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Edward Hakim, the Dorval kid whose deadly driving destroyed Patricia Jolicoeur’s life, got 18 months in jail from Quebec Court Judge Michel Mercier. 18 months for sentencing Patricia to a life in the prison of her own brain. She can’t talk, she can’t move, she’s fed through a tube and her prognosis is bleak. Her family Lyse, Claude and Mathieu devote their lives to ensuring she’s as comfortable as possible in a chronic-care institution the Quebec Automobile Insurance Board doesn’t even want to pay for.
A life sentence for an entire family because Patricia was walking their dog on a quiet residential street on Nov. 29, 2006.
Hakim’s parents and lawyer have made much of their pain. I’m sure their lives have been disrupted. But not an infinitesmal fraction as much as the Jolicoeurs. Over the past 18 months, I have gotten to know this family. I have witnessed their struggle for justice on behalf of their daughter and all victims of deadly, stupid drivers. I have witnessed the lack of compassion and the dysfunctionality of the Town of St. Lazare in dealing with deadly drivers like young Hakim.
18 months for destroying a life? The kid will serve three. Eventually, he’ll get himself a pardon so he doesn’t even get a criminal record. Who will pardon Patricia Jolicoeur? Who will grant her parole?
The crown had asked for 30 months. That would not have sent much of a message, but at least it would have made the point that penitentiary time awaits stupid young drivers like Hakim.
The judge claimed there was no precedent to allow him to send Hakim to penitentiary. No precedent, no justice. My only question? How much would it cost to bribe a judge to impose a stiffer sentence? |
Comments
No amount of jail time would be enough to compensate the suffering of Patricia for Hakim's negligent recklessness.
The SAAQ continues the injustice by cutting funding for Patricia's care at the end of this year. Hakim hides behind the legislated no-fault SAAQ insurance and can't be sued for damages.
The SAAQ compensation scale is arbitrary and can't compensate for whether the accident was an accident or blatant stupid recklessness.
In a just world, the Jolicoeurs would be legally able to seek a legal judgement for damages against Hakim and his insurance company that ensured a lifetime of excellent care for Patricia.
Such legislation should allow judgements for damages to survive personal bankruptcy and inescapable by moving and to take a percentage of the lifetime earnings from Hakim. He took her entire life, so it would be fitting that judged negligient he should never live as well as he would have.
If "no-fault" insurance allowed suing for damages, auto insurance for young and old potentially reckless or damaging drivers would be more expensive for good reason.
Our just society ignores the victims because they are such a small minority that thay are insignificant to polls of voters. The silent majority sleeps well and assumes the victims and families are taken care of by "Insurance" when they continue to be victims long after the criminal is pardoned. Far from reality that we actually crap on the victims and their families.
Shame on all of us for allowing this. Write your MNA today and demand immediate changes to the SAAQ and CSST legislation to allow victims to seek damages where negligience is proven. I did.
Posted by: Peter Ratcliffe | April 24, 2008 4:24 PM