Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
Cubs Combat Casino
PHOTOS: Peaches And Amanda Blank At Metro
The Return of The Chicagoist Reader Meet-Up
County Sales Tax Rollback Vetoed - Here We Go Again
Lake County prosecutors have thrown out a traffic violation against Lora Hunt, the woman who struck and killed motorcyclist Anita Zaffke (pictured right) with her car while allegedly painting her nails. But that doesn't mean Ms. Hunt is free. Instead, prosecutors are examining more serious criminal charges against her. Michael Waller, Lake County state’s attorney, said, “We’re investigating to determine whether more serious charges can be filed." The reason she's not facing the traffic violation is a simple one: prosecutors worried that if she had pleaded guilty to the violation, they might not have been able to pursue more serious charges due to the double jeopardy statute of facing charges for the same crime twice. Just as they had last month, though, prosecutors are having problems with the vagueness of state law as pertaining to "distracted drivers." Waller said that new charges should be filed against Hunt in the next two to three weeks. [Sun-Times]
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebookTips
Contribute
Latest Tip:
NYT article detailing how the city will spend all of the money from the parking meter lease by 2010.
[more]
Can someone explain why negligent homicide can't seem to be applied to this case? Am I missing something?
My guess is the prosecutors are having to deal with really vague statutes/laws and are being really careful in the big criminal charges they're going to bring. If you're going to make an example of someone, you're going to want to the charges to stick. But that's just a guess.
It's not just as simple as saying "you killed somebody, therefore you're guilty of murder." A high degree of negligence is required to prove involuntary manslaughter - and I can think of a few arguments against a showing of involuntary manslaughter in this case. This isn't civil, so a higher showing of proof beyond a preponderance of the evidence is needed.
It doesn't sound like distracted driving is a strict liability crime, which imo it should be.
Isn't this just something? You can be driving your car while polishing your nails, kill someone...and then the prosecutors have to perform acrobatics to try and find a way to actually prosecute.
You know, it's not like stuff like this hasn't happened before, there are many cases where someone was texting and then hit and killed a person. That's negligences as well, and these murderers get slapped on the wrist while someone's family member is in a wood box because of this gross negligence.
Why are they waiting til NOW to try and figure out a way to get laws on the books?
This case just blows my mind...polishing your freaking nails while driving....just unbelievable.
It is ironic, I mean you could maybe make an argument that you're safer around a drunk driver than somebody who's doing their nails.
I know I don't know her from Eve, but it's pretty sad to see that photo. Oh well, as long as princess' nails looked pretty.
I know, right?
Every time I see that photo, I think about her son and how he doesn't have a mother anymore. And then I think if that were me, and my son didn't have a mother any more all because of some IDIOT that thought she could drive and paint her stupid nails.
@Mucky Fingers, I remember that story and the outrage I felt over the whole thing...using the cell phone, killing someone and then the subsequent 'slap on the wrist' for murdering a person.
There are young men in prison for having marijuana, and these murderers walk free.
Hey, when you're a self-absorbed bitch life is cheap!
I'm sure she bitched about the resultant crash smearing her nails too.
First Jennifer Stark kills Matthew Wilhelm, now this shit.
Rejoice ladies, one and all...for you are just a girl, and nothing is your fault!
Lora is a nurse and a mother. She knew the instant she saw Ms. Zaffke what she did and that she could not save her – and yes she did try. Lora will never be "normal" again. She will live with this - with or without jail time - the rest of her life. She knows what she did and she knows what happened. She knows what people think of her and she understands as to why they do. She's not okay with what happened. She's never going to be okay with this. She is suffering every minute, of every day and she will the rest of her life. You can harass her, you can threaten her, you can wish her death or her imprisonment. You can talk about her vanity and how dumb she is - but your words, the threats against her, her family and her attorney or the names you call her will never, ever be any worse that what she tells herself. Could you imagine that one mistake, that split second when you realize that you took someone off this earth and what that must feel like? She's not a bad person because she made a bad choice. Ms. Zaffke paid for it and Lora will pay for her mistake the rest of her life. I AM NOT saying she's innocent or that she doesn't deserve punishment...but people, she knows what she did and threatening her and sending the letters, showing up at her house, there's nothing more you can say or do that she's probably not already saying herself. In a different way, her life is over as well. Maybe that may make you feel better or maybe you feel it’s not enough - all I do every night is pray for the Zaffke's and that God's will on Lora will happen. He's our judge, we are not here to judge others. An eye for an eye as some of you say – that is Old Testament the day Jesus Christ walked on this earth, the New Testament was written. However terrible the sin, Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. Do not use Biblical words if you do not know the Bible. Do not use the Lord’s name in one sentence while using the “F” word in the next. Everyone seems to feel it is their place to judge her, by threatening her life, sending her cards, letters and telling her what a bad person she is. It seems to me that we are all quick to cast a stone at her because we have all led our lives without making a mistake. Last I knew, Jesus was the last one on this earth to walk on water. Was her action wrong – yes, did Ms. Zaffke have to pay the ultimate price for Lora’s mistake, yes and Lora will pay for it in one way or another. Even if there is no jail time, she’s not walking away “scott free” - life will never go on for her. You tell her she should kill herself, you tell her she’s a murderer and that she deserves to die - perhaps that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy at night like you’ve done your part by prosecuting her by threats and intimidation. Sleep well because I am sure the Zaffke’s and the Hunt’s will never sleep well again.
It’s not just motorists or “cage” drivers either that cause accidents. Case in point….we all can learn from this and stop the distracted driving.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/Fatal_Motorcycle_Weekend_Crashes