Murdered for what?

[placidfemme]

I just recieved an e-mail from an ex (two of my ex's hooked up... ironic huh), and they are now living in the USA in Maryland, and Jess (the 1st ex) had a younger brother who, despite being a pain in the ass at the time was your average teenager.

Anyway Emily (2nd ex) e-mailed me today to let me know that Brandon (brother) was murdered June 2nd by his "friends" simply because he wouldn't let his "mate" use his phone to text his girlfriend. They kicked him out the car and ran him over at approx 70mph (don't know what that is in kph). Apparantly he died instantly.

None of the 5 other occupants in the car tried to stop what happened, none of them tried to stop the driver to check if Brandon was OK. None of them called the police or ambulance... they just drove off and left him laying on the road :mad: :mad: :angry2:

For 5 days Jess and her family had no idea who hit him, and why.

The cops turned up at some girls house (one of the occupants of the car) and she thought they were there because of the hit and run, and spilled her guts. :angry:

I'm just so... so... I don't even know what to say. I'm shocked and disgusted and saddened by this :bye:

how can a phone call justify killing someone in cold blood :(

*feels sick now*

[Beemer]

Sorry to hear that PF, no one deserves to die under these circumstances. Nor does a teacher preparing her classwork. Or even a drug dealer.

Sad do say, these kinds of crimes are becoming more and more common. Lack of respect for anyone is the basis of why it happens, but it doesn't excuse it.

[Lou Girardin]

Sociopaths. We're breeding more and more of them.
But who can be surprised when kids are taught that it's all about them from the time they're old enough to hear.

[crashe]

Placidfemme - Thats bad news to hear about your friends brother. RIP.




Well I guess ALL will go down for LIFE....
Prison time in the states is hard time... and they sure wont be bending over in the showers in the USA prisons... the boys who have been inside for years, dont care and just like new meat to play with. Cos these boys will be passed around inside.

After a few rounds of being 'used' they may just realise what they did was wrong... cos they wont be liking that for the next 60 years.

Life in the states is LIFE not like 10 years here.

[keza]

life is cheap people have no respect for life and the other livews that are effected by such an event eye for an eye do what they do in middle east let family give justice there would be no more need for jails

[placidfemme]

We've been talking about the whole kids... no respect and so forth for ages on KB... I was full of ideas on how to improve things, my opinions and the like... now... its so close to home. I feel resigned to it :(

I wanna hurt someone... kill those fuckers who hit brandon... for what they did to him, and what they've done to Emily and Jess and their families. I know how it hurts me to know whats happened, and what spark has been taken from us in the form of brandon, and they must be hurting a hundred fold...

and yet, when I get my anger bursts... its followed by a felling of powerlessness (if thats a word) and resignation..... grrrrrr

[MSTRS]

Always seems worse when it happens to someone you know. This sort of shit just shouldn't happen.

[Macktheknife]

Sorry to hear about that PF, hope you and they are able to come to terms with it; RIP Brandon.
That would have to be one of the dumbest reasons I have ever heard for killing someone, and all are as guilty as the driver in some ways.

[Fatjim]

Sorry to here that girl.

I guess they aren't likely to be PI's either. I'm gonna assume they're white and say whites can be arseholes as well.

[placidfemme]

Sorry to hear about that PF, hope you and they are able to come to terms with it; RIP Brandon.
That would have to be one of the dumbest reasons I have ever heard for killing someone, and all are as guilty as the driver in some ways.

From the e-mail they are only charging the driver.

Thanks for all the supportive comments.

[placidfemme]

Sorry to here that girl.

I guess they aren't likely to be PI's either. I'm gonna assume they're white and say whites can be arseholes as well.

PI's?

I don't know the race of the people in the car or the driver... but it doesn't really matter which race they are from. They bring down humanity as a whole

[Colapop]

Sorry to hear that T. Words about these things are easy to say when the people involved are not your own (or near enough to it). All I can say is that it's such a waste of young life.

[Zukin]

Yep my prayers are with the young mans family.

It makes you wonder sometimes, what is behind these peoples skulls?
Drugs, alcohol, mental illness or just boredom.

I cant help think about the teacher in Tokoroa, why was she murdered, when all she was trying to do was to help kids out!!!:bye:
I am picking for the $10 in her purse?
or the Answers to the next test?

Who knows?
Only the w@@ker that did it :tugger:

A bit like the thugs (if you can call them that, more like spineless scum) that knocked that 95 year old lady over for a loaf of bread and the change from her purse!!! :angry2:

[crashe]

A bit like the thugs (if you can call them that, more like spineless scum) that knocked that 95 year old lady over for a loaf of bread and the change from her purse!!! :angry2:

It was for a one litre bottle of milk NOT bread and for a few coins in her purse.

