Posted by TU08 (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a tragedy for this family

Posted by outforjustice (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes it is a tragedy when a mother loses a child, but in this case she technically has lost two. God bless this family.

Posted by outforjustice (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What is so sad, I understand that the brother which has been charged, initially placed the deceased brother near the vehicle , then told the investigators that his deceased brother was driving, but after a while he confessed. So,so sad!

Posted by blissfullygreen (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How horribly tragic! What I would like to know is if the defendant is a citizen of the US?

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I cannot imagine killing anyone in any way......but to be driving drunk and kill your own brother is something that will eat at this man for the rest of his life.

Family members will look at him and remember all of THEIR lives.

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Strange too that more times than none....the drunk driver that causes accidents and the death of others is able to walk away.

Posted by turtle (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bamabunny, I've often heard it is because the non-drinking person or the passengers see and realize what is happening and get so tensed up and actually brace for what they think is coming whereas the drunk/er person has no real clue, doesn't tense up, and for some reason that keeps them from being injured as bad. Maybe that made sense. While I agree drunk driving should be punished, how do you charge someone with murder when the person killed is willingly in a vehicle with someone they know is drinking? I can see if it were another vehicle and a person was killed but this man was willingly in the vehicle with his brother who was supposedly drinking so how can it be murder? Also doesn't murder imply premeditation? I don't know any of these people involved, just questions running through my mind. Also is 50,000 just the going rate in Pike County for bonds? It seems regardless of the crime 50 grand is the bond.

Posted by Blue_Sky (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A tragic circumstance.

Posted by YEM (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

blissfullygreen: Why would the defendant not be a US citizen? It says he's from Brundidge. Or are you being racist and saying that he's not a citizen because of his name? Please clarify.

Posted by YEM (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

turtle: I agree with the thought of this not being murder, because of the premeditation factor. It will probably be reduced to some form of manslaughter.

I think ANYONE should be charged with drinking and driving if they are above the .08 limit. There was a situation of some Pike Lib girl (last name Lockley, I think) that was drunk in a wreck with her sister and killed her, but she wasn't charged. Seems weird to charge this guy with murder when the same thing happened to some little white girls and they were let go with absolutely NO charges.

Posted by Peacefull7 (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I pray for this family...this is a terrible situation.

Posted by Linden (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YEM, they were children. And "some little white girls" sounds kind of racist to me. Oh, yeah, you're a black man, so I guess it's ok for you to make racist comments. I forgot the rules for a second, sorry! If you are black, hispanic, whatever, that gives you the right to make comments about white people. I forgot that us white people are supposed to keep our mouths shut and let you whine and complain. We have no rights to freedom of speech.

Posted by TroyGurl2006 (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YEM: Before you type about the "little white girls" you may want to get all of your facts straight. Amber nor Alicia were under the influence of alcohol yes speed was a factor but their accident was nothing like this one. For a while the family didn't even know if Alicia was going to survive. Like I said though ALCOHOL WASN'T INVOLVED.

However in the April 2004 deaths of the two CHHS freshmen alcohol was a factor and the driver was charged with vehicular manslaughter so yeah just because it happens to white people they DO get charged.

Posted by pcs (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tragedy is not prejudiced....it can strike any family. Actually, it seems that it depends on how much pressure is put on the District Attorney's office by the victim's family as to whether or not any time is served. We lost my sister-in-law several years back when the car in which she was riding slid off the road and hit a tree. The driver was over the legal limit but our family did not pressure for any action against the driver and no time was ever served. My son was involved in an accident a couple of years ago when he was blinded by the fog in a curve; and when he tried to correct, it put his truck into a spin and the passenger side hit a tree killing his two passengers. My son was over the legal limit and even though that was not what caused the accident, the victim's families put a lot of pressure on the District Attorney's office and he is having to serve time.

Posted by TroyAlumna (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YEM: Actually, I heard on the radio news that he was an illegal immigrant. So, that pretty much clears that question up.

Posted by muledeer (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If this is referring to the accident in 2004 on Needmore Road, PCS is very disrespectful to make the comments giving excuses of her son's accident. The incident was in no way caused by a fog. Ask the boy riding with him that is still alive. A total reckless act and no other excuse. Make comments on these boards but don't use them for excuses. If your comments are not about the Belcher/Jacobs fatalities, I retract my comments. Otherwise, I know too much about the accident to take that excuse and not comment.

Posted by pcs (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Muledeer - this is not about that wreck and I am not making excuses nor being disrespectful.....

