Driver so drunk she didn't even know she'd hit a motorcycle

[Maduro Mistress]

This makes me SICK!

It happened in Australia - where I'm from.


A DRIVER who killed a motorcyclist was so drunk she did not even realise she had hit him, a judge said today.

Melanie Louise Edwards, 27, had a blood alcohol reading of 0.14 when she veered on to the wrong side of the road and hit Geoff Lording, 41, on the Northern Highway at Wallan, north of Melbourne, on October 23 about 7.40pm (AEST).
Edwards, of Mill Park in Melbourne, pleaded guilty to culpable driving and exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol and was today sentenced to a maximum of six years in jail.

While Edwards cried out to her mother as she was led from court, sobbing that she could not cope with the sentence, her victim's father had no sympathy for her.

"Geoff got the death sentence," Tom Lording said outside court.

"We've just got to learn to adjust and understand that Geoff is not coming back and all the pain that she might suffer, whatever, doesn't help us at all."

Mr Lording had become engaged to his partner of five years two weeks before his death.

At the time of the incident he was just minutes from home after finishing his shift as a machine operator.

Edwards was driving home after sharing two bottles of wine with a friend, drinking two pots of beer at a local hotel and then having half a glass of wine at her friend's house.

She told police that when she stopped to check what she had hit she thought the blood splattered on her car was red paint.

She continued driving until her car broke down as a result of damage sustained in the accident.

"You were very much affected, so much so that you not only allowed your car to drift across double lines on to the incorrect side of the road, but you didn't even realise that you had hit a motorcycle," Judge Leo Hart said.

"You thought you had been sideswiped by a car.

"You stopped to see what had happened but even then, did not realise what it was or that anyone was injured."

Judge Hart said Edwards was generally of good character and had no previous convictions.

"I find that you are profoundly remorseful for what you have done. I think there is no prospect that you will repeat such behaviour," he said.

"A decision made whilst affected by alcohol has changed and ruined your life and that decision has cost Mr Lording his life and ruined the lives of his family."

Motorcycle Riders' Association president Dale Maggs said it was good the court heeded the message that motorbike riders were vulnerable and needed protection on the roads.

"The way he was left on the road you know, no one would do that, it just repulses all of us," he said.

Mr Lording was due to be married on February 5 this year.

Judge Hart sentenced Edwards to a minimum of four years jail and fined her $200. He said she would require ongoing treatment for depression and anxiety in jail.

[Jace009gs]

6years!! that pisses me off....someone charge her with man-slaughter and go for 25-life sentence.

I'm completly on the motorcycle's side but how can you be driving your bike home and not see a car comming at you?

[dgyver]

Sounds like the wreck I had in '87. Well almost since I survived.

[scratch]

No amount of remorse will bring back Geoff. Sad. In time the families will move on, but Edwards, she must bear this guilt.

[daneilah]

Should be charged as if she'd held a gun to his head.  When will people get it?

[Roadstergal]

but Edwards, she must bear this guilt.

It doesn't sound like she has any guilt at all.

While Edwards cried out to her mother as she was led from court, sobbing that she could not cope with the sentence,

Poor baby.  F**k 'er.

[pandy]

If she doesn't even remember doing the evil deed, how can she have remorse? I'm betting the remorse she feels is due to having to go to prison.

She should have received a lot stiffer sentence than six years. That's a slap on the wrist.  :x

pandy

[Roadstergal]

That's a slap on the wrist.

Yep.

She was guilty of attempted manslaughter the moment she got behind the wheel after getting baked.

Which is precisely why this post pissed me off so much.

[Jake D]

If that Edwards were in the US, she might do half of that sentence.  Three years tops.  

Then parole.  

That just makes me sick.

[Toledo Jim]

how can you be driving your bike home and not see a car comming at you?

Trust me, you may be able to see it coming but wherever you go, and whatever you do, you can't get away from it.
(been there, done that, got the ripped up bloody shirt)

Jim

[rclz]

One of my best friends was killed in a car accident while he was driving with a drunk driver whom didn't have his license. He is now out on bail until final hearing where he will receive less than 2 years. It took my friends mother 14 months to get a petition passed through congress and in 4 days now has 2600+ signatures to change the drunk driving law to 7 years mandatory if you kill someone while under the influence and behind the wheel. This will go for all of Canada if it gets passed.

just thought this would be appropriate to post in this topic. :dunno:

[Cal Price]

There has been a lot of controversy about sentences for killing with a car here. The popular press blames judges but the problem is, not just here, but in lots of countries, the law is not adequate. Some sentences do seem very light as though the judge or magistrate is saying "well it could happen to anyone" or "there but for fortune"

We are bringing in a new offence "Causing death by reckless driving" which is supposed to sort out the problem, the gap between fairly minor offences and manslaughter. I can see lawyers arguing for years and getting rich on the definition of reckless.

The courts always seem to say well look how remorseful this person is, it will ruin their life etc, with little or no consideration for the victim or their family.

About four years ago a friend was knifed to death by a person under the inluence of who knows what and because of the lack of corroborating witness about who said what and to whom the perp was able to cop a manslaughter plea and got eight years. The ***tbag will be out any day and could meet his victims family in the street.

Where is the justice ? Anyone remember what Don Vito Corleone said to Amerigo Bonnaserra after his daughter was violated fictionally in "The Godfather"

It's probably not the civilised answer but does seem tempting at times.

[natedawg120]

In the top it says she was sentenced to the maximum or six years, but in the bottom it states the judge sentenced her to 4 years and a $200 fine with ongoing treatment for depression and prison life.

The thing that pisses me off as well as many others here is that she cried out to her dad after the sentence was read.  She thought she was going to get off cause she was young, she feels no remorse for the life she took only the couple of years she will spend in prison, that is why she is depressed. :x  :x   I agree that anyone who drinks and drives should at least lose their license, and if they kill be put behind bars longer than a couple of years.  The person they encounter isn't that lucky.

[scratch]

but Edwards, she must bear this guilt.

It doesn't sound like she has any guilt at all.

I understand now. If she ever grows up, I hope she will understand, too.
I'm still kinda shocked by this news.

[thirdman]

6 years is pathetic.  The guy that stole my credit card got 7.

[natedawg120]

6 years is pathetic.  The guy that stole my credit card got 7.

Yeah it is messed up when someone gets 7 years for a CC theft that just makes life hell for a month or so, till it gets straightened out.  But when a person dies the killer only gets 6 years.  How the heck does that make sense :dunno:

[thirdman]

To be fair, the guy that stole my credit card did the whole identity-theft thing to me and a bunch of other folks.  He broke into mailboxes, forged IDs and stole over a certain dollar amount, which ticked off the Postmaster General, Secret Service and FBI, respectively.  It took over a year to get my credit rating straightened out.

[rclz]

To be fair, the guy that stole my credit card did the whole identity-theft thing to me and a bunch of other folks.  He broke into mailboxes, forged IDs and stole over a certain dollar amount, which ticked off the Postmaster General, Secret Service and FBI, respectively.  It took over a year to get my credit rating straightened out.

And will your credit rating ever be the same as before your identity was stolen? just wondering...

[thirdman]

As far as I can tell, all is ok now.  The feds also gave me a letter attesting to the fact that my ID was stolen.  Supposedly, if anyone gives me troubles this should smooth the way.

The 3 big credit reporting companies have records of everything that happened, both good and bad, and claim that everything is ok.

I have since bought a house without troubles... so far, so good.