Oscar-winning ‘You Light Up My Life’ songwriter Joseph Brooks commits suicide

[Playinghardball]

Source:Reuters via Raw Story

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning composer of the hit "You Light Up My Life" and who was awaiting trial on rape charges, was found dead in his New York apartment on Sunday having apparently killed himself, police said.

The body of Brooks, 73, was discovered at his apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side around 12.30 p.m. by a friend with whom he had planned to have lunch, police said.

Brooks had a plastic bag wrapped around his head. A helium tank with a hose attachment was also found at the scene and may have been used in the apparent suicide, police said.

They said they found a suicide note but would not discuss its contents. An official autopsy will be done on the body.

Brooks was awaiting trial after pleading not guilty in 2009 to charges he raped and sexually abused at least 11 women.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/22/oscar-winning-you-light-up-my-life-songwriter-joseph-brooks-commits-suicide/

[sharesunited]

1. An option which should be given every incarcerated person in this country.

[Ken Burch]

2. There are a few problems with that:

1)He wasn't actually incarcereted;

2)It's possible for an incarcerated person to be suicidally depressed without actually being guilty of a crime;

3)Generally, you'd want someone to at least live to stand trial, so that all the facts of the case could be discovered;

4)You're displaying a fairly icky set of values in saying something like that.

[sharesunited]

3. Force someone to live to stand trial to satisfy you?

Hell no. If someone's liberty is deprived them, they can opt out with our blessing.

[Ken Burch]

7. You also missed the part where I said a person could be suicidal without being guilty

And, regarding Mr. Brooks, loathesome though he appears to have been, he wasn't incarcerated. He killed himself at home.

[sharesunited]

9. You can be incarcerated without being guilty too. Especially charged and unable to make bail.

Merely facing incarceration is enough to justify opting out IMO.

So often, it is the only power we have in otherwise powerless situations.

[Ken Burch]

10. I'd be more on the side of trying to help those people get out of incarceration if they're innocent

It's not really that helpful to hold suicide out to them as an option.

[sharesunited]

12. You're a good person Ken.

[canetoad]

17. Thank you for these points

DU's love of violence, revenge and retribution is, at times, of biblical proportions.

[NYC Liberal]

15. So they can opt out of punishment for their crimes?

No.

[UTUSN]

4. How sad FOR ME that a gorgeous song came out of a rapist. n/t

[Stevenmarc]

5. Ok that song is running through my head, but sung in a helium voice

[provis99]

6. heh. So you're saying it now sounds better?

[Ken Burch]

8. I didn't like that song BEFORE I heard he may have been a rapist

n/t.

[Ken Burch]

11. You mean like the Alvin and the Chipmunks version?

n/t.

[tiny elvis]

16. way to nail the punchline

utterly goddamn brilliant

[izquierdista]

13. I wonder if the majority of those commenting

are sure they will never have to face charges of a sex crime.

[rocktivity]

14. Talk about overreacting

You Light Up My Life wasn't very good, but it wasn't THAT bad...

:crazy:
rocktivity