Posted by bamaslick (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I forgot the rules for a second, sorry! If you are black, hispanic, whatever, that gives you the right to make comments about white people. I forgot that us white people are supposed to keep our mouths shut and let you whine and complain. We have no rights to freedom of speech"

Is that what other races do? Whine & complain? Dare I say that most of the people who comment on the articles here are white. If this is true? I have seen the whiniest form of opinionated complaints (I mean comments) from this panel of commentors. What YEM said was negative and racist but the rebuttal to his claims were validated with a sterotypical stamp of approval. Ignorance begets ignorance.

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

turtle

Yes I have heard that too...passenger tenses up where as the driver is relaxed.

I would think that there could be extenuating circumstances deeming this a homicide/murder. You're right about a "murder charge" being premeditated. I would have thought that they would charge "vehicular manslaughter".

The bond being $50,000 may be because he could be a flight risk....or afraid he would get into a car and become a danger to society.

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Turtle

TroyAlumna said that the man was an illegal and that right there could justify the $50,000 bond thinking of perhaps he could indeed be a flight risk.

Posted by YEM (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am white.

Posted by deerhunter05 (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YEM I was just reading some of the stuff on here an yours caught my eye, The lockley kids that you are talking about is my kin floks, so you need to get your facts right before you say anything about them being drunk.Yes speed was a factor in the wreck , As for the person that got killed in the wreck Sunday may be he should try going back to where he was born or just leave the state, I went to a wreck below Brundidge Sat. nite where their was two cars in it, one driven by a man from Troy an the other was from a Mexican an he got out of his car an ran, does that make that right or what. Since the police could not put him in the car he got off yes he lost his car in the deal. I don't feel bad about the illegals getting killed on your highways, because they don't care about us. they need to go back to their homes where ever that maybe.

Posted by Blue_Sky (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We need to close the border and put up a secure razor ribbon fence with patrol dogs and military personnel to make sure that illegals do not cross.

Posted by deerhunter05 (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with you Blue_Sky we do need to do that with a shoot to kill law for the military so we want be put in jail. I will be the first to raise my hand. I been in the military for 26 yrs. so far an want to stay there for 15 more yrs .

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

41 years is a long time deerhunter. And great retirement pay.

Posted by beingrealistic (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Since when does "murder" HAVE to be premeditated, dont quit your day jobs!!

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

beingrealistic

I have a feeling the murder charge will change. Vehicular homicide...or maybe vehicular manslaughter.

Posted by turtle (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

beingrealistic: I wasn't sure what the qualifications were to charge one with murder that was why I asked if premeditation was a factor, I would have thought like bamabunny vehicular homicide or manslaughter

To the other comments about the man's race, status, etc all I can say is I thought I was a cold person. I guess I missed civics class the day it was taught that just because one wasn't born and raised in this country that his/her life was somehow less important, or that just because someone was Mexican they run at the scene of accidents. I know quite a few white and black people that do that as well and am even related to some that have done so. The point remains a young man lost his life, I don't care if he was green and just landed here from Mars. To say something as cruel as not caring about illegals getting killed on the highways is a cruel thing.

Posted by beingrealistic (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Of course they go with murder, this way he can plea out to a lesser charge; thats how the system works the guilty get lighter sentences and prosecuters dont have to try to win cases, its a win, win right?

Posted by YEM (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You all are a bunch of racists.

Posted by Virtuous (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The point remains a young man lost his life, I don't care if he was green and just landed here from Mars. To say something as cruel as not caring about illegals getting killed on the highways is a cruel thing."

I agree with you, turtle...

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with turtle and beingrealistic.

A living breathing human being had his life cut short because of the carelessness of his own brother. I cannot imagine what his family is feeling right now. The outcome of this horrid incident will continue for years to come for the family involved...and they will be re living it daily for a very long time.

I am in no way condoning the fact that a man was driving drunk which resulted in his own brother's death. But if this happened to a well known family...all the excuses in the world would be posted in support for the person driving...the person that lost his life and their family members.

Posted by pepper1999 (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You know I am ashamed to say that I actually wasted my time on reading this BS that most of you put up here. Let me get this straight here and correct if I am wrong please. If they are not born in the US their life is not worth anything? It truly amazes me on what people post under made up names. Wonder who all would have made those posts if they had to reveal their real names?
From one HUMAN BEING to this family, I actually have a heart and don't give a rat's behind what race they are, I pray for this family because of the horrible thing that happened. Not only did this family loose one child but the possibility of two.
Oh and Bamabunny I totally agree with you. If this were some rich well known family everyone would be siding with them and posting all the excuses how they were put in jail for no reason at all.
I can say from working many accidents, on an actual ambulance, that I have seen many many cases where the drunk driver walked away. Yes I get mad but I get more upset because of the life that was needlessly lost because of someone's impaired ability to think. I can say that it is not a pretty incident to arrive at, to see the drunk standing beside the cop car and you having to pronounce an innocent person dead. But that doesn't mean that when I do go to those accident scenes that I don't treat every person the same regardless of race. Most of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Like I said it's really easy to post some stupid racist comments on here under a made up name. Step up and be a man and say exactly who you are!!

