I Killed A Man... Confession of a Drunk Driver
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Originally Posted by ImperfectlyMe 
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I have a feeling that when he does plead guilty, the judge will not be as moved by this video confession as the public is. In fact, it makes a mockery and spectacle of the court. Judges are not fans of this kind of publicity. In all actuality, I assume the book will be thrown at him - maximum prison sentence, maximum fine, restitution, etc. as a result of his "public service announcement." The professionalism of this footage indicates that the group behind it may be seeking a profit from this tragedy.
A much better legal strategy would have been to simply turn himself in immediately rather than wait several months, and make a proper confession on the record with police. The idea that this video will stop drunk drivers is ludacris.
A terrible situation for all involved, yet a proper reminder to all who are in recovery about what potentially waits on the other end of a relapse.
A much better legal strategy would have been to simply turn himself in immediately rather than wait several months, and make a proper confession on the record with police. The idea that this video will stop drunk drivers is ludacris.
A terrible situation for all involved, yet a proper reminder to all who are in recovery about what potentially waits on the other end of a relapse.
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I don't doubt he's sincere. And I hope in prison he gets treatment. Because he still might drink and drive, even after this. Consequences don't always stop people who're bad off enough.
I feel so terrible for the family. They now have to go through all the publicity again. The judge will probably throw the book at him, and that's appropriate. He killed a man. Hopefully he can get treatment and salvage what remains of his life. And with luck maybe someone else will see this and think before they drive.
I feel so terrible for the family. They now have to go through all the publicity again. The judge will probably throw the book at him, and that's appropriate. He killed a man. Hopefully he can get treatment and salvage what remains of his life. And with luck maybe someone else will see this and think before they drive.
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Hi Saliena, I'm watching World News Now. Matthew went to court and pled not guilty today. They said it was a legal maneuver. Now he's supposed to get another judge and plead guilty next time. ! I don't know what to think about it now.
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I don't understand the legal nuances of that state; I expect that when the time comes he'll enter a guilty plea. The judge may construe the video as an attempt to "game" the court; if so he'll probably get the book thrown at him. Presumably he knows this an understands it. His guilt is likely driving him to try to salvage some good from the horrible events.
Some of you may recall a fairly famous football player a couple years ago that was in similar situation. He was drunk (not blackout drunk but well over the limit) and fatally hit a guy with his Bentley. Seems the guy was crossing the street. The NFL guy wound up serving something like a month for manslaughter. There may have been some mitigating circumstances but that seemed pretty light a sentence for killing someone.
Sadly DUI/DWI isn't taken very seriously by most of the folks I know. Most of my coworkers have had a DUI at some point in their lives, some multiples. Some of them still drive drunk with the same excuses- I'm only a little over, I live 1/2 mile away, etc etc. Even when I was drinking hard I knew better than to drive when I'd been drinking but most of the guys I know don't see it that way.
Some of you may recall a fairly famous football player a couple years ago that was in similar situation. He was drunk (not blackout drunk but well over the limit) and fatally hit a guy with his Bentley. Seems the guy was crossing the street. The NFL guy wound up serving something like a month for manslaughter. There may have been some mitigating circumstances but that seemed pretty light a sentence for killing someone.
Sadly DUI/DWI isn't taken very seriously by most of the folks I know. Most of my coworkers have had a DUI at some point in their lives, some multiples. Some of them still drive drunk with the same excuses- I'm only a little over, I live 1/2 mile away, etc etc. Even when I was drinking hard I knew better than to drive when I'd been drinking but most of the guys I know don't see it that way.
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Pleading not guilty at the preliminary hearing is pretty typical. I pled not guilty at my DUI hearing. It just continues the case for a bit, I pled guilty further down the road. Luckily for me I didn't hurt anyone and only got a reckless operation out of the deal.
But pleading not guilty at first, is pretty standard for almost any court case.
But pleading not guilty at first, is pretty standard for almost any court case.
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