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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDUI victim's parents ask and receive mercy from judge for son's surviving friend
Max Kelly
Instead of incarceration, Greene County Judge George Pulver sentenced Griffin, of Germantown, to five years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and the revocation of his drivers license...
Twenty-one-year-old Kelly was a passenger in Griffins 2003 Toyota vehicle New Years Eve 2012 when Griffin drove the vehicle into a utility pole in Germantown, resulting in Kellys death from injuries he sustained in the accident.
New York State Police determined drunken driving played a role in the crash.
These boys did something very foolish that night, Kellys mother Jody Wische said. They made a decision thinking they were invincible.
She and husband John Kelly forgave Griffin for his actions, as they did their own son as Griffins passenger, Wische said.
We know there was no malice, no intent to harm, Wische said. This was just boys being boys.
Keeping her compusure, Wische begged the judge to give Griffin a chance to be an upstanding citizen.
Griffin became overwhelmed as Kelly described their complicated relationship. Initially, Kelly had warned his son to stay away from Griffin.
He said, Dad, hes my best buddy, and hes a good kid, Kelly tearfully said.
He then referred to Griffin as his own, and asked the judge to not take away his son. Kelly longed for the day he could bounce Griffins children on his knee, as he would have Maxs, he said.
Ive been an attorney for 30 years, and I dont think Ive heard anything more compelling, Thomas OHern, Griffins defense attorney, said...
http://www.registerstar.com/news/article_25d3f196-bf76-11e2-ad17-0019bb2963f4.html
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Response to Comrade Grumpy (Reply #1)
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Salviati
(6,002 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)and her grand niece were killed in a car accident. There were 6 kids in the car. they were coming back from drinking in Canada. The car ended up upside down in a brook. 5 of the kids drowned. Only the driver survived.
ananda
(28,781 posts)Forgiveness is such a grace.
I mean, what is the point of forgiveness if the one forgiven has done something forgiveable?
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)These parents are truly noble.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)People who are willing to forgive and move on, instead of having the "throw the book at them" mentality that's grown so pervasive.
If our country had more people like Wische and Kelly, it would be a better place.
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)loyalsister
(13,390 posts)3 died and the driver lived. I don't know if the parents made any formal comments. But, one pointed out that it could have been any one of them driving. I could see her point. At the same time the driver was known for building up his car to get more speed. And, for basically being an aggressive driver for fun.
So, I think he probably did need to learn a lesson. I know he went to prison but I don't know how long. I don't think prison is always the best teacher. Losing a license permanently might have been, though.