Boating Accident

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

Did she lose her boating license at all?

According to the linked article posted by NoBozo (from the Associated Press);

She could have received up to seven years in prison. County Attorney James Carroll had recommended that she serve one to three years. He also asked that Blizzard's licenses to operate a boat and car be removed for three years; Judge Kathleen McGuire did not address the request.

[NoBozo]

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/p...100429999/1030

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?...3-6b3fed1a3cc0

[Lucky1]

Let's all pay our respects by not drinking and driving boats or cars or motorcycles and not speeding either. It could be a tribute to the deceased woman. Let's all hope that the terrible accidents on the roads around the lake, or in the lake itself, will decrease as a result of all of us being outspoken against drinking and driving whenever we see the need.
There were just recently two terrible accidents on Lake area roads. Because the people died, no one went to trial. More people died than in this one accident though.

[LIforrelaxin]

Although I don't believe I totally agree with the sentence. I am glad to see that this is now over. Hopefully there isn't a lengthy appeal process and the Blizzard family realizes that really from a legal stand point Erica is getting of fairly light. Not that I would want to spend 6 months in jail. But if they are will to do work release she really will not have it too bad.

The work release and home incarceration are where I have a problem with this sentence. I believe she should have gotten a year in Jail period, over with done. No work release, no community service, and no ankle bracelet. But the Judges word is final as they say.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

IMHO - Erica got offf easy on this one and no driving or boating restrictions even though she has demonstrated that she is irresponsible at both.

[Airwaves]

Secoindcurve wrote:

News Flash: If one doesn't drink and speed in total darkness in the middle of the night his/her chance of having a "momentary lapse" on the lake are greatly reduced.

News Flash II: The state was not able to prove she was drunk to the satisfaction of the jury, and 18 miles an hour is not speeding. It may be excessive for the conditions, but certainly not speeding especially when no SL existed!
Nice spin attempt.

It remains to be seen what happens next. I doubt that the Blizzard family will appeal since it appears to be a pretty fair sentence.

So the 800lb gorilla in the room is, will the prosecutor be happy with the sentence and let it ride, or will he seek a retial the remaining charges?

[VtSteve]

It's over. EOM

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by VtSteve

It's over. EOM

FINALLY!!!! Lets all learn from this and practice safe boating. Enjoy this season and stay vigilant on the water.

Have a great and safe season! Lets all pray for good weather!

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

Have a great and safe season! Lets all pray for good weather!

And tolerable gas prices! I've given up on reasonable.

[topwater]

Airwaves says, in a very eliquent way " It remains to be seen what happens next. I doubt that the Blizzard family will appeal since it appears to be a pretty fair sentence. "

Fair? Fair? Did you say FAIR? KILLING someone and only getting 6 months at the BELKNAP COUNTY JAIL. Thats not fair,thats absolutely incredible for her, Sure the hell is not FAIR in my books, and alot of others as well. And yes it did come down to MONEY, the best attorney MONEY could buy.. If we all at that much money, the jails would all be empty. As far a them appealing the decision, she'll be raking leaves and listening to her ipod in the sunshine. Why the hell would they appeal anything? Erica will be missing a whole year of boating, WOW, Can you imagne the withdrawals she will be having.
Its over, nothing else can be done, Must be nice to get away with taking of a human life. I hope she gets along nicely with Big Bertha for the next few months.

[Airwaves]

This was not a case of murder. It was an accident, plain and simple. The state prosecuted her for her actions and a jury found her guilty on one of several charges. The other charges are still hanging over her head.

Fair, yes fair. Her friend is dead because of her mistake. She has been left disfigured. Those are lifetime sentences.

The burden of proof is on the state, not on the defense. That is something that it appears some have forgotten or are ignoring.

Would you have defense attorneys paid with taxpayer dollars? That way no one would have the "advantage" of a high priced lawyer! Or here's a thought, let's do away with a defense altogether! Think of the speedy trial process then!!!

[topwater]

WOW, sounds like someone got up on the wrong side of the SL !

[sunset on the dock]

One of today's many articles on the sentencing mentions a previous shoplifting conviction against Erica. Oh brother...what a piece of work. It's always all about Erica.

