30 years and counting

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 | Life

Today I am 30. People have been asking if I feel any older, and to be honest, today I don't. September 5, 2004 I felt older, and again on Tuesday March 20, 2007. September 5th was the day my life and the lives of those around me changed forever. It was the day my parents were hit by a driver who did not stop for a stop sign. My dad was killed instantly and my mom was permanently injured. March 20th was the day that the criminal charges against the driver went to court and we finally got a verdict.

Not guilty of dangerous driving.

From the legal mumbo jumbo I could decipher the act of not stopping at a controlled crossing isn't inherently dangerous in the eyes of the law, and the fact that the driver killed my dad is irrelevant. What also added to the defendants case was the fact that they made "evasive maneuvers" after finally seeing my parents on their motorcycle. These facts are what really get to me.

In the months leading up to the trial I felt that we had a strong case, but I really didn't want to see my mom have to take the stand, as it was one of the most painful things I have ever witnessed when she had to at the preliminary trial. Since I was so confident that the act of driving through a controlled intersection is inherently dangerous I was pushing the crown to offer an alternative punishment if the person pleaded guilty. Little did I know what was in fact the reality. Even if the defendant had been charged it would have amounted to nothing more than a fine and points on their license.

Now that the criminal part of this is over, all that is left is for Manitoba Public Insurance to finally get their shit together and payout a fair amount to my mom, but getting anything out them could take years. Looks like the saga will continue…

Tags: canadian justice system, motorcycles