Teen Who Killed Four In Drunk-Driving Crash Gets Off Because Rich Kids Don't Understand Consequences

[jocelyncs]

(CNN) -- To the families of the victims, Ethan Couch was a killer on the road, a drunken teenage driver who caused a crash that left four people dead.

To the defense, the youth is himself a victim -- of "affluenza," according to one psychologist -- the product of wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits for the boy

Comments

[mollywobbles867]

This is sickening

[shipperx]

Yeesh.

This rather reminds me of the guy who (literally) grew up down the street from me who became a drug addict, who one night murdered both of his parents. His defense attorneys argued that because his parents had always accepted him back, had spent over a decade seeking various treatment programs for him, and had spent pretty much all of their money on paying for repeated rehab, that he'd never adequately learned the consequences of his actions (despite the stint he served in jail) and thus it was their fault that he murdered them...because he had never learned consequences.

... *speechless*

(always felt incredibly sorry for his adopted sister who testified at the trial that he'd made her an orphan for a second time in her life.)

[booksforlunch]

Can you please tell me that he didn't get off with that excuse?

My faith in humanity may depend on the answer ...

[shipperx]

He was convicted and hung himself a few months later in prison.

A relative posted his daughter's photo on facebook the other day. I had forgotten that he had a daughter. His girlfriend had left him prior to the murders (he was on his way to her house when he was caught, though. :shiver:) and his child was very small when it happened (which was ten years ago). The daughter is really gorgeous, like model gorgeous. It must've been incredibly difficult on growing up knowing all of this. Her grandparents had been very, very nice people.

[booksforlunch]

Good. (The conviction, not the hanging bit.)

[stonemesilly]

This should really teach him his lesson.

[meadowphoenix]

Well, I'm going to be crude and say I hope that civil suit is devastating to that kid's parents' bank accounts!

[nesmith]

I know if I were on the civil jury I'd set punitive damages at $1.00 less than whatever fortune they have.

[teacoat]

Unfortunately it looks like this happened in Texas, which has some of the strictest limits on punitive damages in the country.

[moonshaz]

Well, crap! Sounds like we can't even hope for justice there. >:-{

[ayashi]

A different article I read said 9 other people were injured. Not sure where that number is from but wtf

[beuk]

I think it also said that the pickup or hit car hit a parked car that slid into the path of another vehicle. That could explain the tally.

[moonshaz]

JFC. That's horrible.