I have to take issue with some of the statements made on this subject.

First, the defendant's defence was not "its all in the game." His defense
was it was in self defense. That the player who died from the incident
actually had the defendant in a headlock first. And, not that it diminishes the
act, but is has been reported that the deceased suffered a head injury
(concussion) a week before the incident happened.

The statements by witnesses were taken into account by the judge. Of course
this was a tragedy and most likely an over-aggressive move on a sporting
field. But It's hard to believe just because the defendant bragged he put a
certain move on the deceased does not mean he intended to kill him. It can
be viewed as an accident...one with repercussions.

As far as the team that you mention as saying the situation has been "blown
out of proportion," that has never been stated and is certainly not their
belief.

The defendant apologized to the family and also stated that the incident
was the worst day of his life. Even the family of the deceased did not blame
him for deliberately trying to hurt their son. It doesn't bring the
deceased back, but there is remorse.

The defendant still has to live with what happened for the rest of his
life. I don't think it's "disgusting" that he gets to go on with his life.
Should he serve 3 years or the rest of his life in prison for something no one
would ever be able to prove was done with malice or intention?

I'm not trying to defend the unfortunate circumstances that the defendant
brought upon himself. But I am defending the team that you seemingly are
trying to paint a bad light upon for sure, as well as correctly depict both
sides of the story.

Also, the NHL is not bigger than the court of law. I don't think the fact
the player was drafted by an NHL team led to him receiving a lighter
sentence.

I do want to be careful to come off on any side of the incident because I
certainly would not want to be in the shoes of the defendant (the burden of
living with the incident for the rest of his life), related to someone who
had this happen to them (because just like any other human I would want
equal justice to be served), or the judge who would have to decide someone's
fate in a situation like this.

Tom


In a message dated 7/7/2009 4:08:29 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
Leslee47@... writes:


Interesting that this is coming up just after the sentencing of a certain
Mississauga rugby player/OHLer/Mississauga rugby player/OHLer/<WBR>NHL
draftee, w
a rugby game two years ago. His defence was its all in the game. Judge
said no way, which was correct, given that the kid bragged about
piledriving
the victim before he knew that the other kid was dieing. There was hope
that
a statement would be made when the judge convicted him of manslaughter,
but then the judge gave the kid probation--unbelievbut then the judge gave
conviction. Needless to say, everyone here in Mississauga is furious. Had
the
kid not been a hockey player just drafted by an NLH team 10 days ago, he
most likely would have spent some time in jail. Instead he gets a year
probation, community service, and anger management thereapy. Plus he can
have a
hockey career, while the other kid is dead and his family distraught and
not sleeping. It's disgusting. The comments to this story in the Globe and
Mail were so vile, the paper had to remove them all. Now the hockey team
that drafted the kid is saying that this whole thing has been blown out of
proportion and it was all just an unfortunate accident.

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