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Canadian Gets Life for Driving Drunk

Lita456

Lita456

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SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD, Quebec (Sept. 9) — A Canadian man has been sentenced to life in prison for mowing down a woman in a wheelchair as he drove drunk. It was his 19th drunken driving conviction, the court said.
The life sentence handed down by a Quebec judge was the first for a drunken driving conviction in Canada's history, according to Prosecutor Joey Davis.

Roger Walsh, 57, had pleaded guilty to killing Anee Khudaverdian, who was out with her dog on her 47th birthday last year. She was propelled into a ditch after being struck.

Walsh, who admitted he had spent the night drinking, kept driving and was arrested about six miles away after driving into a ditch himself.

Quebec court judge Michel Mercier declared the man incorrigible and said he would be likely to commit further crimes.

Walsh's 18 previous impaired driving convictions and 114 previous convictions in total for assault, uttering threats, breaking and entering, and theft were entered into evidence.

Prosecutors also had wanted Walsh declared a "dangerous offender," but Mercier said the designation wasn't intended for drunken driving cases but was reserved for the worst criminals like murderers and serial rapists.
Walsh's lawyer, Jacques Vinet, had proposed a 10-year sentence and noted that the life sentence was even longer than the prosecution had sought. Vinet said he would discuss with his client whether to appeal.

Canadian Gets Life Sentence for Driving Drunk


What I want to know is, why did it take 19 times?
 
Lita456 said:
SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD, Quebec (Sept. 9) — A Canadian man has been sentenced to life in prison for mowing down a woman in a wheelchair as he drove drunk. It was his 19th drunken driving conviction, the court said.
The life sentence handed down by a Quebec judge was the first for a drunken driving conviction in Canada's history, according to Prosecutor Joey Davis.

Roger Walsh, 57, had pleaded guilty to killing Anee Khudaverdian, who was out with her dog on her 47th birthday last year. She was propelled into a ditch after being struck.

Walsh, who admitted he had spent the night drinking, kept driving and was arrested about six miles away after driving into a ditch himself.

Quebec court judge Michel Mercier declared the man incorrigible and said he would be likely to commit further crimes.

Walsh's 18 previous impaired driving convictions and 114 previous convictions in total for assault, uttering threats, breaking and entering, and theft were entered into evidence.

Prosecutors also had wanted Walsh declared a "dangerous offender," but Mercier said the designation wasn't intended for drunken driving cases but was reserved for the worst criminals like murderers and serial rapists.
Walsh's lawyer, Jacques Vinet, had proposed a 10-year sentence and noted that the life sentence was even longer than the prosecution had sought. Vinet said he would discuss with his client whether to appeal.

Canadian Gets Life Sentence for Driving Drunk


What I want to know is, why did it take 19 times?
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Why wait until he has killed someone? And why wasn't he ordered into treatment a long time ago?
 
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windovervocalcords said:
Why wait until he has killed someone? And why wasn't he ordered into treatment a long time ago?
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Hey Wind!

Yeah, I don't get it.....maybe he did treatment? This is a shame. This woman didn't have to die......
 
Hi Lita, and Hi Wind,

I for one am all in favor of really tough drunk driving laws. One and done is my belief. One DUI, and you lose your license......forever. Ability to own and register a car gone as well.
 
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I'd like to know how he was still able to drive after all of those convictions. If he had a valid license, then certainly the DD laws in Canada need to change something fierce.
 
Shep Dawg said:
Hi Lita, and Hi Wind,

I for one am all in favor of really tough drunk driving laws. One and done is my belief. One DUI, and you lose your license......forever. Ability to own and register a car gone as well.
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That's absolutely asinine.
 
Shep Dawg said:
I for one am all in favor of really tough drunk driving laws. One and done is my belief. One DUI, and you lose your license......forever. Ability to own and register a car gone as well.
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People screw up. Having known many people including friends who have had DUIs, tough penalties work but don't get carried away. All in all, if you get a DUI in arizona its a required minimum 24 hours in jail, some months of suspended license, and then another some months of a restricted license, plus about $1000 in fines and fees. A second DUI can land you in jail for a month or longer plus a ignition interlock breathalyzer device on your vehicle. Everyone I know who has had a DUI isn't hasty in doing it again, but there are always idiots.

