I just wanted to pay my respects to Keith who was a complete gentleman and pro for the Chicago Blackhawks. Being a Blues fan, I constantly hated this guy but if he played on your team you loved him. This was a great tragedy as not only did we lose Keith but the man charged in this DUI killing is former Blue Rob Ramage. This is a tragedy that hits home as Ramage has been big influence here in St. Louis. I hope Rob or Keith's family does not blame themselves to much as these things unfortunately happen. I should know as I have a sister who is getting out of jail one month from today for a DUI killing that she contributed to but was not fully responsible as other parties of influence swept the other individuals participation under the rug. I hope Rob does not get the same 11 year sentence that my sister did. I am bitter though that athletes can get off based on fame and money (see Leonard Little who killed a lady in a DUI accident but served only 6 months in prison and did not serve it consecutively as he was allowed to check himself in and out of jail on a daily basis). There has to be justice but it should also fit the crime. Again , my heart go out to the Magnason family and friends as well to Rob Ramage who will have to grieve with killing his friend for the rest of his life.
mvbski,
I don't disagree with you. The circumstances on my sister is different. The person killed was riding in a bed of a pickup being driven by a judge's son in Florida. They had alcohol in the car. Both my sister and judge's son's truck approached a stoplight. My sister turned right while they continued on straight on a defective stop light. They had a small collision where my sister lost control and totalled her car. The kid that got killed, got thrown from the truck and ran over by a hit and run driver. My sister passed her sobriety tests as all drivers in these type of accidents are in Florida. The son was never administered a test or a mandatory blood test at the hospital. He even admitted to have been drinking. Neither the hit and run driver who was found later on or the judge's son ever served a day in prison. Since this accident, the son has been arrested 4 times for dui but never has served a day in jail. The kid that got killed blood alcohol level was a 2.7 and had just gotten out of alcohol and drug rehab. My sister had never been in trouble with the law and had been a law abiding citizen. I am proud of my sister for standing up and taking her responsibility. She felt horrible for what had happened and regretted that the event occurred. To answer your question, I think very hard about what happens to the victim but the victim's family doesn't realize what happens to the perpretrator. All cases are different and some in malice. This one was not in malice and in fact the REAL TRUTH covered up. My heart goes out to you for daughter and ex wife and I wish you the best.
I don't disagree with you. The circumstances on my sister is different. The person killed was riding in a bed of a pickup being driven by a judge's son in Florida. They had alcohol in the car. Both my sister and judge's son's truck approached a stoplight. My sister turned right while they continued on straight on a defective stop light. They had a small collision where my sister lost control and totalled her car. The kid that got killed, got thrown from the truck and ran over by a hit and run driver. My sister passed her sobriety tests as all drivers in these type of accidents are in Florida. The son was never administered a test or a mandatory blood test at the hospital. He even admitted to have been drinking. Neither the hit and run driver who was found later on or the judge's son ever served a day in prison. Since this accident, the son has been arrested 4 times for dui but never has served a day in jail. The kid that got killed blood alcohol level was a 2.7 and had just gotten out of alcohol and drug rehab. My sister had never been in trouble with the law and had been a law abiding citizen. I am proud of my sister for standing up and taking her responsibility. She felt horrible for what had happened and regretted that the event occurred. To answer your question, I think very hard about what happens to the victim but the victim's family doesn't realize what happens to the perpretrator. All cases are different and some in malice. This one was not in malice and in fact the REAL TRUTH covered up. My heart goes out to you for daughter and ex wife and I wish you the best.
mvbski, and Kojak, I agree with both of you. Kojak, on one hand you are correct that your sister probably meant no mal intent. However, she did kill someone, and you have to think about the family of the victim. Mvbski, you are right that there should be consequences that the driver should suffer, however, you can't bring back someone from the ground. I think that putting someone in jail for life doesn't do anything for society. Will a long sentence act as a deterrent? I don't think so. A lot of parents depending on the circumstances and the relationship between the driver and the victim feel that a long sentence solves nothing. I think that every situation should be looked at on the facts that are pertinet in that case. What I do know is that it is a horrible day for hockey.
TEASER:From what Kojack is saying it was not his sister that killed the guy in the back of the truck, it was the hit and run.
