Topic : 03/16 Cheerleader Scandal

 First of all, I do feel sorry for both families. I believe that Brandi was guilty of this crime. I don't even feel that it was an accident. Everyone is saying that Brandi's boyfriend beat her. However, I doubt that Brandi's parents would have allowed their daughter to stay in a abusive relationship. I also do not think Brandi is the innocent girl that everyone was making her out to be. You could just tell by the way that Brandi's parents acted on the show that Brandi was a spoiled girl. Her parents had no feelings of sympathy for the boys parents. What good did it do to bring up the fact that Daniel's mother was not in his life? She still lost a child. Brandi's family failed to make the connection that they could see their daughter, talk to her, or write to her. Daniel's family does not have the advantage to do any of those things. Sure Daniel had problems. Clearly Brandi had some as well. What teen does not have problems. How many of us could hit someone at 60mph and drive home and try to cover it up. I understand that people do panic but this is just crazy. Brandi did this crime out of rage she was mad and didn't think. I feel sorry for both families. However, I feel for Daniel's family more. And for the person saying that Daniel's mother seemed unstable, how would you feel if you just lost your child? It is easy to take Brandi's side because she is the only side we could really hear. Brandi can now bash Daniel and throw out accusations about Daniel because he is not here to speak for himself. Everyone should remember that. What would Daniel say?

A few days late because this was Tivo'ed.   

  

First of all, Brandi is clearly lying.  Anyone with any background in non verbal communication and eye contact can see that her eye contact is evasive, she blinks excessively and her body language and facial expressions are clearly evading and dodging the truth.  She knows she hit him but she's scared to death that if she admits it, she will spend more time in jail.  Neither Brandi nor her family seem to grasp the idea of crime and punishment.  The "let's just put this behind us" attitude of Brandi and her family is disgusting.  Brandi's mom, there IS a purpose of her spending the next nine years in jail.  It is so the rest of us know that there are consequences to actions and we feel more secure that killers don't get to go free just because they're cute.  She won't kill again, but she's done it once and she MUST pay for it.           

  

Second, any accident investigator worth his or her salt should be able to tell quite easily if Daniel was a) standing still, b) moving slowly or the ridiculous notion of c) running towards the car.   If either a or b are the case (which is almost guaranteed) then clearly Brandi is guilty and deserves to pay every second of that 12 years and then some.   

  

It seemed to me that by going on The Dr. Phil Show, Brandi and her parents were attempting to garner sympathy (and exposure for Gloria Alred or someone like that to step in), but as with other people, I saw the family and Brandi as not allowing themselves to admit that their little baby did something terrible.  The mom put on a show but the world could tell she refuses to believe her daughter could have actually done this.  Only Brandi can assuage her mom of this terrible prison of injustice she's built around herself.        

  

To Brandi -- sorry honey, I believe in forgiveness, but not until you've admitted to AND paid the price for what you've done.  It's called ATONEMENT -- please, for the sake of your soul and both families, study the meaning of atonement!!!  Whether 17 or 117, you killed someone and you have to live with, take responsibility for  AND ACCEPT the consequences.  Until you do, you selfish little thing, you will never live this down (karma) and you personally will make all the members of both families miserable.  The fate and happiness of one selfish girl and two grieving families rests of the shoulders of one cheerleader.  Will she do the right thing?   

 What in the world are you talking about. This women is still grieving the death of her son. This is a pain that will remain with her forever. Sure she can forgive Brandi. I hope she does. However, you can't rush the grieving process. You can't just judge Daniel's mother. Brandi's mother and father are killing thierself also over their daughters situation.

 She is guilty honey because she hit him. Don't you think it is weird that her lawyer bailed on her. Even Dr. Phil touched on that.

     to me   i will always try to forget about what happend i like to hold onto the good memories not the bad but forgive the way i can forgive and that i already have is i forgive brandi inside myself for the things i wanted to do to her for causing me this much pain i hated her and wanted bad things to happen to her but i was able to forgive myself for that i trust in God to take the actions for her life.  as for in life when i see her the pain will always be there and the fact she took away the closest person in my life the one who i did everything with from identicle clothes doing our hair the same way finishing eachothers sentences. When she killed my twin brother she killed part of me too and that part will never come back.

I'm Brandi aunt and I would like to thank everyone that thinks Brandi did it on accident. I love her very much and miss her a lot. Brandi said that she needed to be punished for hitting and killing Danial and she has been. How long should she be punished for an accident? I've watched the new a lot since this has happened and their is a lot of kids getting less of a sentence for the same thing, so why should she get more of a sentence than anyone else?  

I've been told by a lot of people that they think she should get a new trial just on what they seen on this show. Especally from what Daniels sister said, first she said that she was in side calling 911 and then she said she seen the whole thing. Then I was reading this message board and read what his susposed to be fiance stephanie said about being the only witness of that night.  

I think a better attorney would of got a better out come and maybe now that she has told her story maybe one would step up and help her. I hope so!!!!!!! 

  

I Tivo'd this show and watched it later, stopping it a couple of times to explain it to another family member that had entered and left the room a few times -- each time I did it, I found myself thinking more and more that some things just didn't make sense. I'd begun watching it with what I thought was an open mind -- they looked like such a happy couple in the picture together, but looks can be really deceiving. 