If you kill someone because you are drunk you are just plain ****ed. Expect to spend at least a few years behind bars.
 
scourge99 said:
People screw up. Having known many people including friends who have had DUIs, tough penalties work but don't get carried away. All in all, if you get a DUI in arizona its a required minimum 24 hours in jail, some months of suspended license, and then another some months of a restricted license, plus about $1000 in fines and fees. A second DUI can land you in jail for a month or longer plus a ignition interlock breathalyzer device on your vehicle. Everyone I know who has had a DUI isn't hasty in doing it again, but there are always idiots.

If you kill someone because you are drunk you are just plain ****ed. Expect to spend at least a few years behind bars.
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Looks like I am going to have to cop a plea when I was actually innocent. however there were plenty of times I got away with it, so maybe kharma is just a bitch

1st Offense:
I am facing 6 months jail, $1000's of dollars in fines, court costs, probation, etc...
I have so far shelled out $7000 in attorney fees. I will lose my license for 6 months. I am ineligilbe for a hardship license for 90 days, So I will probably lose my job and my house.
I have to go to DUI school
I have to go to Victim Impact Panel to hear people cry about their loses.
Probation for 12 months
vehicle impounded for 10 days upon conviction

If i go to trial, I am all but guaranteed 30 days in jail if i lose, up to 6 months
by pleading out, i should avoid jail, but that is not guaranteed. Judge does not have to accept terms of the plea.

personally I think that is harsh enough for a first time offense (not even taking into account I was not over the limit)

But I was not involved in an accident. Nobody was injured, and I certainly did not have 114 priors including 18 previous DUI's. His victims life was needlessly forfeited. I have a clean license for 10 years. I have a clean professional license (realtor) But a cop, who has since left the DUI task force after 1000 arrests, just went through the motions and only has one failed field sobriety test ON CAMERA.

Things are not always Black and white. Hopefullly after this injustice I will have good kharma going forward
 
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DeeJayH said:
Looks like I am going to have to cop a plea when I was actually innocent. however there were plenty of times I got away with it, so maybe kharma is just a bitch

1st Offense:
I am facing 6 months jail, $1000's of dollars in fines, court costs, probation, etc...
I have so far shelled out $7000 in attorney fees. I will lose my license for 6 months. I am ineligilbe for a hardship license for 90 days, So I will probably lose my job and my house.
I have to go to DUI school
I have to go to Victim Impact Panel to hear people cry about their loses.
Probation for 12 months
vehicle impounded for 10 days upon conviction

If i go to trial, I am all but guaranteed 30 days in jail if i lose, up to 6 months
by pleading out, i should avoid jail, but that is not guaranteed. Judge does not have to accept terms of the plea.

personally I think that is harsh enough for a first time offense (not even taking into account I was not over the limit)

But I was not involved in an accident. Nobody was injured, and I certainly did not have 114 priors including 18 previous DUI's. His victims life was needlessly forfeited. I have a clean license for 10 years. I have a clean professional license (realtor) But a cop, who has since left the DUI task force after 1000 arrests, just went through the motions and only has one failed field sobriety test ON CAMERA.

Things are not always Black and white. Hopefullly after this injustice I will have good kharma going forward
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I'm sorry to hear about your situation. If you truly weren't guilty, don't plea. The penalties you describe, are fairly harsh. What is the rate of re-offenders in your state?
 
DeeJayH said:
Looks like I am going to have to cop a plea when I was actually innocent. however there were plenty of times I got away with it, so maybe kharma is just a bitch

1st Offense:
I am facing 6 months jail, $1000's of dollars in fines, court costs, probation, etc...
I have so far shelled out $7000 in attorney fees. I will lose my license for 6 months. I am ineligilbe for a hardship license for 90 days, So I will probably lose my job and my house.
I have to go to DUI school
I have to go to Victim Impact Panel to hear people cry about their loses.
Probation for 12 months
vehicle impounded for 10 days upon conviction

If i go to trial, I am all but guaranteed 30 days in jail if i lose, up to 6 months
by pleading out, i should avoid jail, but that is not guaranteed. Judge does not have to accept terms of the plea.

personally I think that is harsh enough for a first time offense (not even taking into account I was not over the limit)

But I was not involved in an accident. Nobody was injured, and I certainly did not have 114 priors including 18 previous DUI's. His victims life was needlessly forfeited. I have a clean license for 10 years. I have a clean professional license (realtor) But a cop, who has since left the DUI task force after 1000 arrests, just went through the motions and only has one failed field sobriety test ON CAMERA.

