The West could very well have responded in the same way. He intentionally killed her -- premeditated first degree murder. And not with a car, but with a knife.

Juries are merciful to drivers who accidentally kill pedestrians/cyclists/motorists/etc in collisions because they're usually drivers too, and they could make the same mistake. But this is not such a case -- this was a actual murder that most people can't sympathize with.

Well, she wasn't seriously injured. He could have just given her some money to make her happy and not call the police. Though it does sound like he wouldn't get a ticket even if she did call the police.