02-20-2011, 09:02 AM
tetters Wrote:On the other hand, I wish from a legal stand point people would stop using phrasing like this...The problem today is too many criminals get off because of some stupid technicality. Too many judges are quick to let them go just to punish a prosecuting attorney, which is not at all what the Constitution and laws of other countries had in mind when they were written.
Quote:The criminal complaint says Hassan smelled of alcohol...
Alcohol and Liquor don't smell the same and if memory serves according to some case law (in Canada), if the arresting police officer made this statement in his or her report the case could get thrown out on a technicality. If it is just the reporter, then the reporter should also know better. In most cases its better to say he smelled of an "alcoholic beverage" Just saying... :?
[/nitpick mode]
If you let this fellow off then shame on them. He is guilty of enough crimes to spend life in prison, and that is where he should be. Being drunk is no excuse for a crime. Last time I had a drink it was my choice, so if I did something while under the influence, I at least, was sober when I made the decision to become stupid. Had someone died he would have been guilty of second degree murder, as it is, if someone was hurt, is he not guilty of assault as well as a terrorist act, not an attempted terrorist act because he did in fact cause terror on that train.