KOJACK:I am having a hard time understanding how your sister could have been found guilty of DUI when she passed a sobriety test. It does sound to me like there was some major conflict of intrest with the police and a judge's son were involved. This case needed to be taken out of the juristiction that the judge could have influence over. Did she have a lawyer, and if she did he should have had EVERYBODY involved in the accident in court. If the stop light was not working properly, the cities civil engineer should have been subpeoned to testify as to why it was not working and ultimately why he was not doing his job. Just from your short write up it seems as though the accident was caused by the malfunctioning of a stop light and the death was caused by the hit and run. Your sister doing 11 years says to me that someone had it out for her in the end( probably because everybody elses daddy had a pocket full of cash). There is no Statute of Limitations on murder/manslaughter and if she is up to it I would seriously seek a high profile lawyer to review the case. If there is a top notch lawyer in her area that hates the police, he/she would probably jump on the chance to review a case like this as a "pro bono". If this were to make it's way back in to the court for a new trial, somebody is going to be up shit creek and for alot longer that your sisters 11 years.
KOJACK:I am having a hard time understanding how your sister could have been found guilty of DUI when she passed a sobriety test. It does sound to me like there was some major conflict of intrest with the police and a judge's son were involved. This case needed to be taken out of the juristiction that the judge could have influence over. Did she have a lawyer, and if she did he should have had EVERYBODY involved in the accident in court. If the stop light was not working properly, the cities civil engineer should have been subpeoned to testify as to why it was not working and ultimately why he was not doing his job. Just from your short write up it seems as though the accident was caused by the malfunctioning of a stop light and the death was caused by the hit and run. Your sister doing 11 years says to me that someone had it out for her in the end( probably because everybody elses daddy had a pocket full of cash). There is no Statute of Limitations on murder/manslaughter and if she is up to it I would seriously seek a high profile lawyer to review the case. If there is a top notch lawyer in her area that hates the police, he/she would probably jump on the chance to review a case like this as a "pro bono". If this were to make it's way back in to the court for a new trial, somebody is going to be up shit creek and for alot longer that your sisters 11 years.
Newton and SDS,
We asked for a change of venue and the motion was denied. Three years into her sentence, my sister filed an appeal on 11 counts against being misrepresented by her lawyer. She won all 11 counts and was released like she never served the 3 years. Unfortunately she could be retried for the same crime. It looked favorable that she would not go back to prison but the retrial was delayed several times during the year she was out until they had changed to a judge who believed in the maximum sentence and the most bad ass prosecutor had taken the case. They had come back before trial with an offer for 6 years with 3 years prior served or she could go to trial and if convicted she would serve a life sentence. It is pretty obvious what was chosen, and she will be released finally one month to this day on January 17. This is a very sleezy case but no one wants to touch it as a result I am assuming because of this judge. My sister wasn't even charged originally with this crime until a full year had passed. My guess is so the statute of limitations had passed on the judge's son. The whole case sucked and I wouldn't wish it to happen to anyone. The Florida Laws are horrible on DUI killings/manslaughter. There are hard core premeditated killers who serve less time than these DUI manslaughter inmates which is ridiculous to me. If it was a repeat offender, I could understand but for example there is a 21 year old girl in prison in Florida who made the mistake of Dui manslaughter who is serving 3 concurrent life sentences for 3 killed in the same car. How fair is is for her who made a mistake in judgement to serve 3 life sentences while true murderers are getting out in 3-5 years. This is what I find to be unfair. I would also like to note who is in charge of Florida (govenor) is no other than George Bush's brother. Any coincidence! Anyway thanks for your concerns.
We asked for a change of venue and the motion was denied. Three years into her sentence, my sister filed an appeal on 11 counts against being misrepresented by her lawyer. She won all 11 counts and was released like she never served the 3 years. Unfortunately she could be retried for the same crime. It looked favorable that she would not go back to prison but the retrial was delayed several times during the year she was out until they had changed to a judge who believed in the maximum sentence and the most bad ass prosecutor had taken the case. They had come back before trial with an offer for 6 years with 3 years prior served or she could go to trial and if convicted she would serve a life sentence. It is pretty obvious what was chosen, and she will be released finally one month to this day on January 17. This is a very sleezy case but no one wants to touch it as a result I am assuming because of this judge. My sister wasn't even charged originally with this crime until a full year had passed. My guess is so the statute of limitations had passed on the judge's son. The whole case sucked and I wouldn't wish it to happen to anyone. The Florida Laws are horrible on DUI killings/manslaughter. There are hard core premeditated killers who serve less time than these DUI manslaughter inmates which is ridiculous to me. If it was a repeat offender, I could understand but for example there is a 21 year old girl in prison in Florida who made the mistake of Dui manslaughter who is serving 3 concurrent life sentences for 3 killed in the same car. How fair is is for her who made a mistake in judgement to serve 3 life sentences while true murderers are getting out in 3-5 years. This is what I find to be unfair. I would also like to note who is in charge of Florida (govenor) is no other than George Bush's brother. Any coincidence! Anyway thanks for your concerns.
