"Rich" kid kills 4, gets probation.

[D_Yeti_Esquire]

If all people were the same way it would be fine. Completely different but same concept: Bill Clinton's hummer. Sure, if he'd just said "yea, Monica blew me and I apologize to my wife and everyone else" some people would have let it drop. But not everyone and a fairly predictable percentage wouldn't. Republicans, adults sensitive to adultry, strict moralists, etc. He said nothing and we all know they had pollsters collecting data helping make that decision.

When we consider oddities in the courtroom, it's best to remember it's such a high stakes game that they have statistics on everything. If by and large defendants don't apologize at sentencing, the reason is most likely they've been coached/told not to. The only reason a lawyer tells you to not do something is if they know it will harm you.

I think "the public" believes it is more forgiving than it is. I also think it tends to discount its use of the logic "sometimes an apology isn't enough." It then wonders why people don't apologize.

The non-effect of apologies on judges and the danger of perceptions of being perceived as dishonest about it.

Actually that link also has bits about why the judge might have been more likely to forgive this boy, yet less likely to forgive someone else.

[draco664]

If I'm not mistaken, she was innocent.

She was.

In the case of Ethan Couch, there is no factual dispute that he committed the crimes he was charged with.

When a defendant claims to be innocent, you wouldn't expect them to show remorse, whether they're telling the truth or not. It's a different matter when the defendant pleads guilty.

Yeah, but during her trial, people were using her lack of remorse as 'proof' that not only was she guilty, she deserved to be put to death. I remember, as a child, being completely fucking bamboozled at how people would ignore the logical inconsistencies of the case and focus completely on her attitude in the six seconds of footage they saw on the news.

That case really affected me, and I wasn't even 10 when it was playing out. If Australia still had capital punishment in the 80s, there would have been a monumental miscarriage of justice.

[Gravekeeper]

I'm still wondering if the kid isn't a straight up sociopath at this point. It looks like when he was arrested for underage drinking he got probation, community service and had to attend an alcohol awareness program. That was only 4 months prior to this. Obviously he didn't give a rats ass about the program. However, to say he's not aware of consequences after serving probation, community service and a mandatory program is bullshit.

He's aware of consequences, he just doesn't care.

[ebonyknight]

And so it begins.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4461585.html

His bogus defense and "expert" testimony, is going to bite his family in the ass. Out of the fire and into the frying pan.

I hope they get the caramelization right.....

[fireheart17]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4461585.html



His bogus defense and "expert" testimony, is going to bite his family in the ass. Out of the fire and into the frying pan.

I hope they get the caramelization right.....

And no matter how much he claims that he's being picked on because he's rich, the claims won't fly. Don't want to be picked on because of your wealth? You should've admitted to your actions and taken responsibility for them.

[eltf177]

I'm glad to see the dad and his company are being sued as well. Something tells me by the time this is all over dad's not going to have a cent left to his name, meaning there's now no money to send this brat to his expensive day care in lieu of jail time. And (horror of horrors) because of this he now has to do hard jail time!

Couldn't happen to a more deserving jackass!

[eltf177]

http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/ju...atal-car-wreck

http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/te...en-behind-bars

Well, looks like little chance of this piece of crap doing any jail time...

[Andara Bledin]

Well, looks like little chance of this piece of crap doing any jail time...

Well, you know, unless he really is unrepentant and irredeemable and thus ends up violating parole, anyway...

[Gravekeeper]

The thing that gets me is its the same fucking judge. So that's 4 counts of intoxication manslaughter and 2 counts of intoxication assault this little bastard has gotten out of. Under the same judge. Also, again, he's been sent to rehab because his parents can afford too and offered to pay for it.

[Racket_Man]

Well, you know, unless he really is unrepentant and irredeemable and thus ends up violating parole, anyway...

THREAD BUMP as this news hits the airwaves
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man...7Kz&OCID=HPDHP

The little shit is on the run possibly with his mother maybe heading out of the country as both their passports are missing.

Teen was videoed at a party doing beer pongs just after his last visit with his probation officer.

[mjr]

THREAD BUMP as this news hits the airwaves
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man...7Kz&OCID=HPDHP

The little shit is on the run possibly with his mother maybe heading out of the country as both their passports are missing.

Teen was videoed at a party doing beer pongs just after his last visit with his probation officer.

I do suspect they're out of the country. In the article you reference, it does mention that when authorities went to the mother's house, it was cleaned out except for a pinball machine.

Grisham said sheriff's deputies tried to search the home he shared with his mother and found the place cleaned out except for a pinball machine.

[Rageaholic]

THREAD BUMP as this news hits the airwaves
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man...7Kz&OCID=HPDHP

The little shit is on the run possibly with his mother maybe heading out of the country as both their passports are missing.

Teen was videoed at a party doing beer pongs just after his last visit with his probation officer.

DUMBASS!!!

If he's going to violate probation, you'd think he'd be more discrete.

[Jetfire]

DUMBASS!!!

If he's going to violate probation, you'd think he'd be more discrete.

His entire situation doesn't exactly scream "Mensa Member".

Someone probably posted the video of him, and someone else pointed out how it violated his probation, and what we're seeing now is the Panic of the Affluent, with Mother Hen anxiously protecting her perfect "Can't do any wrong" spawn.

I'm sure he'll post on Facebook where he is soon enough.

[Gravekeeper]

I saw this, the little shithead. Congrats, judge, you really taught him a lesson! -.-

[catcul]

I saw this, the little shithead. Congrats, judge, you really taught him a lesson! -.-

It taught him that he can get away with murder.