| So the only fair justice system is "an eye for an eye" then?
Let's consider for a moment that the position the TV exec found himself in could happen to any of us. There we could be living a normal, law abiding life, when something crops up to disturb that. Maybe a relationship breaks down, or you suffer a bereavement in your family or your livelihood looks like it's going down the pan. Maybe under normal circumstances none of us would dream of driving after having had a drink, but what if your whole life was going to pot? Would you exercise normal judgement or self control?
If under those circumstances you got in a car and knocked someone down what would your reaction be? To stand up and take whatever was coming to you? Maybe it would, but maybe you would panic and run away.
Put yourself in the position we've all been in. What if you were riding your bike and just getting a little exuberant with it. You're on the open road and enjoying some speeds well in excess of the limit (anybody ever done that?....). You come round a bend to find a couple of horses on your side of the road, you can't stop in time and run into one. It rears up, throws it's rider and they break their neck and die instantly. That makes you a murderer does it? What do you do now? There are the other horse riders as witnesses to say you were doing well over 90 when you came round the bend. You're looking at a jail term. You think of your wife, your kids, facing the retribution and disgust of your extended family and friends, the loss of your job. Do you have the moral courage to stand your ground and take whatever's coming or do you panic and run away? What then? Do you say 'fair cop' when the police track you down or do you start to come up with increasingly far fetched stories to explain why you ran.
If you can put your hand on your heart and say you would have done differently if you were staring disaster in the face then criticise all you like.
Another thing to think about is that the sentence doesn't end after 18 months. Your whole world has just disintegrated. You've lost your job, lost your home, may lose your wife and kids and you've now got a criminal record which is like a ball and chain as you try and put your life back together. Stops you getting any type of career back. Ruins your whole life, never mind the death you've caused being with you for ever.
I had a friend who was convicted af a very minor crime, didn't get a jail term but had to put up with complete social ostracisation, dog **** through his letter box from neighbours, and 'holier than thou' people making his life hell for years afterwards.
This will be the same for this guy. Yes, he acted like a ****. Yes he deserves what he's got, but don't for one moment think he's got off lightly  |