It's my understanding that North Carolina law mandates only two sentences for First Degree Murder. Those being either Life in prison or the Death Penalty. Can someone out in North Carolina verify those sentences? Thanks.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>A man convicted of drunk driving six times, is
now charged in a deadly accident. The
prosecutor is taking the case further and is
charging the suspect with murder.
Lewis Watford was killed in the accident. The
family blames fifty-five-year-old William
Goodman. Watford's grand daughter Amy
Jarettt says, "It's like he just reached in and
took our hearts out and he doesn't care."
Jarrett is upset because according to police,
Goodman was drinking when the accident
happened. The courts say before this incident,
he had six DWI convictions. The latest one
was in 1989. Jarrett says, "There was no
reason for him to be on the road. It's totally
insufficient."
However, legally Goodman had a right to
drive. He already had three years probation,
which is the penalty for the '89 conviction.
Goodman is facing a second degree murder
charge and is currently out on $10,000 bond.
Other Cases
There are two recent cases where drunk
drivers have been convicted of murder in
North Carolina.
Thomas Richard Jones was convicted of first
degree murder two years ago for killing two
Wake Forest students in 1996 in
Winston-Salem. Jones was drinking and
taking painkillers the night of the accident.
Tim Blackwell was convicted last April of
first degree murder for killing a four-year-old
girl in Durham. He is serving a life sentence.[/quote]
Yow.
LawDog
[This message has been edited by LawDog (edited March 13, 2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>A man convicted of drunk driving six times, is
now charged in a deadly accident. The
prosecutor is taking the case further and is
charging the suspect with murder.
Lewis Watford was killed in the accident. The
family blames fifty-five-year-old William
Goodman. Watford's grand daughter Amy
Jarettt says, "It's like he just reached in and
took our hearts out and he doesn't care."
Jarrett is upset because according to police,
Goodman was drinking when the accident
happened. The courts say before this incident,
he had six DWI convictions. The latest one
was in 1989. Jarrett says, "There was no
reason for him to be on the road. It's totally
insufficient."
However, legally Goodman had a right to
drive. He already had three years probation,
which is the penalty for the '89 conviction.
Goodman is facing a second degree murder
charge and is currently out on $10,000 bond.
Other Cases
There are two recent cases where drunk
drivers have been convicted of murder in
North Carolina.
Thomas Richard Jones was convicted of first
degree murder two years ago for killing two
Wake Forest students in 1996 in
Winston-Salem. Jones was drinking and
taking painkillers the night of the accident.
Tim Blackwell was convicted last April of
first degree murder for killing a four-year-old
girl in Durham. He is serving a life sentence.[/quote]
Yow.
LawDog
[This message has been edited by LawDog (edited March 13, 2000).]