Affluenza Defense
Now, I’m no lawyer, but this “affluenza defense” thing seems to me to be about the most un-American thing, next to making people buy stuff they don’t want. But, this refers to the case of Ethan Couch who admitted in court that, while he was intoxicated, he killed four people with his vehicle. Four lives snuffed out. The judge sentenced this murderer to ten years of probation because the judge agreed with his lawyer that Couch was a rich spoiled brat who had never suffered the consequences of his actions and so he’s not completely responsible for his actions. This from CNN;
Simply put, Couch, 16, claims that his condition stemmed from having wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits for him.
Judge Jean Boyd sentenced him Tuesday to 10 years of probation but no jail time, saying she would work to find him a long-term treatment facility.
But Eric Boyles, who lost his wife and daughter in the crash, said on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” “There are absolutely no consequences for what occurred that day. The primary message has to absolutely be that money and privilege can’t buy justice in this country.”
[…]
The day of the crash, Boyles’ wife, Hollie, and daughter Shelby had left their home to help Breanna Mitchell, whose SUV had a flat tire. Youth pastor Brian Jennings also stopped to help.
All four died when Couch’s pickup plowed into them. The vehicle also struck a parked car, which slid into another vehicle coming the opposite way. Two people riding in the bed of Couch’s pickup sustained severe injuries.
Earlier that day, Couch and some friends had stolen beer from a local Walmart. Three hours after the crash, Couch’s blood alcohol level was 0.24, three times the legal limit for someone of legal drinking age, according to prosecutors.
America is supposed to be a classless society, but apparently, the justice system doesn’t recognize that. Anderson Cooper discusses the “affluence defense” with a psychologist;
Category: Dumbass Bullshit
PH2–exactly. As I said somewhere else, there are poor families who act with nothing but grace and class, and rich ones who act like scumbags. Couch and his family are the epitome of the latter example, and while nothing can bring those victims back, I hope the families of those killed take the Couches for every dime they’ll ever have.
NHSparky, I concur, but it might not teach them the lesson they need to learn.
Just read this story and thread. it reminds me of a real story about a asshole kid we had in my first unit in Camp Lejuene. His parents were pretty well off and had gotten him a Brand New Camaro after he got to his first duty station. Within 2 weeks he was driving like a idiot speeding near Jacksonville and killed 3 people. There wasn’t enough evidence to support charging him so he walked. No remorse, the only consequence was he had to wait another two weeks for mommy and Daddy to get him a new car.
Mysteriously copies of the obituaries of the people he killed kept showing up on his rack every other day. He ended up going UA and getting booted.