I agree martin, and some people already are seeming to find excuses for it.
Classism, never underestimate it.
Yeah, personally, I like to side with the rich powerful types against the poor workers. Just in my nature, I guess. I think the rich guy is innocent because he had just heard from his broker that some of his derivatives had tanked. Not guilty by reason of insolvency.
You have to admit the evidence in the news report is pretty overwhelming. It almost takes a Hollywood scriptwriter to come up with credible story that exhonerates the driver.
Bryant phoned 911 and thus would not be preceived as leaving the scene of accident. It is a tragedy all the way around. I'm sure that Bryant would want to change the choices he made in a heartbeat.
Calling 911 initially and letting policy handle the complaints should have been the action. Best for all.
The only reason I can see for not laying a leaving the scene charge is that the criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death are serious enough charges to make leaving the scene a detail.
I don't follow that. If he's found not guilty on those two charges, and if there's clear evidence of hit and run, they had better lay the latter charge as well while there's still time.
Certainly the [i]prima facie[/i] case is considerable.You have to admit the evidence in the news report is pretty overwhelming. It almost takes a Hollywood scriptwriter to come up with credible story that exhonerates the driver.
And yet wait until the high-priced lawyers dig their teeth into it - and into Sheppard's character...
According to the Globe, alcohol may have been involved in the incident after all:
"The cyclist killed in an altercation with former Ontario attorney-general Michael Bryant had been drinking and was involved in a confrontation with police earlier in the evening.
Darcy Allan Sheppard was investigated but released without charges Monday night after a former girlfriend called Toronto police, The Globe and Mail has confirmed. The incident, described as minor, took place in downtown Toronto, not far from where Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Bryant collided at 9:45 p.m. in an explosion of violence that left one man dead, the other with his public service career in tatters."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/bryants-story-shock...
Oh, and there it goes.....privileged white men are always innocent.
Can't see how you can not notice that you are driving around with someone stuck to your car. Should be charged with second degree murder flat out. Asshole.
Update. Altercation, followed by driving the man around and smashing him into objects: He deliberately killed the man, quite clearly.
First degree murder. Guilty as charged. Cyclist probably owed him money and he was just trying to collect. Bryant will probably sue the estate and win.
I love this. It's like National Enquirer.
I'll take the word of a cop over Christie Blechford. And I hate cops.
Officers arrived and escorted him away, said Const. Tony Vella, adding there were no allegations of criminal activity such as assault and there was no indication he was intoxicated.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/09/01/10699946-cp.html
I love this. It's like National Enquirer.
Yet another classist allusion. What will be the next one? Pitchforks and torches?
I'll take the word of a cop over Christie Blechford. And I hate cops.
Officers arrived and escorted him away, said Const. Tony Vella, adding there were no allegations of criminal activity such as assault and there was no indication he was intoxicated.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/09/01/10699946-cp.html
Ummm....I believe Constable Vella was referring to Bryant not being intoxicated. The story in the Globe is about the cyclist.
Read the link Stock.
I love this. It's like National Enquirer.
Yet another classist allusion. What will be the next one? Pitchforks and torches?
What's your problem, vieille branche? I already confessed. I love the rich and mighty. The lower classes? Pfft. The rich man is innocent! Where's my pitchfork?
What's your problem, vieille branche? I already confessed. I love the rich and mighty. The lower classes? Pfft. The rich man is innocent! Where's my pitchfork?
Sorry, we only hand out pitchforks to the proletariat.
Martin, your constant assertion that Unionist is classist is absolutely risible. It's too bad. When you aren't dispensing wisdom from your self-constructed pulpit, you're actually a valuable poster.
Riding a bike in Holland is a whole different experience, because their insurance law presumes strict liability on the part of the motorist in a collision with a cyclist. There are also tons of bike lanes -- step into one at your peril -- as well as better road crossings etc, but even out in the country where there are no bike lanes and roads are treacherously narrow and bordered by soft shoulders and drainage canals, I have never once been afraid of getting sideswiped by a passing vehicle.
Long thread.
