Brand New fans (or legal buffs): Limousine guy files appeal

[Gunner Recall]

Any Brand New fan knows the story behind their song Limousine
If not, check out the song...it's actually pretty awesome (check out the lyrics while you're at it).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dREtTJYLCCY[/youtube]
(youtube not working for me, link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dREtTJYLCCY)

tl;dr some drunk driver went wrong way on a highway and collided head-on with a limo, seriously injuring the wedding party, killing the driver and decapitating the flower girl.
Well now the guy is appealing his conviction on the grounds that he was too intoxicated to act with depraved indifference (necessary for a murder charge)

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/court-hears-martin-heidgen-request-for-appeal-1.2632837

A lot of people saw this coming, and you can't help but get kinda angry about it.
Emotions aside, he does have some merit to his case. It's an interesting legal debate. What say you ILF?

[dubkitty]

i can't really say without specific knowledge of New York law. the obvious counter-argument is that driving when drunk to that extent, after being warned by his friends not to do, was ipso facto "depraved indifference." on a personal, moral level i have no problem making that assessment. it's not clear, however, that the law does likewise. boy, do i have to fight my personal bias to try and assess this situation fairly.

[snipelfritz]

I thought, "Brand new fans of what?" Then I got it. I entered this thread as a bit of a legal buff.

Involuntary, constructive manslaughter, mayhaps? No intent to kill, but intent to commit a different illegal act(drunk driving, traffic violations) resulting in death.

[Gunner Recall]

Misleading thread titles are my forte.

[Bellyheart]

I got it...notice how B and N are capitalized.


Never knew drunk driving could be a defense.

[Teej212]

as far as im concerned this guy should be put to death. driving drunk is a horrible thing to do.

and the lyrics in that song are great.

[FuzzHugger]

Hey, it's not my fault. I was drunk.

For a long time, that was the only song I really liked on that album. Powerful, even before I found out it was about that accident.

Anyway, I realize people make mistakes. And ONE drunk driving mistake can put you in jail for a long-ass time. But really, fuck that guy.

[futuresailors]

Getting that drunk and driving is depraved indifference:

"I'M WASTED AND I DON'T GIVE A FUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK!"

[tuffteef]

whenever i listen to brand new
i always say JESSEY YOUR SO DEEP MAKE LOVE TO ME!

[FuzzHugger]

[Jero]

3 of my friends were hit by a drunk driver while at the entrance/exit of one of their apartments. One is no longer with us and the other two were in the hospital for a bit. Drunk driving is lame.

[theactionindex]

Martin "I sort of resemble Dave Grohl...sort of" Heidgen is a douche. Brand New is awesome.

[Gunner Recall]

Martin "I sort of resemble Dave Grohl...sort of" Heidgen is a douche. Brand New is awesome.

QFT