[kiwifruit]

placidfemme, i don't really know what to say
my deapest condolences

[MSTRS]

It was for a one litre bottle of milk NOT bread and for a few coins in her purse.
Conflicting reporting there. First we were told that it was a loaf of bread & $2 coin. Then it changed to a mixture of that OR a litre of milk and a $5.00 note
Whatever - it was despicable. An easy step for that type to what happened to Brandon.

[placidfemme]

Just did some searching and found this:


Man Arrested in Deadly Hit and Run
by Rich Turner
Published Jun 02, 2006
Authorities charged a man with leaving the scene of an accident that killed a Mt. Morris man.

Livingston County sheriff's deputies say someone spotted the body of Brandon *****, 20, in the road in the town of Springwater Thursday.

Investigators say ***** was struck and killed by a car.

Deputies charged Eric VanCuren, 22, of Dansville in the accident. He was arraigned on charges of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Police say other charges are possible.


:( bastards

And this:


Springwater hit and run
6/2/06

A Mount Morris man is dead and another is charged with leaving the scene of the car accident that killed him. Eric VanCuren, 22, of Dansville was arraigned on Friday. Livingston County Sheriff's Deputies say VanCuren and Brandon ***** argued at a party Thursday night in Springwater. The two later parted ways until police say VanCuren ran over ***** with his car on Strutt Street in Springwater - killing him. VanCuren is being held in Livingston County Jail on $5,000 bail. More charges are pending.

Seems more than just a phone call argument...

Picture of accused here:

http://www.wroctv.com/data/news_stories/23264_ericvancuren.jpg

Doesn't look like a nice guy anyway...

[RiderInBlack]

Feel for you and yours, PF. What a waste of life. So fu*ken sad. Why can't humans just learn ta get along just a bit better?

[Beemer]

Ugly inside AND out if you ask me.

What is the world coming to? I just couldn't imagine getting that worked up that I could kill someone - unless they had killed or hurt someone close to me. Hell, I remember stopping to pick up a cat that had been run over (not by me) in Blenheim many years ago and taking it to the vet in the vain hope it could be helped. Despite me being sure it was still alive during the short trip to the vet, they told me it had been dead a while. It wasn't even my cat, nor was I responsible for its death, but I cried all the way home on the ferry - and I was about 30!

I think an injection of empathy is required for all humans, then it might make them think twice before committing attrocities.

[Paul in NZ]

I dunno what to say - very sorry for your loss and you know what i think about this stuff... Madness....

[bladez]

not good news:angry: the way i see it and dont know if anyone else sees it is if you take someones life and it is without dout that the person done it he should get his life taken . just pisses me off the way the world is going :angry:

[Lou Girardin]

Is it the mug shots, or do all these low-lifes have a certain look?
Dead eyes, slack jaw etc.

[PuppetMaster]

The thread title says it all really, what for ?
This is where people arguing for an eye for eye have a good point.

[ManDownUnder]

Sorry to hear that PF, no one deserves to die under these circumstances. Nor does a teacher preparing her classwork. Or even a drug dealer.

Got it in one - awesome

PF... sorry to hear about it hun. It's a strange feeling knowing they're gone huh? Look after yourself and do what you can for the family.

I know you would anyway
MDU

[placidfemme]

Thanks all, I really appreciate it.

I called them last night and spoke with them, not an easy thing to do when you know it'll hurt them talking about it. Sounds like they are coping ok with the situation. They are mostly happy that the guy has been arrested and is waiting for his trial. I asked about the other people in the car and they didn't have much to say about it, they seem to think the other occupants were scared of the driver...

Thanks again everyone

[Motu]

Is it the mug shots, or do all these low-lifes have a certain look?
Dead eyes, slack jaw etc.

Hang on,I'll just race off and have a quick look in the mirror....



......y'know,I think you might be right there.....

[Lou Girardin]

Hang on,I'll just race off and have a quick look in the mirror....



......y'know,I think you might be right there.....

You're not a low-life Motu, just short.
Like me.

[Street Gerbil]

Sorry about your friend.
In our day and age when murder over "grievances" becomes "understandable", the value of human life diminishes per se.
The liberal culture of moral equivalence, teaching to attempt "understanding" of the crime and especially terrorism instead of condemning it unequivocally, brought forth the death of the young chap.

[placidfemme]

Well, The final court case was yesterday. The driver was given 3 years in jail for murder.

Jess was at the court with her mom for all the hearings, and the guys lawyer slammed down the chick who admitted it was over a cell phone call, they labelled her as a druggie/junkie with personal reasons to harm the accussed. Her original statement was struck too because she had no lawyer present or something.

So after everything... he got a pityful little sentance. Justice has not been served.


