Woman facing life in prison for stopping for ducks

[Sun]

Link to article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...ucks/11235367/

She has been found guilty of causing the accident and is now facing life in prison charges.

Facts:

• Andre Roy, 50, who was traveling with his 16-year-old daughter, Jessie, on his Harley-Davidson, was driving an estimated 70 mph to 80 mph in a roughly 60 mph zone.
• Andre Roy and his daughter died in the accident.
• Czornobaj had stopped her car in the left lane of a provincial highway after spotting roughly seven ducklings on the median.
• She said Czornobaj’s car was stopped at the leftmost lane of the highway and that its hazard lights were not on.
• She was willing in April to plead guilty in the trial, her lawyer Marc Labelle said, but the prosecution refused to offer her a plea bargain that would enable her to avoid jail time.
• The jury on Friday delivered guilty verdicts on all four charges faced by Emma Czornobaj, 25. Sentencing is expected in early August.

[poser765]

Ah yes...nothing makes me feel more vindicated than seeing 3 lives ruined instead of two for what is essentially an accident.

[Aeula]

What country is this? The law system sounds stupid, more stupid than most laws.

[Sun]

What country is this? The law system sounds stupid, more stupid than most laws.

It's Canada.

[Puri]

You might want to put at least the facts in your post.

She doesn't face jail because she stopped for ducks, she faces jail because she caused the death of two people being an unexpected obstacle on a highway.

A murderer of his cheating wife doesn't go to prison because his wife cheated, but because he murdered her.

[Deleted]

So she stopped in the middle of the highway and 2 people died because of that. How is this sentence controversial again?

[Crissi]

What country is this? The law system sounds stupid, more stupid than most laws.

Canada, although since its Montreal we can consider it stupid right?

I disagree with a life sentence, but god damn if you're going to stop in the left lane, put your hazard lights on people. And I hate motorcyclysts that think going 10-20 over is ok cause they're on a blasted bike...

[Deleted]

That's hugely fucked up.

Sure i can understand she broke the letter of the law by not putting hazards on, and not parking away from incoming traffic, but that prosecutor doesn't have a soul.

[Kujako]

Feels like you're trying to force a conclusion here... you don't mention the dead people (or rather you don't include them in your list o' facts) and the ducks have very little to do with anything. Main issue is she had a crap lawyer, but it's all moot till sentencing.

[Hyve]

To be fair, as much as I'd hate to just roll straight over some ducks, she did cause these accidents because of her actions. Now, I wouldn't sentence her for Murder, probably a Manslaughter charge without jail time, but she should have put her hazards on, and should have pulled over further.

That said, it's not just her job to stay focused. When you're driving you have to assume everyone else is going to do something stupid, pull out in front of you, indicate one way and go the other, whatever it may be, assume the worst.

[Deleted]

This is so messed up it's just gobsmacking.

I don't even know where to start..

- No hazards on? Stupid.
- Taking your children around on your motorbike? Stupid.
- Speeding with your child on/in the vehicle? Stupid.

Two lives have been unfortunately lost, why force a third to lose their life by being put into prison? Is she a threat to society? I think fucking not.

[Naxere]

Both are at fault. Her for stopping in the middle of the road with no hazard lights on, and the motorcycle driver for not fucking paying attention.

[Deleted]

That's hugely fucked up.

Sure i can understand she broke the letter of the law by not putting hazards on, and not parking away from incoming traffic, but that prosecutor doesn't have a soul.

Dude 2 people died, one of them was a teenage girl.

[Omnoms]

A) She stopped in the SPEEDING lane.

B) SHE STOPPED FOR F*** DUCKS. COMPLETELY disregarding everyone around her.

[Orange Joe]

Ah yes...nothing makes me feel more vindicated than seeing 3 lives ruined instead of two for what is essentially an accident.

I'm sure there is more to the story we aren't being told. For 1 she was parked in the road without emergency lights on. That pretty much makes it her fault even though he was speeding.

What country is this? The law system sounds stupid, more stupid than most laws.

Canada

[dkz]

What country is this? The law system sounds stupid, more stupid than most laws.

I'm pretty sure they have a "Criminal Negligence causing death"-law in your country too buddy.

[Baracuda]

The guy was speeding, without reckless driving they could have survived.

[Baladash]

did the ducklings live?

[Deleted]

You might want to put at least the facts in your post.

She doesn't face jail because she stopped for ducks, she faces jail because she caused the death of two people being an unexpected obstacle on a highway.

Two people who were driving 20 mph overspeed. The fault here goes at least 50-50. You can't jail dead people but you shouldn't make others pay for their stupidity.

The dead guy's wife was driving slower and avoided all harm.

His wife was following behind them at a slower speed and avoided injury, and has said she doesn't blame Czornobaj for the deaths; her husband died in her arms, and her daughter, who was pinned beneath the Honda Civic, died later in a hospital.

[Crissi]

A) She stopped in the SPEEDING lane.

B) SHE STOPPED FOR F*** DUCKS. COMPLETELY disregarding everyone around her.

To be fair, traffic usually slows to a crawl when say, a dog gets loose on the highway anyways, so the motorcycle driver should have 1) not sped and 2) paid attention.