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January 24, 2008

It's Best Not to Be a Smug Beeyatch

...until AFTER sentencing, eh?

A judge sentenced a woman to nearly the maximum prison term for negligent homicide after hearing a recorded jail conversation in which she made light of the cyclist she killed.

...[Superior Court Judge] Cruikshank said he found a telephone conversation between Arrington and an unknown male friend, a week after L'Ecuyer was killed, to be "breathtaking in its inhumanity."

During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance believed she should get a medal and a parade because she had "taken out" a "tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot."

Arrington laughed. When the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, she responded, "No, it's not."


Posted by tree hugging sister at January 24, 2008 10:59 AM

Comments

Hmmm, I find it odd that a story about a gay frenchman on a bicycle is baguettedsandwiched between stories about SocGen.

i'm just sayin'...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at January 24, 2008 02:04 PM

So, telling jokes makes killing someone worse? I find that pathetic.

Macabre humor when facing a dire situation is not unusual. It certainly shouldn't be the driving force behind sentencing.

It's really easy to lie and claim remorse. Any idiot can do that. Why is that necessary or important to sentencing? The question should be was the death caused by her negligence or was it not caused by her negligence.

US criminal law is trending towards too much touchy feeliness. People are bad and should be punished. Requiring protestations of remorse is a sham and only makes judges and juries feel good about themselves.

Posted by: Skyler at January 24, 2008 02:43 PM

I agree with you there, Skyler.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at January 24, 2008 03:04 PM

Agreed, HOWever. Commonsense would dictate that, whilst in the whoozgow, one should use some circumspection considering everything one says or does is up for dissection.

Save the gallows humor for the bosom of your friends and family.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at January 24, 2008 08:05 PM

Yes, stupidity is costly in this life and elicits scarce sympathy from me.

Posted by: Skyler at January 24, 2008 08:52 PM

[referee blows whistle and throws flag]
THS is penalized 15 yards for a comment expecting 'common sense' from this person:


"Arrington's blood-alcohol content was .156 percent, nearly double Arizona's .08 legal limit. She had been driving on a suspended license for a prior drink-drive conviction."

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at January 25, 2008 10:17 AM