Justice!

[CarlS]

Justice at last; but there are no winners in this case.

[FONT=&quot]Killer of Four Motorcyclists Going to Prison… For Life and Then Some

[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]Sumter County, FL, July 7, 2011 – On March 13, 2010 Paul Sermons got drunk, got into his truck, and decided to drive down County Road 476 in Sumter County, FL. The traffic in front of him going slower than Sermons wanted, he began passing other vehicles. The two motorcycles coming in the other direction had no chance. Sermons hit both bikes ejecting all four riders; with one rider being launched into the windshield of the truck Sermons was passing. All the motorcyclists were killed.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]On June 10, 2011, Sermons was found guilty of four counts of DUI Manslaughter and one count of driving on a suspended driver’s license. A few weeks later on July 6, 2011, the Honorable Judge Hallman had Sermons in his courtroom for the last time. By the time this final hearing was over, it was decided; Paul Sermons would never again walk as a free man. Not only did Judge Hallman sentence Sermons to life in prison, he sentenced Sermons to one life sentence for each of the four people he killed as well as pulling his driver’s license for life and many fines and fees.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]ABATE of Florida members from many chapters were at every hearing throughout this case. Our members were there to offer support to the victims’ families from the beginning to the end of the hearings and trial. The Court recognized our presence from our members being in the courtroom to asking potential jurors if they were ABATE members. Although justice was finally served in this case, all must understand that in the end, there were no winners.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] ----[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]ABATE of Florida, Inc. is Florida’s largest Motorcyclists’ Rights Organization, and one of the top four largest nationwide. ABATE of Florida members come from all walks of life and include many elected officials. Our missions are to educate the public about motorcycle awareness and continuing to fight in Tallahassee for the rights of every motorcyclist and the public in general. To aid in these ends, we have an exclusive lobbyist and have founded the Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program, both with the intentions to help make the roads safer for everyone. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Past ABATE of Florida, Inc. Press Releases may be found here: www.abateflorida.com/pr .[/FONT]

 

[DaveM]

Sad but you are right no winners here at all

 

[CarlS]

At least he will not be a repeat offender; his four life sentences are consecutive which means no parole. He is 45 years old.

 

[Rocky]

The SOB is still alive while his victims are dead, but he still has half his life to live in a cage like the animal he is.
I don't know if that's punishment enough or not.
If the victims were my relatives I would probably say no.

 

[CarlS]

For me, it would be far worse than death for me to have to spend the rest of my life in a cage. That said, I think he should have been executed; but the law does not permit that. The judge gave him the very maximum sentence he could under law.

 

[otherwise]

Will hundreds of thousands of legal aid money now be spent on appeals, if not this week over the next few years?
In our society I'm sure that in about 5 years a movement to get him out would start. You know, he's found the lord and is a new man.:y14:

 

[CarlS]

The State of Florida will pay for one appeal if he is indigent - which he no doubt is. Whether he makes an appeal and if he finds an attorney who thinks there are grounds for an appeal is his choice. In this state, there is usually not much sympathy for DUI's and attorney's cannot make a name for themselves with this kind of case. I don't expect to hear much noise made about this one unless there is a grievous trial error.

 

[Gromit]

Incredible to me that he got 4 consecutive life sentences for each rider he killed! I think that's absolutely excellent! Here in SA, he'd probably get a fine and a suspended sentence or the very minimum sentence.

We currently have 2 'rapper stars' in court for a) drunk driving, b) cocaine in blood, c) drag-racing on a public road at mid-afternoon DOWN A ROAD OUTSIDE A SCHOOL WHERE CHILDREN WERE JUST COMING OUT, LOSING CONTROL OF THE CARS, PLOUGHING INTO THE CHILDREN AND KILLING 4 CHILDREN. I can guarantee that under no circumstances will either of these two (&#$#^#'s get even 1 life sentence!!!:y14:

 

[DaveM]

They may get a bit of a fine I suppose :y8:

 

[Gromit]

They may get a bit of a fine I suppose :y8:

Yeah but you know how permanent our mob-justice is! If these 2 get out anytime soon, they won't be safe and probably will have a very limited life-span.

 

[DaveM]

And they wonder why we have this mob-justice the way it is now

 

[CarlS]

Yeah but you know how permanent our mob-justice is! If these 2 get out anytime soon, they won't be safe and probably will have a very limited life-span.

With the lack of a real justice system, such is inevitable and not always a bad thing.

 

[DaveM]

As a matter of interest if anyone wants to read more about this case here it is

Read more on: jub jub case

 

[CarlS]

Thanks for the link.

 

[hemibee]

Thanks for the link Dave.

I hate to admit it but in Texas DUI is almost Rite of passage. It is very rare for anyone to get more than a slap on the wrist for anything less than a fourth or tenth conviction. Heck most of our politicians can't be elected unless they've got a DUI or two on their records.


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