# Moron kills woman. Mother thinks sentence too harsh **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 24, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455 "2006-01-24T22:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/101 "2006-01-26T05:06:55Z")
How about the Frank of Zapping? ---
**Author:** ![Hirundo82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/919ad9/32.png) [@Hirundo82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirundo82)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/102 "2006-01-26T05:35:28Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > Good. For the rest of his life, I hope. I was on a rescue squad in Virginia for almost 6 years. According to Virginia state law, a non-sexual felony disqualifies you from any EMS certification for 5 years. So this genius could become an EMT again 5 years after he completes hus sentence. Honestly, I am not terribly surprised by this level of stupidity–I saw behavior approaching this level of cluelessness, albeit not this level of danger, among a number of the EMS providers with whom I interacted. I also kicked people off my ambulance for far less. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/103 "2006-01-26T12:47:09Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Another update on this subject: According to my SO, newer defib devices actually will not work at all unless they first can detect no heartbeat currently in the patient. That sounds like a good idea. I can see an overly enthusiastic EMT using a device on a patient who is down but not out, so to speak. That’s an AED, and automated external defibrillator. You hook up the pads to the patient and it reads the heartbeat and the machine tells you whether or not to push the 'Shock" button. If the person has a regular heartbeat, it will say, “No shock advised.” Somewhat idiot-proof, but not perfect. I’m assuming this guy was using a regular defib machine that he was able to completely control. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/104 "2006-03-15T18:33:36Z")
Update– > [@](#): > > Joshua Phillip Martin, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in January. At his sentencing Tuesday, he cried and apologized to Courtney Hilton Rhoton’s family. > [@](#): > > Russell County Circuit Judge Mike Moore sentenced Martin to five years in prison, but he suspended four years of the sentence, leaving Martin with just under a year still to serve. Martin had no previous criminal record. [http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/15/defibrillator.death.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/15/defibrillator.death.ap/index.html) Little dickhead needed a life sentance. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/105 "2006-03-15T18:45:00Z")
Oy vey. Thanks for the update, **Bosda**. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/106 "2006-03-15T18:59:25Z")
Why didn’t he just zap her a second time and use it properly? What does not having a criminal record have to do with stupidity causing death? ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/107 "2006-03-15T19:24:04Z")
> [@Greenback](#): > > Why didn’t he just zap her a second time and use it properly? > > What does not having a criminal record have to do with stupidity causing death? It goes to the character of the accused and the notion that the act was not deliberate by way of showing that he has no history of such. Stupid he may be, but criminal he is not. (so sayeth Yoda) Or wasn’t until this anyway. Sometimes however I think that there _should_ be a “criminal stupidity” charge, punishable by hour-long daily bitch-slaps upside the head accompanied by the word “dumbass” uttered at each smack. It just seems so _satsifying_. _thwack_ Dumbass. _thwack_ Dumbass. _thwack_ Dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/108 "2006-03-15T19:25:46Z")
Why only an hour? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/109 "2006-03-15T19:34:13Z")
Because if we allowed this as a criminal justice option the demand for thwackees would outstrip any possible supply of thwackers. Even with volunteer thwackers being recruited. (And, boy oh boy, I’d love to volunteer for that…) ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/110 "2006-03-15T19:40:44Z")
\ :o Umm… could some nice, friendly, generous, **merciful** Mod please delete that last parenthetical statement from the above post? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/111 "2006-03-15T19:46:38Z")
> [@Greenback](#): > > Why only an hour? Simple. The slappers hand is gonna get tired after a while. You could hire more slappers, but there just isn’t enough money in the budget. Not to mention the sheer volume of people that need slapping. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/112 "2006-03-15T20:03:36Z")
The thwackees could thwack **each other** , maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/113 "2006-03-15T20:08:46Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > \ :o > > Umm… could some nice, friendly, generous, **merciful** Mod please delete that last parenthetical statement from the above post? > > Please? I was about to edit your post, but then I took a look at the bolded word, and realized you weren’t talking to ME. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/114 "2006-03-15T20:11:32Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > The thwackees could thwack **each other** , maybe? Quis thwackodiet ipsos thwackodes? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/115 "2006-03-15T20:30:18Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Quis thwackodiet ipsos thwackodes? Res ipsa thwackitur. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/116 "2006-03-15T21:07:22Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > …Sometimes however I think that there _should_ be a “criminal stupidity” charge, punishable by hour-long daily bitch-slaps upside the head accompanied by the word “dumbass” uttered at each smack. It just seems so _satisfying_. > > _thwack_ Dumbass. > _thwack_ Dumbass. > _thwack_ Dumbass. Your ideas interest me, may I subscribe to your newsletter? 😉 Hmm, I have no previous criminal record, only have to serve one year,… Wanted: used cardiac defibrillator CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/117 "2006-03-15T21:16:34Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Update–Russell County Circuit Judge Mike Moore sentenced Martin to five years in prison, but he suspended four years of the sentence, leaving Martin with just under a year still to serve. Martin had no previous criminal record. > > Little dickhead needed a life sentance. :mad: Sounds about right to me. However, I think that stupid mistakes should **not** = prison. Instead, the stupid fucker should have to go work for nearly free somewhere for a decade, and all his excess salary go to his victims dependants. In this present case, I would have sent him into the Peacecorps for 10 years, and have him go to Africa, helping the volunteer Doctors there. Maybe after he has saved a few thousand lives, he’s made up for the one he took. Sending idiots like this to prison is wrong- prison is for criminals, not idiots. But 10 years in fly, mosquito, malaria & terrorist infested sub-saharan Africa is plenty punishment- and he might do some good. Rotting in prison does no one any good. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/118 "2006-03-15T21:18:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sounds about right to me. . I meant the \*Judge’\*s sentance. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/119 "2006-03-15T21:29:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In this present case, I would have sent him into the Peacecorps for 10 years, and have him go to Africa, helping the volunteer Doctors there. He’d probably kill another preson over there while fooling around with a rifle. He could be used to test safety products. You know, “if dumbass here can open the lid on this prescription bottle, we need to go back to the drawing board”. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455/120 "2006-03-15T22:08:42Z")
> [@Greenback](#): > > He could be used to test safety products. You know, “if dumbass here can open the lid on this prescription bottle, we need to go back to the drawing board”. The perfect job for him: Crash dummy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moron-kills-woman-mother-thinks-sentence-too-harsh/341455.md?page=7)