Things are not always Black and white. Hopefullly after this injustice I will have good kharma going forward
Click to expand...

That sucks.... Any advice to give people so it doesn't happen to them? E.G., demand a blood test or breathalyzer?
 
scourge99 said:
That sucks.... Any advice to give people so it doesn't happen to them? E.G., demand a blood test or breathalyzer?
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You mean he wasn't breathalysed? In Australia I think they wouldn't get anywhere with the case if they didn't have a blood test, let alone a the breathalyser as well.

The idea of jail for a first time DUI seems a little harsh to me as well.
 
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DeeJayH said:
Looks like I am going to have to cop a plea when I was actually innocent. however there were plenty of times I got away with it, so maybe kharma is just a bitch

1st Offense:
I am facing 6 months jail, $1000's of dollars in fines, court costs, probation, etc...
I have so far shelled out $7000 in attorney fees. I will lose my license for 6 months. I am ineligilbe for a hardship license for 90 days, So I will probably lose my job and my house.
I have to go to DUI school
I have to go to Victim Impact Panel to hear people cry about their loses.
Probation for 12 months
vehicle impounded for 10 days upon conviction

If i go to trial, I am all but guaranteed 30 days in jail if i lose, up to 6 months
by pleading out, i should avoid jail, but that is not guaranteed. Judge does not have to accept terms of the plea.

personally I think that is harsh enough for a first time offense (not even taking into account I was not over the limit)

But I was not involved in an accident. Nobody was injured, and I certainly did not have 114 priors including 18 previous DUI's. His victims life was needlessly forfeited. I have a clean license for 10 years. I have a clean professional license (realtor) But a cop, who has since left the DUI task force after 1000 arrests, just went through the motions and only has one failed field sobriety test ON CAMERA.

Things are not always Black and white. Hopefullly after this injustice I will have good kharma going forward
Click to expand...

This does not pass the smell test. How can they prove you were impaired if you weren't?
 
Middleground said:
This does not pass the smell test. How can they prove you were impaired if you weren't?
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video of road side tests
I failed 2 of the 7 I was given due to neuropathy in my feet and my amputated right great toe.

I will never again do any tests in any stops. I did not blow, as every attorney has told me, but my poor balance due to injuries/medical conditions caused visuals the DA can take advantage of, and I am not willing to go to jail in an effort to prove myself right.
 
19 convictions!

**** me, give him the death penality.

If you can not drive drunk without getting caught you should not be a drunk.

Drinking to excess is an art.

I think it should be an Olympic sport.
 
JW Frogen said:
19 convictions!

**** me, give him the death penality.

If you can not drive drunk without getting caught you should not be a drunk.

Drinking to excess is an art.

I think it should be an Olympic sport.
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therer is nothing cool about driving drunk. you are a douche for suggesting it
 
windovervocalcords said:
Why wait until he has killed someone? And why wasn't he ordered into treatment a long time ago?
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There's the problem! We've all been taught to think of this stuff as a disease to be treated, instead of behavior to be condemned. I'll bet you $50 that this guy has been sent to "treatment" numerous times.
 
Middleground said:
I'd like to know how he was still able to drive after all of those convictions. If he had a valid license, then certainly the DD laws in Canada need to change something fierce.
Click to expand...
What's to stop him? Laws? He obviously was undeterred by those.
 
EgoffTib said:
That's absolutely asinine.
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Spoken as one who has never toe-tagged a young victim. I have though. My thinking, were I only a bit less restrained would be execution.

Have you ever heard the sound of a family when told their child has just been mowed down by a drunk? It is most instructive, especially if the drunk himself, is also in your E.R. and annoyed at all the racket.
 
DeeJayH said:
therer is nothing cool about driving drunk. you are a douche for suggesting it
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Yeah, you would think so. The great God advertising tells us this.

I am even worse for doing it, time and time again.

Still, for some mysterious reason I am a better driver than the rest of you.

God is great, or not.

Take your pick.
 
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JW Frogen said:
Yeah, you would think so. The great God advertising tells us this.

I am even worse for doing it, time and time again.

Still, for some mysterious reason I am a better driver than the rest of you.

God is great, or not.

Take your pick.
Click to expand...


Just because YOU think that you're a better driver under the infulence, does not make it a true fact.

Apparently, drunks think they're the most fabulous singers, too.
 
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