[JayCT]

I think this is a complete waste of taxpayers money. With so many real criminals in this world there has to be a better way to spend the courts time than this. How will they ever find an impartial jury to hear the case. They won't. I know if I were called I would be completely against finding him guilty. The guy made a horrible mistake that he will have to live with the rest of his life. That is more than enough punishment. Jay.

[DaIceman]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I think this is a complete waste of taxpayers money. With so many real criminals in this world there has to be a better way to spend the courts time than this. How will they ever find an impartial jury to hear the case. They won't. I know if I were called I would be completely against finding him guilty. The guy made a horrible mistake that he will have to live with the rest of his life. That is more than enough punishment. Jay.

Exactly how I feel, too. The Washington Post had a really good article about this in 2009 that everyone should read to decide for yourselves about this.

"When it happens to young children, the facts are often the same: An otherwise loving and attentive parent one day gets busy, or distracted, or upset, or confused by a change in his or her daily routine, and just... forgets a child is in the car."

A parent's worst nightmare and the guilt would be crushing.

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by DaIceman

Exactly how I feel, too. The Washington Post had a really good article about this in 2009 that everyone should read to decide for yourselves about this.

"When it happens to young children, the facts are often the same: An otherwise loving and attentive parent one day gets busy, or distracted, or upset, or confused by a change in his or her daily routine, and just... forgets a child is in the car."

A parent's worst nightmare and the guilt would be crushing.

I read the article and still don't understand how one can be so busy or so distracted that they leave their child in the car. But I agree that this father has been punished enough with the loss of his child. I'm not sure what more the state could do to him.

Strangely enough, I think they should throw the book at people who leave their kids in the car but the kids are unhurt. If nothing more than to make an example out of them and prevent another tragedy.

[Mike 75]

Now I'm rethinking my initial position on punishment after reading this:
Ridgefield Father Drove With Son In Car, Unaware Child Was Dead Or Dying, Documents Say - Hartford Courant
He remembered to stop for coffee but not stop at the daycare? He was in his car multiple times during the day and did not notice his son was there? Something is just not right with this story.

[hvexpatinct]

Keep in mind that it is very likely that this child was in a rear facing car seat. I can't see my toddler in the rear view mirror when he is in his RF seat.

[dazzleman]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I think this is a complete waste of taxpayers money. With so many real criminals in this world there has to be a better way to spend the courts time than this. How will they ever find an impartial jury to hear the case. They won't. I know if I were called I would be completely against finding him guilty. The guy made a horrible mistake that he will have to live with the rest of his life. That is more than enough punishment. Jay.

I agree.

[parentologist]

This is a horrible decision, to arrest and prosecute this man. It was an accident! It's a miracle if his marriage survived the accident. It surely won't survive the stress of prosecution. I could understand the bringing of charges if there had been any signs that this had been intentional on his part, but there were not. This is not only a waste of taxpayer money - it's a horrible abusive miscarriage of justice, to arrest and prosecute this man. Shame on whoever approved this prosecution. Any parent knows that, there but for the grace of God, go I.