Driver sentenced for deadly hit and run

VanCuren to serve one to three years in state prison

By Mark Gillesple - Livingston County News -March 1, 2007

GENESEO - A Dansville man is going to state prison for his part in a fatal June 2 hit and run accident in Springwater.

Eric VanCuren, 23, was drunk when his car barreled into 20-year-old Brandon Dunning of Mount Morris. VanCuren and his six other passengers reported nothing to authorities.

Dunning's mother Pamela was given a chance to address the court. She told the story of a tattoo her son has gotten with her name on it. "I didn't know wether to yell at him or cry."

She then recalled the accident scene photos.

" I still see his broken body on a dark road with no shoes on his feet. He was knocked out of his shoes by the force of impact," said Dunning. "He was struck, dragged and left there to be found by two strangers."

Assistant District Attorney Eric Scheiner noted that his office had originally sought a much greater sentence. Scheiner condemned VanCuren's decision to run from his responsibility.

"He was unsuccessful at school, unsuccessful as a parent and unsuccessful at probation, twice," said Scheiner. "He is an utter failure as a human being."

Scheiner said the passengers who didn't report the accident were "horrible and despicable." However, because VanCuren was the driver, he was the only one present who could be charged with a crime.

VanCuren's attorney, Public Defender Marcea Clark, said VanCuren was "highly intoxicated" the night of the accident. She noted that it was a foggy night and that Dunning was wearing a dark outfit.

She said VanCuren had sought mental health and substance abuse counseling.

"He is taking responsibility for his actions by taking this plea," she said.

Clark asked the DA's office to release VanCuren's child's car seat and a diaper bag to his family.

"This won't be justice. It can't be." said Livingston County Judge Robert Wiggins, addressing Pamela Dunning directly. He then turned his attention to VanCuren.

"This sentence has to reflect that you are being charged with an accident," he said.

VanCuren's conviction for leaving the scene of an accident without reporting carries a one to three year sentence.


Statement from Pamela's sister after the court outcome:


Sometimes justice isn't as we wish it to be, but because the prior conviction was thrown out of court due to a minor glitch, VanCuren presented to the court in hand cuffs, the only thing he could be charged with was leaving the scene of a deadly hit and run. Our only justice is knowing Eric has to face this nightmare every night when he closes his eyes to sleep for the rest of his life. My heart weeps for Brandon's mother and his sibling's for they have lost a son, brother and friend. No hatred is held against Eric, he has stolen all the power and energy he's gonna get.

*still doesn't understand why this happened* :(

[Mr Merde]

......

and yet, when I get my anger bursts... its followed by a felling of powerlessness (if thats a word) and resignation..... grrrrrr

Its this feeling that gets bottled up until the average person just one day loses it and retaliates.

Unfortunately we are seeing too much of this nowadays as everything seems to bear down on thew average person.

Good on you for speaking about your feelings here. It feels good to let them out doesnt it.

I've done it a few times on other boards.

[Paul in NZ]

That you don't understand it places you several places up the evolutionary ladder than these sad gits. As a species we have yet to face up to our responsibilities to future generations in modelling better behaviour and we are far too tolerant of this kind of evil. (and it is EVIL)

Don't stress Tammy - you are a better person than these sub humans and you are living in a better place. They are scum, you are not - be thankful....

[sunhuntin]

:weep: pf...so sorry to read about this. and 3 years is pathetic. the pain will eventually fade, but brandons spirit will live on in those who remember and love him.

[Patrick]

Sorry to hear that PF, no one deserves to die under these circumstances. Nor does a teacher preparing her classwork. Or even a drug dealer.

2 out of three Beamer...

Sorry to hear about that waste of life PF... I take they don't have "accessory after the fact" over there for the passengers?

[MyGSXF]

What a sad story to read through :( My deepest condolances to you pf & to Brandons family & friends. I am utterly appalled at the lack of justice served in this case!! :angry: The world is fast becoming a seriously fucked up place to be!!! :weird:

[desmo dave]

bad things can happen when ex's get together. sad news and ibet you feel so helpless beeing so far away from your freinds.

[riffer]

It always pains me to hear stories like this.

You see, five years ago my ex's brother was killed in Ohakune in a random act of violence.

Scott was 21, and working as a junior ski instructor at Turoa. He was out on the town on a Saturday night and some idiots jumped him and tried to rob him. Unfortunately in the scuffle, Scott, who was pissed, lost his footing and fell backwards, and hit his head on the kerb. Unfortunately the brain swelling that occured caused too much damage and life support was turned off two days later.

People saw what happened, and there's a fair idea who did it. But charges have never been laid and the family mourns one who died unnecessarily.

My thoughts are with you Tam.

Simon

[placidfemme]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the support.