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Personally speaking...no...I do not like paying for social programs that support illegal's in this country. The key word here is "illegal" which means plainly and simply "unlawful" and "against the law".

I lived in California for 16 years and paid through the nose and now our taxes just keep getting higher and higher and now people are finally understanding what "spreading the wealth" means...and we are...and we will as tax payers...be providing that "wealth" that is being spread through higher taxes to provide even more social programs. So dream on if anyone thinks a large check is coming from the government.

California is probably the most liberal state in the country and look where they are now.....bankrupt. You cannot imagine the taxes out there unless you actually lived there. I see this entire country following right behind California.

Everyone should have the opportunity to be here in the US....but "legally".

BUT that does not mean I do not have a heart either. The family involved here has suffered a great loss.....one death and one accused of killing his own brother. I cannot imagine the pain the family is feeling...and nothing will change what happened....and nothing can make that go away.

Speaking from my own heart...and having suffered the loss of a spouse.....I can tell you this.....you never get over something like this.....you just learn to live with it day by day.

Most that post on here are Christians. Being a Christian means 24 hours a day and 7 days a week not just on Sunday when the opportunity arises for us to look good attending services or when it seems convenient..but ALL the time.

The court will deal with what happened legally....and we as human beings need to understand this great loss and as Christians pray for this family.

Posted by bamaslick (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This conservative/liberal mumbo jumbo kills me. I think politicians use this rhetoric to confuse and seperate us. I use bamabunny's comment as an example (not meaning any disrespect b/c she is entitled to her opinion).

She said that she hated paying for social reforms for illegals who are going to always be apart of our society whether we like it not. Taxes were raised and millions were probably spent. So I am guessing that means that she leans more toward conservative or Republican.

Seemingly then, Democrats do most of the spending. Well the Iraq war which cost millions a month, was upheld by a Republican or conservative party, who believes in less spending. A war to bring Democracy to a place that has survived millennia without it; To try and stabilize a region that always been sort of volatile. We could stay there a 100 years and would not help at all.

So the big question is, what as americans we feel is validated spending?!

We hate having to deal with immigration but we promote ourselves as this great and prosperous land where someone can go from nothing to something but only if you can pass a test which consists of singing a verse of the star spangled banner.

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bamaslick....

I would like to answer your question.....
"So the big question is, what as americans we feel is validated spending?!

Validated spending to me should be spent on citizens in this country....natural born or legalized...the poor....the sick.....and very much so the Vets. We help other nations more than we even help our own people. Too many people for many many years have been trying to come here legally. There is a Green Card Lottery. An application is submitted and the name goes on a lottery list. A certain number of names are drawn. Those chosen get a chance to talk with immigration about why they want to be a citizen and what contribution can they offer the US. There are classes that they must attend to become a citizen.....and there is more to it than singing a verse of the Star Spangled Banner.

Many thousands of immigrants that came through Ellis Island many years ago contributed to the American society...and through work efforts started their own businesses....became citizens and put money back into our economy. In other words they made their own way..AND they learned English.

What we are experiencing now...and have been experiencing is the influx of thousands of illegal immigrants and a government saying "it's ok...we'll pay you for housing...food....and medical." Who pays for it? The American people do through taxes. In California....the illegals actually "protest" because they feel they deserve to have what Americans have worked for and feel they have Constitutional rights. The "Citizens" of this country have those rights.

I just think that we as Americans need to just say "enough is enough". Welcome to those that worked hard to get here and say "no" to those sneaking into the country.

My opinion .

Posted by YEM (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The article doesn't say he's Mexican or illegal.

Posted by Observer22 (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The DUI-Murder rule is based on the idea that a person who intentionally drinks to excess is responsible for the consequences of his intoxication. It is a variation on the concept of universal malice in which an intentional act results in the death of a non-targeted victim - such as shooting into a crowd.

