Huckleberries Online

Letter: A Slap On Wrist For Death?

Posted by DFO

Feb. 9, 2009 1:17 p.m. • 7 comments

As a mother who lost her daughter in a vehicular homicide crash almost seven years ago, I continue to be sickened by the “justice system.” My daughter’s killer served 44 weeks and has been re-arrested for drugging and driving. The two recent cases out of Coeur d’Alene, State v. Jabaay and now State v. Cutting and Salois just serve to remind us that there is no justice. Why do we just give these people a slap on the wrist? They have taken the life of another human being. From what I have witnessed, the only remorse shown is that they got caught/Anita Kronvall, Rathdrum. More here.

Question: Should there be a mandatory minimum sentence with teeth for fatalities, like the ones involving Jabaay, Cutting & Salois, where a criminal act was involved (i.e., DUI, street racing)?

Seven comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JeanieSpokane on February 09 at 1:40 p.m.
Definitely. I knew Anita Kronvall’s daughter (one of my son’s closest friends) - a beautiful young mother of a 2-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl - both of whom recently celebrated birthdays. Without their mother. And the driver was on drugs. I think when alcohol or drugs is involved, they should be charged with murder, as if they attacked the innocent victim with a deadly weapon, with the intent to kill, which they did. 44 weeks! Eight weeks shy of a year. For a life.
Charlie on February 09 at 2:29 p.m.
If I understand the sentence of Salois & Cutting, they could be on parole in 6 months from Cottonwood. They broke the law, street racing, speeding, wrecked 3 cars, caused bodily harm and KILLED a young boy.
If I were the dead boys father I would like 15 minutes with each of the drivers, alone. It would be settled then and there.
If these young guys walk after 6 months, all I can do is vote against these judges next election, maybe they need to retire.
Sisyphus on February 09 at 2:57 p.m.
The law focuses on conduct more than consequences since people’s ill intentions are the things sought to be deterred in our criminal law. Here, does any one argue that the drivers sought to kill? Death was a consequence of reckless conduct. It absolutely should enhance the crime and their consequences, but this wasn’t murder, the knowing intentional taking of a life. The Judge is aware that no penalty he can impose will bring the victim back. Neither will warehousing two impetuous youths who are remorseful for their crime serve any purpose for the protection of society. The judge wants to see signs of remorse and good conduct upon their rider review and if they don’t have it, they’ll be going to the big house. Unfortunately once you’re sent there, your chances for returning are pretty high.

I know a man who killed someone while driving drunk when he was 19 or 20. He had a clean record and went to prison for a year and a half. He got back on his college track, completed law school and after overcoming some screening hurdles is now a prominent attorney. He is ashamed of his past and has never committed another crime that I’m aware of. Prior to the accident I always thought him an arrogant twit. He learned humility along the way.
Joker on February 09 at 4:00 p.m.
It’s amazing what good lawyers can buy you. These two dingleberries came from wealthy families, and that most certainly played a role in their sentencing. Justice isn’t blind to bling.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.