America's Most Wanted

[BIG_DADDY]

So I am checking it out tonight and they put on this last story. Two guys drag race and one of them loses control and strikes a women and kills her, both cars take off. Now I know if you drive off and leave somebody like that even if you were not the driver who did it there has to be a pretty serious price to pay however I never expected what came next. He was charged with murder. Charged with murder? WTF? Apparently if you engage in a speed contest and anyone dies you are charged with murder. Is it any wonder people take off and leave people like that, they don't have any choice. Every day I get more disgusted with our legal system, this is just the most thing to blow me away.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Charge the guy who did it with manslaughter... get the other guy for reckless something or other...

Wreckless endangerment and speed contest sopunds about right. What blew me away was they were talking about the dark underworld of high stakes gambling on these dangerous speed contests that kill innocent people all the time. I was like "you gotta be kidding". I guess is was another excuse for Walsh to call the guy a dirtball. He cracks me up when he does that. All the murders, child molester and various monsters out there and this guy who wants to race his car makes America's Most Wanted top 12. Whatthe****ever man.

[elvomito]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

...What blew me away was they were talking about the dark underworld of high stakes gambling on these dangerous speed contests...

they must use "the fast and furious" as training material

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by elvomito

they must use "the fast and furious" as training material

THE LAW scares me more than the criminals do at this point.

[mikey23545]

Street Race Turns Fatal

On October 8, 2001, authorities say that Mustapha Atat and Aaron Reynolds were street racing at speeds of more than 100 mph near Lincoln Park. The two were allegedly both driving modified Mustangs with a bet of $12,000 to the winner of the race. Witnesses say that Reynold's car went out of control, crossed a sidewalk and struck three people. The accident killed Denise Jones and injured Eric Draw and Rodney Ricks.

Atat and Reynolds were charged with second degree murder, failure to stop at the scene of a serious personal injury accident and two counts of felonious driving and drag racing. During a raid at Atat's residence police were surprised to find that, although Atat received welfare, he owned a large home and several luxury cars. Prosecutors say that Atat has failed to appear in court. He's been on the run ever since.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Charge the guy who did it with manslaughter... get the other guy for reckless something or other...

I agree the guy who did not hit anyone should be charged with reckless endangerment or something. The driver on the other hand should get life. We used to drag race as kids, and took it out of town. Even as youngsters we were smart enough to keep other people, cars, ect, out of harms way. To be doing it in town is pretty stupid IMO.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by The Bobinator

Pedestrians are never innocent.

There's a reason they're not driving a car.

Probablly wrecked their car in a street race.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Street Race Turns Fatal

On October 8, 2001, authorities say that Mustapha Atat and Aaron Reynolds were street racing at speeds of more than 100 mph near Lincoln Park. The two were allegedly both driving modified Mustangs with a bet of $12,000 to the winner of the race. Witnesses say that Reynold's car went out of control, crossed a sidewalk and struck three people. The accident killed Denise Jones and injured Eric Draw and Rodney Ricks.

Atat and Reynolds were charged with second degree murder, failure to stop at the scene of a serious personal injury accident and two counts of felonious driving and drag racing. During a raid at Atat's residence police were surprised to find that, although Atat received welfare, he owned a large home and several luxury cars. Prosecutors say that Atat has failed to appear in court. He's been on the run ever since.

**** the bastard. He's been livin' off welfare takin' my taxes? I hope he gets the chair.

In Colorado they have a law that states if you are involved in a felony crime and someone with you kills someone else, you also are charged with felony murder. It's not all felony crimes, but just ones that have a high tendency for violence, like robbery, assault, rape, etc. I don't know which crines it is though.

Anyway, I think he should get several years for it.

[CosmicPal]

He will most likely get involuntary manslaughter.

You have to understand that this is a drag-race between two people. They both agreed to the race and both knowingly engaged in an illegal activity. If someone gets killed during the race, they are both at fault 'cause the prosecutor will simply prove that the race would never have occured if BOTH suspects did not agree to the race. Therefore, if one driver kills someone during the race- the other one is an immediate accomplice.

It's the same thing if I were to drive you to the bank. If you went in and robbed the bank and shot everyone inside, I'm an accomplice to that since I willingly drove you to the scene. Had I not driven you to the bank, they can say that the robbery and murders of innocent peeps would never have happened.

So, since you are willingly engaging in a drag race with another person- you thus make yourself vulnerable to any consequences that might occur. It sounds like BS, but the court will say that the race would not have occured if you didn't participate, and nobody would have died. Therefore, you are at fault as well.

[KCWolfman]

Originally Posted by DanT

Would there have been a murder charge if the driver hadn't taken off?

Probably not.

[KCWolfman]

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

He will most likely get involuntary manslaughter.

You have to understand that this is a drag-race between two people. They both agreed to the race and both knowingly engaged in an illegal activity. If someone gets killed during the race, they are both at fault 'cause the prosecutor will simply prove that the race would never have occured if BOTH suspects did not agree to the race. Therefore, if one driver kills someone during the race- the other one is an immediate accomplice.

It's the same thing if I were to drive you to the bank. If you went in and robbed the bank and shot everyone inside, I'm an accomplice to that since I willingly drove you to the scene. Had I not driven you to the bank, they can say that the robbery and murders of innocent peeps would never have happened.

So, since you are willingly engaging in a drag race with another person- you thus make yourself vulnerable to any consequences that might occur. It sounds like BS, but the court will say that the race would not have occured if you didn't participate, and nobody would have died. Therefore, you are at fault as well.

Not necessarily. Not all states amend murder charges. Which is why some prosecutors are wary to charge with 1st degree (a horrible fault IMO). If charged with 1st degree and the jury cannot find justifiable reason that the defendant premeditated, but had irrevocable proof that the murderer did kill, he would be found not guilty.

For him to be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, he would have to be charged with the crime before trial.

[unlurking]

According to the article, they were both charged with 2nd degree. What are the main differences between 1st and 2nd? I'm assuming there is a slight difference in penalties, but I don't know the "definitions" of the two.

[KCWolfman]

Originally Posted by unlurking

According to the article, they were both charged with 2nd degree. What are the main differences between 1st and 2nd? I'm assuming there is a slight difference in penalties, but I don't know the "definitions" of the two.

Premeditated vs not.

[jspchief]

Unfortunately, thats how law works. They try and make punishments that are severe enough to deter people from commiting the crime. Unfortunately, most peole don't think they'll get caught (or don't consider the consequences of being caught) when they engage in criminal activity.

If that's the law, that's what the kid should be charged with. It's his own dumbass fault for racing, and then fleeing the scene of an accident. I'm sure it will be pleaded down anyway.

[unlurking]

OK, well that fits better.

[KCWolfman]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Unfortunately, thats how law works. They try and make punishments that are severe enough to deter people from commiting the crime. Unfortunately, most peole don't think they'll get caught (or don't consider the consequences of being caught) when they engage in criminal activity.

If that's the law, that's what the kid should be charged with. It's his own dumbass fault for racing, and then fleeing the scene of an accident. I'm sure it will be pleaded down anyway.

Which is almost ALWAYS what happens. Had the dumbass actually stopped to check on the people hit, he probably wouldn't have been charged with anything. The fact that he ran after he knew people were injured showed that he was merely out for himself and didn't give a damn about anyone else who may need immediate medical attention due to his complicity.