  

At the end, I still don't know for sure which side I'd take if I had to take one. (And thank God I don't!) But I did find myself wondering why Brandi's parents seemed to be taking all her story in stride without any doubt -- the whole 'tree limb in the windshield' story while she was claiming to be in shock just doesn't sit right. And she says she knew she hit something but didn't know what, yet recalled him stepping in front of the car. 

  

I understand she's young, and we all make mistakes, young or old. I'm sorry for both these families, and without having lost someone in this manner, I can't say I can understand but I do hope they both try to move on and not ruin their lives or the lives of their other children in all their grief. No one wants that -- it doesn't help Brandi, and it won't bring Daniel back. No matter what the result, someone will walk away unhappy and people will still disagree. 

  

I think the most telling thing to me, the thing I keep thinking of is how Brandi walked into the interview room with this big smile on her face, all friendly and happy, almost as though she was thinking that this would help get her out of jail. When the questions got tough, she understandably got more upset, but she seemed almost cold -- the remorse wasn't all over her face, it was more hard and angry at what she's missing in life, and she said as much at one point. I don't know what I'd act like, but I sure didn't think her demeanor suited the situation. 

  

Did she deserve life in prison? In my opinion, no, but I do think she deserved some time -- that fast through a trailer park was reckless, and maybe it would help her parents if they actually were willing to even consider any guilt on her part rather than to drag this on.  

I registered on your website just to let you know that this show was very frustrating and disappointing.  I know you had to show both sides of the story, but it just seemed like there was too much bitterness and controversy between the families to have them both on the show at the same time.  The families' issues were not address, just mentioned, and the only thing that seemed to come across was how much bitterness and anger were present between and among the families.   

Also, the discussion with Brandy was not represented very well.  The issues she brought up, like her lack of "adequate" counsel, the fact that her attorney had to withdraw because he had other clients,  and that her attorney changing the plea agreement in court, were not addressed.  I work in a district attorney's office and have seen many plea agreements completed in the courtroom.  In all plea agreements, the judge asks the defendant multiple questions to make sure that the defendant understands what they are doing and exactly to what they are agreeing.  The judge asks if the defendant is satisfied with his or her attorney and the job they did.  The judge also asks the defendant  if they understand each and every part of the plea agreement, including the possible minimum and maximum time lengths on each count of each charge.   There is no way that Brandy thought she was only going to spend 120 days in jail and then ended up serving a 12 year sentence!  She would have had to been on drugs when she went to court not to understand that she was agreeing to a possible 12 year sentence, but then again, that is another question the judge asks--if she is under the influence of ANY impairing substance and when was the last time she took an impairing substance!  Another point Brandy used to say that she did not deserve the 12 year sentence was that her attorney changed the plea agreement at the last minute and marked through what she agreed to and wrote something else.  She would have had to initial the change and agree to the change in open court in front of the judge, which means she would have agreed to it and told the judge so.   

To Brandi's point that her first attorney had to withdraw, attorneys do not withdrawn just because they have another trial or another client!  This happens all the time--why do you think it takes so long to get a case through court!  Defense attorneys can't be in two places at the same time so some case get continued to another court date, sometimes over and over again.  In the Administrative hearing (court hearing before any Trial), a defense attorney has multiple clients and deals with them all during that session of court.  The attorney had to have another reason--like he believed he could not represent her adequately for one reason or another (like maybe he believed her guilty?)--not because he had another client!  A more believable reason her first attorney withdrew is because Brandy or her family did not want to wait on the attorney to finish with the other client if it came to a trial because they felt she should be put first.  But for any reason, he would have had to state that reason in open court and get a judge to release him from being her attorney! 

Brandy should be lucky that she is only serving 12 years and was offered a generous plea agreement from the district attorney!  There was obviously enough evidence in the file, which I know could not be discussed publicly, to charge her with murder.  She was probably offered manslaughter as a plea because of her age and the "possible" domestic violence from the victim.  There was not enough discussion about that angle to justify "suicide" on Brian's part--just because Brandy said he had said that he would kill himself if she left, does not make it true.  There has to be more corroborating statements from others for it to be believable.  And, just because she wants to go home and has "suffered emotionally" in prison, does not mean she just gets to go home!  Tough, she agreed to 12 years for manslaughter!  The only way she should get out early is on parole, after a parole hearing! 

It seems sad that the general public does not know more about the criminal justice system to bring these points up as well.  It is often said that the criminal justice system is designed to protect the rights of the defendants, not the victims, and many, many times this is true.  This case seems to show that Brandy's rights were protected and upheld.   

  

So y'all did not know that Stephanie was the only supposed witness?  Did she ever give a statement to the police? 

  

Sounds to me that maybe Brandi does need a new attorney.  The things i'm reading on here have got my attention and if nothing else, I would print out these posts - make copies.  Find an attorney for sure!  I am beginning to wonder now about many aspects of this case. 

but I don't see my other post. 

  

I apologize for the mix up.  However, my questions remain valid.  It's all very confusing and contradictory.  I would love it if someone could straighten it out. 

  

I would also love to have Stephanie tell us her version of the events that occured that night.