Advocacy & Safety - 20 years for hit-and-run killer of a cyclist

A Columbia, SC woman was sentenced to 20 years in the hit-and-run killing of a cyclist yesterday. The whole story is here:

http://web.thestate.com/content/columbia/2001/12/20/local/sunshine20.htm

It's a stiff but, in my opinion, appropriate penalty. What bothers me, though, is that the killer doesn't seem to take any responsibility for her actions:

"It wasn't I who stole his life, but God took what belonged to him," Gaymon said to the Sunshine family while reading from a prepared statement.

I guess God was driving her car.

Did she have a "God is my co-pilot" bumper sticker on the car???

Originally posted by D*Alex
Did she have a "God is my co-pilot" bumper sticker on the car???
:roflmao:

That sort of compliments a bumper sticker I saw:

Trust No one. Fear God.

Yeah, no kidding, if he's such a crappy driver!

Originally posted by velocipedio
A Columbia, SC woman was sentenced to 20 years in the hit-and-run killing of a cyclist yesterday...

It's a stiff but, in my opinion, appropriate penalty. What bothers me, though, is that the killer doesn't seem to take any responsibility for her actions:

"It wasn't I who stole his life, but God took what belonged to him," Gaymon said to the Sunshine family while reading from a prepared statement.

In other words, "I didn't see him."

What utter denial.

What amazes me is that the hit and run carries a stiffer sentance that the homicide:

"Manning gave Gaymon two consecutive sentences of 10 years. Giese afterward said Gaymon will have to serve 8 1/2 years for leaving the scene and another 2 1/2 years on the reckless homicide charge before being eligible for parole."

Originally posted by velocipedio
It's a stiff but, in my opinion, appropriate penalty. What bothers me, though, is that the killer doesn't seem to take any responsibility for her actions:

"It wasn't I who stole his life, but God took what belonged to him," Gaymon said to the Sunshine family while reading from a prepared statement.

I guess God was driving her car.

You realize, of course, that this also takes away her right to be unhappy with her sentance. God has obviously decided that this woman's place is behind bars. I'm sure she understands that.

What bugs me is "though she will likely serve about half that time." Personally, I thought the fact that she refused to accept responsibility for it should have meant her serving at least double that time. Isn't that what prison is for?

I lived in Columbia, SC for 5 years and saw maybe a handful of cyclists in that time. As tragic as this was, it certainly comes as no surprise to myself. With the crime and crazy Southern drivers in Columbia, it would be practically impossible to cycle. Not bike friendly, no siree.

The penalty is not at all stiff, given that she will be out in 11 years instead of 20. The sentence would be more equitable if she agreed, on penalty of life imprisonment, to give up her driving privilege permanently.

Her grasp of theology rivals Osama bin Laden's or Pat Robertson's. Under her logic, murder is no longer a crime. I guess we're down to nine Commandments.

Yes, that seems to be a trend amongst the simple-minded religious zealots. Since they have "given themselves" to a higher being, therefore nothing they do is their fault. It's hard to be humbled when you are certain of your redemption. When redemption is considered to be nothing more than a few words spoken publicly at some tent revival, you end up with people who can be both sanctimonious and sociopathic.
I doubt that her 20 years (or whatever she spends) in prison will do a d@mn thing to her. When she gets out, she will still be the same inconsiderate idiot that she is now. Who knows, maybe she will do 'gods bidding' to some other hapless cyclist someday in the future.
I'm sure that it will never happen, but it would be nice if there were a criminal charge of 'reckless biblical interpretation" added to the others.

Originally posted by D*Alex
I'm sure that it will never happen, but it would be nice if there were a criminal charge of 'reckless biblical interpretation" added to the others.

That is one of the best ideas I've heard in a long time.

George Carlin did a hilarious routine about that years ago, remarking how religion is often a way to abdicate responsibility for your life."Yep, gods will! I ran over the kid in the driveway- don't look at me- god's will!"

Don't get me started on religion. At least she got 20 years- not like she got away with it, and she'll have plenty of time to read the scriptures in jail.

Originally posted by wabbit
Don't get me started on religion. At least she got 20 years- not like she got away with it, and she'll have plenty of time to read the scriptures in jail.

Yeah, but, as Alex says, will it make a difference to her. Personally, I think people who (in cases of violent crime, as I see this) fail to accept responsibility for their actions should never be eligible for parole.

What does God have to do with it anyways? Did God tell her to run? Unlike all you I hope God aka the Co-Pilot takes over the the controls for this one? Maybe then she won’t run next time after hitting someone and tries to help. Personally I believe the Devil was the Navigator. He was hiding in thoes dam details Like paying attention when you drive!

God's only involvement in this one is providing a pathetic excuse for someone to try to justify blatant murder. It's basically a negligent misinterpretation of religion, the same as those lunatics who perpetrated Sept 11 supposedly in the name of Islam. Personally, I agree with D*Alex: There should be a charge of Reckless Biblical Interpretation, or at least Basic Stupidity, added on to the others.

I have never been able to stomach the "it was just his/her time" bullsh*t excuse. At least in prison she can learn to say new things about God, such as:

"God, I hope I don't drop the soap."

or

"God, I miss my car."

or

"God, this mattress is thin."

I guess God also forgot to hit her brakes so that she could stop after hitting the biker.

Originally posted by LightBoy
What amazes me is that the hit and run carries a stiffer sentance that the homicide:

"Manning gave Gaymon two consecutive sentences of 10 years. Giese afterward said Gaymon will have to serve 8 1/2 years for leaving the scene and another 2 1/2 years on the reckless homicide charge before being eligible for parole."

This makes sense to me... a hit may be an accident, but the RUN part is intentional and cruel.

Originally posted by manderax

This makes sense to me... a hit may be an accident, but the RUN part is intentional and cruel.

You know, I never thought about it like that. Very good point.

The "run" part makes the "hit" part look less like an accident in my view.

Originally posted by Chris L
The "run" part makes the "hit" part look less like an accident in my view.

This is also a good point. God, when did I become so agreeable?

Actually, I think this is along the lines of what I was thinking in my post that manderax quoted. The unfortunate part, however, is that whether an accident or not, a lot of vehicular homicide cases seem to be deemed "accidental." It is, admittedly, more difficult to prove intent that if someone were pointing a gun and screaming, "Die Mother F***er!" But you right that leaving the scene seems to indicate "or not."

What really agrivates me is that she, like everyone else that is currently living at my expense, won't serve half her time. There was an episode of The Simpsons where Chief Wiggum was arresting Snake. Snake said, "I'll be back on the street in 24 hours," and Wiggum responded, "We'll try to make it 12." It's a gag, but it is frighteningly true to life. Can anyone give me a good reason why the system works like this?

Originally posted by LightBoy
Can anyone give me a good reason why the system works like this?

How about "fear of accountability". That seems to be a common factor in these situations.