Woman Jailed After Laughing Over Victim

[WillParkinson]

(Tucson, Arizona) A judge sentenced a woman to nearly the maximum prison term for negligent homicide after hearing a recorded jail conversation in which she made light of the bicyclist she killed.

Melissa Arrington, 27, was convicted two months ago of negligent homicide and two counts of aggravated DUI in connection with the December 2006 death of Paul L'Ecuyer.

She could have gotten as few as four years behind bars, but Superior Court Judge Michael Cruikshank sentenced her Tuesday to 10 1/2 years - one year shy of the maximum.


http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/01/012408cycle.htm

[flamin lib]

1. One year too short. nt

[Dora]

2. I know this man's family.

I didn't know this about Arrington. I hope she finds her way free of the bottle.

[sam sarrha]

5. i am glad she got the extra time to work it out .... Alcohol is not her only problem..

[DeSwiss]

7. Well said....

From the article:

During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance believed she should get a medal and a parade because she had "taken out" a "tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot." Arrington laughed. When the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, she responded, "No, it's not."

Assistant Public Defender Michael Rosenbluth told the judge his client has never been "cold, callous or flippant" about L'Ecuyer's death and has always felt remorseful. Arrington said words couldn't express how she feels, and that once she's out of prison, she hopes to share her story with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

L'Ecuyer, 45, was riding his bike the night of Dec. 1, 2006 when Arrington swerved off the road, hit him and then continued for 800 feet before stopping, according to Deputy Pima County Attorney Jonathan Mosher.

Arrington's blood-alcohol content was .156 percent, nearly double Arizona's .08 legal limit. She had been driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI.

Remorse? I call bullshit.

- And that some great friend she's got there too. What an asshole....

K&R

[Fridays Child]

3. You should cross post this in the AZ forum because Arizona voters get to register their approval...

...or disapproval of Superior Court judges, at election time. And Judge Cruikshank is overwhelmingly worthy of voter approval for his decision in this case.

[sam sarrha]

4. i want to know why the hell she didnt get the maximum.!

[swoop]

6. Reminds me of that awful Gibson's? comments about Heath. n/t