[tony1122]

If her best friend kill her,i bet she would do more than 6 months,an get a dwi

[VtSteve]

There really are plenty of positive things that people can do. One of them is to stop dwelling on personal attacks of the defendant, and instead, think about how things like this happen. Since this accident occurred, some took sides depending on the political ramifications of the overall event. Not very helpful IMO.

But let's look at the record. Since the beginning, many of us (without personal vendettas), pointed out the obvious nature of this accident. The jury didn't fully buy into two reasons, but did another. I really don't care what the personal lifestyle or beliefs a defendant has, I try to concentrate on the issue at hand. I see you're not buying onto that direction Sunset.

Buying into ideologies and agendas rarely renders a positive outcome. People could learn from cases like this, and be made aware that some of their decisions can be fatal, and life-changing events. Many people do not believe that, and the point must be driven home.

Some of us have made a conscious effort to make boating safer for all. Some prefer to dwell on the past, when the only positive outcomes lie in the future. Be part of the solution, not part of the bottleneck.

[Eagle]

Isn't it amazing what money can buy in New Hampshire?

[Water Camper]

IMO The many hateful posts here are almost as heart wrenching as the terrible accident.

Sue

[gtagrip]

Originally Posted by Eagle

Isn't it amazing what money can buy in New Hampshire?

Geez, some people really need to get over the money thing. If you have it, you can buy the best lawyer available. What's wrong with that?
I'm sure you would do the same.

Or tell me you wouldn't , then I got a bridge to sell you too. Or, you are so perfect, that you would never be caught in any type of accidental situation. Flame me now for saying accident, but that's what it was.

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by gtagrip

Geez, some people really need to get over the money thing. If you have it, you can buy the best lawyer available. What's wrong with that?
I'm sure you would do the same.

Or tell me you wouldn't , then I got a bridge to sell you too. Or, you are so perfect, that you would never be caught in any type of accidental situation. Flame me now for saying accident, but that's what it was.

I wouldn't dream of flaming you for expressing your opinion, that is your right.

But let me also tell you that I have never seen the inside of a jail or prison.

[gtagrip]

Originally Posted by Eagle

I wouldn't dream of flaming you for expressing your opinion, that is your right.

But let me also tell you that I have never seen the inside of a jail or prison.

Eagle,
Fair enough. I have never seen the inside of a jail or prison either. I guess what I was trying to say earlier, is, unless one lives in a plastic bubble and never ventures outdoors you are safe to a degree. However, if you want to live life, accidents can happen to anyone at anytime and you may not even see it coming.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by gtagrip

Geez, some people really need to get over the money thing. If you have it, you can buy the best lawyer available. What's wrong with that?
I'm sure you would do the same.

And special interest groups with money can change/influence laws to their benefits, not the general public.

[gtagrip]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

And special interest groups with money can change/influence laws to their benefits, not the general public.

Again, some people do not want to answer the question, if you had the money, would you not hire the best lawyer you could to keep your a$$ out of jail if by chance you needed it. Or, would you rather go with the public defender and take your chances?

I for one at this time with the way the economy has been, could not hire a high priced lawyer to defend me if something were to happen. But, I am not jealous of somebody with the means can.

As far as special interests go, I think in this discussion, it is apples and oranges.

[Mink Islander]

Originally Posted by Airwaves

This was not a case of murder. It was an accident, plain and simple.

Actually, it was a Class B Felony -- a crime. That's the fundamental point.

Look, I think she got off light when the jury deadlocked on the BWI charges. If convicted on those charges, then she'd be in the klink for a lot more time. But she wasn't. And as we all learned from the OJ trial, our justice system isn't perfect -- but it's the best around. Do I wish she had a stiffer sentence? I don't know. I guess I have to have some trust that the judge (who sees a lot of cases) meted out punishment in a consistent way to how other first time offenders would have been treated given a similar fact set.

[Steveo]

She might have wished she got what the prosecutor had asked for - one year. With this lighter sentence I wonder if that might influence the prosecutor to retry the hung case

[ApS]

It aint over 'til it's over.

They have 30 days to appeal—and even then...it still ain't over!