A Cedar Hills man, 80, has been charged with manslaughter and accused of hitting and killing a 9-year-old boy riding his bicycle in Pleasant Grove in April.
That’s why I said there should be a new, elevated charge available in these cases.
FWIW, there are circumstances where a charge is automatically elevated, even if not premeditated, so we know that laws can have flexibility.
For example:
While planning and deliberation is the key [for a 1st degree murder charge], there are circumstances where it is not necessary for a conviction. For example, a man was charged with first-degree murder in 2011 after a police officer was run over and killed by a stolen snowplow. While there was no proof that there was a plan to use the plow to kill someone, the death occurred while the police officer was performing his duties, thus leading to a first-degree charge. SOURCE
I’m not saying drivers who do hit-and-runs should get 1st degree murder, but they should get something more than that.
If this happened in Canada, the driver could get life in prison. But Florida looks at hit-and-run as a third-degree felony, which is equal to something like forgery or theft over $750. 🫤
That’s why I said there should be a new, elevated charge available in these cases.
FWIW, there are circumstances where a charge is automatically elevated, even if not premeditated, so we know that laws can have flexibility.
For example:
I’m not saying drivers who do hit-and-runs should get 1st degree murder, but they should get something more than that.
If this happened in Canada, the driver could get life in prison. But Florida looks at hit-and-run as a third-degree felony, which is equal to something like forgery or theft over $750. 🫤