress, majorly. Go to trial, jury trial, whatever? I haven't done it; I have some experience peripherally. It's up to the individual. Nothing wrong with fighting it. It's the Crown's job to prove it. Everyone else does the work at a trial. The person charged just sits there, maybe takes the stand. Nothing wrong with owning up if that feels right. It might work best with the program of recovery. Totally depends on the individual.
the drunk driver who had a DUI where no one was hurt
the drunk driver who killed her passenger (who knew she was getting in the car with a drunk driver)
the drunk driver who killed a single mom walking home from work
the drunk driver who killed a thief on his way to rob an elderly woman
So, in my opinion, we're all in the same boat. The saying - but for the Grace of God, there go I - is especially applicable when it comes to drunk driving.
But I digress, majorly. Go to trial, jury trial, whatever? I haven't done it; I have some experience peripherally. It's up to the individual. Nothing wrong with fighting it. It's the Crown's job to prove it. Everyone else does the work at a trial. The person charged just sits there, maybe takes the stand. Nothing wrong with owning up if that feels right. It might work best with the program of recovery. Totally depends on the individual.
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