If a person drinks and drives and is involved in an accident which results in a death the murder charge may be made. It would be more appropriate to limit the DUI-homicide doctrine to victims who were not a party to the intoxication. If a drunken driver kills a pedestrian or an occupant of another vehicle that would fit. But, when the victim is a passenger in the same vehicle, knew the driver was intoxicated, may have been drinking with the driver, the idea of making it murder is a bit extreme.

Posted by bamaslick (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Okay, I know that it is more to it than singing the Star Spangled Banner. Sorry, that was me getting a little carried away. I admit that we have a problem with "illegals", but what do you do with a number of displaced people. They are going to be here regardless. It would be a bigger problem by letting not taking care of the ones that are here. Who says they cannot be beneficial to our country? What we could do is deport everyone here illegally. But what of America's "image"? If we take a look at the number of people who need social and economic help and percentage that with the amount of money we are taxed to help run these programs (and find out how many people on the program are illegal), we would be surprised at how little it really is...The government will act like it is some up surd number, just to have us all upset with each other. Divide and Conquer!

Posted by deerhunter05 (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have to agree with bamabunny on the money spent on immigrants , We need to look at better treatments for our VETs that put our life on the line every time we put the uniform on or begin sent over to IRAQ, just so some of you on here can post your comments on here, We pay taxes every time we get a pay check, the immigrants from what I was told does not have to pay taxes for 5 years do you think that is right if they don't have to pay why should we. Yall on here take care an MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Posted by bamaslick (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What does a soldier in Iraq got to do with the freedom for me to post on this site? My bad, all the middle eastern countries that has been warring with each other for years are going to come together and take over America. If they did come together, their military would not be strong enough to stop Alabama's National Guard.

The reason vets (like myself) have to fend for his or her life like anyone else is because of the short time most enlist for and the amount of turnaround of cost for that many people to take care of would be impossible. If everyone who ever enlisted in the military woke up and found out they would a lot less worries in the world, the military ranks would get flooded and then there would be tremendous repercussions from that.

Lets get a tax break on the amount of money that is actually spent on social reform.

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bamaslick....

I am afraid the number of illegal's here really IS absurd. It is estimated now that there are about 20 million and this includes many nationalities. I have no problem at all with immigrants. I do have a problem with illegal immigrants that have come to the US to take advantage of our social programs and believe me they do.

From TroyAlumna to YEM
YEM: Actually, I heard on the radio news that he was an illegal immigrant. So, that pretty much clears that question up.

To YEM...I never said anything about "Mexicans".

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Exactly what you said Bamaslick.....

"Lets get a tax break on the amount of money that is actually spent on social reform."

LA county alone spent $36 BILLION for social programs for illegals.

Posted by deerhunter05 (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bamaslick, I am also in the ALABMA NATIONAL GUARD have been for 26 years an been deployed 3 times so far. So I know that the US does not take care of the VETs like they said they would, You go get check ups form the GULF WAR and they say that you are fine ,you know something is wrong with you but they say that you are ok. Don't know if you been deployed or not but I do respect you for begin in the Guard,or the Military. But to the post in here some are great so is so so. I put oin here the other day about the Mexican ran from the wreck Sat.nite alot of people run when they do something wrong Black and white if they run the police will hunt them down an put them in jail, the mexican that ran the other nite they found him but they said they could not put him in the car, if it is right for the blacks and whites to be put in jail ,why not the Mexicans.?

Posted by bamaslick (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 9:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have been deployed...Two gulf cruises, one post 9-11. I get everyone's point of view. I wish we had an answer to the problems of the US. I do enjoy hearing the views of people here. Have a blessed night!

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is that what they call it now? "Gulf Cruises"? Things sure have changed <s>

Posted by YEM (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What radio station, bamabunny?

Posted by bamaslick (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A cruise is a 6 month deployment by the Navy!

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Y E M

Read it again and what was quoted to you by TroyAlumna...and copied and pasted by me here again for you.

Quote;

"Posted by TroyAlumna (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 1:50 p.m.

YEM: Actually, I heard on the radio news that he was an illegal immigrant. So, that pretty much clears that question up."

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Bamaslick.....I am used to Army slang <s>

Posted by deerhunter05 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am used to Army saying also , I was in the gulf war from NOV 00-Jun01, and done spent time in TAJI IRAQ from a year. So I know what people say about the VA in cases In Macon Co. at the VA they treat the vets wrong but if you go to the VA in Montgomery they treat you better an they will tell you if it was not for us they would not have a job.
Thanks for your service Bamaslick.

Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen deerhunter.

Our Vets deserve not just benefits but much respect and many "thank you's" as well.

Thank you all for of you that have served....past and present.