Too old for jail?

[AKLRULZ]

So should this guy spend the rest of his life in jail or does your heart bleed for him?

An elderly man whose car hurtled through a farmers market, killing 10 people and injuring more than 70, was convicted Friday of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence - the harshest verdict possible.

George Russell Weller, 89 and in poor health, could spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2003 crash, which set off a national debate over whether elderly people should be barred from driving or required to pass additional tests when renewing their licenses.

He faces a maximum of 18 years in prison, but the judge also could sentence him to probation. Prosecutors declined to say what penalty they would request.

Weller was not in court to hear the verdict, reached by a jury after eight days of deliberation.

His attorneys argued that he mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake and panicked when the vehicle raced into the open-air market. But prosecutors said he was careless to the point of criminal negligence and lacked remorse.

"He looked at what he had done, essentially shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Oops,"' prosecutor Ann Ambrose told the jury.

Weller was 86 when his 1992 Buick Le Sabre traveled about 300 yards, reaching 60 mph or more as it crashed into food stalls. It finally came to a stop after hitting a ditch, with one victim's body tangled underneath and another's draped across the hood. The victims ranged in age from 7 months to 78 years.

Weller did not testify, but jurors heard a taped interview with police immediately after the crash in which he said he tried everything he could think of to stop the car.

"I tried to take the control knob and jam it into park. Everything. Anything that I thought would stop the action of the car," he said.

Prosecutors also called one witness who claimed Weller said: "You saw me coming; why didn't you get out of my way?"

Juror Yolanda Hernandez, 54, of Montebello, said after the verdict that the jury was influenced by that testimony and by Weller's statement to police, which the panel did not believe showed remorse.

She also indicated jurors didn't buy the argument that Weller couldn't figure out how to stop his car.

"He had 240 feet before he came to the barricade for the farmer's market. That's a long way, and he went 1,000 feet before he stopped," she said. "He still had plenty of time to react."

Hernandez said jurors agreed from the first day of deliberations that Weller was guilty of vehicular manslaughter but had trouble deciding whether he had committed gross negligence, a felony, or misdemeanor simple negligence.

Source: AOL NEWS

 

[MushyMushy]

I think they should lock him up and throw away the key. What if it had been a 15 year old child who did this same thing? We wouldn't hesitate to treat him as an adult, so why would an elderly man be any different?

I have some very strong opinions about elderly drivers.

 

[cjb71870]

Down here in FL it happens more often, the elderly people driving into stores, etc.. They all say they pushed the wrong pedal.

 

[lowie]

ok, i'll admit that i feel bad for the guy.. his crime is probably being too stubborn to give up his license when he should have. in the article one of the victims says he does not want to see the guy go to jail.

i'm just glad i'm not on the jury!

OT: at DMV yesterday renewing my license, you are asked to stand in front of a HUGE bright blue screen to take your picture. the guy at the desk next to me is about 3000 years old, the worker asks him to stand in front of the blue screen and the guy literally turns around and says, 'what blue screen?'

he was standing no more then 3 feet away!

he got his new license.

 

[powellrj]

yes I think he is too old for jail, but I do think that he would be better served to be placed in a nursing home and not allowed to leave. Lets face it, our prison system isn't set up to deal with the elderly, but thats not to say he shouldn't be punished. I just don't think prison is the answer.

 

[markandtrish]

As I started reading the article, I thought poor old man, he must feel horrible, but after reading his statements to police, I say lock him up. He is 89 now. He will never live out his sentence anyway, let him sit in prison and deal with consequences the rest of his life.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

The man's been basically given a death sentence, and on some level, I do feel for the guy. The driving laws for the elderly really need to be reviewed and some common sense provisions need to be made, possibly more frequent testing, for one.

 

[lindalinda]

Home incarceration of some type, or the nursing home suggestion. I dont think should just let him go because of his age.

 

[disneyjunkie]

He killed 10 people. I don't care how old he is, he should go to jail.

 

[noodleknitter]

Home incarceration. Not due to bleeding heart , but due to the cost factor. The jail system would become a well funded nursing home with the taxpayers footing the bill.

eta: I don't have issues with the elderly driving, but think there should be different guidelines for all. No way I think 16 year olds make better decisions...

 

[catycatcat4]

Down here in FL it happens more often, the elderly people driving into stores, etc.. They all say they pushed the wrong pedal.

in my opinon if your over 70 you dont need to be driveing im in FL as well rember that dude that hit a homeless man and keept going until he was at a pay toll and they called the police? that was nasty

 

[MushyMushy]

in my opinon if your over 70 you dont need to be driveing im in FL as well rember that dude that hit a homeless man and keept going until he was at a pay toll and they called the police? that was nasty

I don't really agree with an age cutoff like that. There are some 70 year olds who are in great physical and mental shape that would have no problems at all. Then there are some (like my parents) who aren't fit to drive at all.

Maybe once someone reaches a certain age, they can require re-testing every so often.

Or, maybe doctors should have to report patients who aren't fit to drive -- don't some states already do this?

 

[noodleknitter]

(not old enouth any way) and that was an uncalled for coment! some people cant help that they cant spell like me!!! is it realy my fult im in ESE at school! Get a frikin life! im sick of geting coments like that!!!

Your reason was arbitrary (70 years old) so was mine (poor writing skills.) Advanced age does not mean a person is unable to drive.

 

[MushyMushy]

(not old enouth any way) and that was an uncalled for coment! some people cant help that they cant spell like me!!! is it realy my fult im in ESE at school! Get a frikin life! im sick of geting coments like that!!!

Don't worry about it. At least you're trying to communicate through writing. That's the only way to get better, is through practice.

(this is coming from a future English teacher )

 

[cardaway]

There are alternatives to jail that serve the same purpose but don't cost tax payers as much. I like the locked down nursing home idea. Put a bracelet around his ankle and call it good.

 

[catycatcat4]

Don't worry about it. At least you're trying to communicate through writing. That's the only way to get better, is through practice.

(this is coming from a future English teacher )

ty i used to be alot worse fourms and role play games bc my teacher gives me esay spelling words i all ready know like the word spring and break where on my list last week

 

[cjb71870]

My Grandma had her license taken away this year, she is 87, her eye doctor made it happen. Not the DMV.

 

[Charade]

There are alternatives to jail that serve the same purpose but don't cost tax payers as much. I like the locked down nursing home idea. Put a bracelet around his ankle and call it good.

I agree.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

There are alternatives to jail that serve the same purpose but don't cost tax payers as much. I like the locked down nursing home idea. Put a bracelet around his ankle and call it good.

I have to agree. Plus at his age and failing health, the state picks up all his health/medicinal needs. House arrest/nursing home arrest...whatever. There are better alternatives for an 89yo man than prison.

 

[Stacerita]

I feel bad that his is elderly and in ill health. But I dont think his age should factor into his sentence. I do not believe that they shouldn't be allowed to drive just on age alone either. My nana is going to be 80 (don't let he know I told anyone that though) and she is a very safe and responsible driver. She knows what to do to make the car stop. This man claimed he did everything he could to try to make the stop. Taking his foot off the gas was not one of them I guess. And what he said after hitting those people is just wrong. Shows no remorse and practically blamed them.