Messages By: kstwin64

     The airing of this show to me was premature in that objective data that would have helped the live and TV audience assess the event (this was no "accident" - it was an event) because each family was unable to arrive at any objectivity on their own as to what, how  and why the tragedy occurred. 

    That's why I expected as the show progressed to see: an experienced Accident-Reconstructionist's report as part of the script so that Dr Phil would have had the most objective data at hand as he was talking with each family and especially the girl. For example, the victim's "flying" 68' from the impact occurred from where? The  center of the street, the far side of the street, where?  

     It was evident from early-on that each family was not going to be convinced by ANY objective data that things weren't just as they wanted to believe they were. And if a reconstructionist report was going to change any minds, forget it. But that's what I thought Dr. Phil was going to make his approach from. Then, when the perp's brother or the victim's mother would continue the denial of what the cold, hard facts showed then Dr. Phil's objective would have been more clear to me.  Both families are overwhelmed with anger and they all appear to have no appropriate outlets. 

     I was also disappointed that the perp's family had stage-center instead of the victim's. The latter family suffered the greater loss so why "feature" the perp and her family? (I use the term "perp" because the edited show strongly suggested that the girlfriend did commit at least voluntary manslaughter.) 

I'm not trying  to belabor the point, what I'm trying to show is that the headlight feature DOESN'T need to be "overridden" deliberately. If the hand brake was applied BEFORE starting the car there might have been no headlights while the car was being "revved."   

My concern is that many posts I've read rely on an author's "facts" as being absolute truths and proof-positive of their position. My contention is that there is, indeed, a lot of wiggle-room. That is why accuracy in witnessing or giving statements is so, so important.  

And your point is well-taken: that the headlights-on issue may have been better left alone by the poster.  

By the way, the 3 illiumination features for many brands are: Daytime Running Lights, Auto-Headlight-On, manual operation. Fog Lights are an additional feature. And not all vehicles have DRL and/or auto-on or fog lights. 

  "I know 12 years seems like a long time to Brandi's parents, but my son is serving 10 years in prison.....over stealing a couple of music CD's from a local Target store.  My son never hurt anyone but himself, and he received almost as much time as Brandi."  

Now here's injustice. Here's a young person (a guess): 1st offender (I'm assuming this because you never said he had any record), youthful offender, crime against property and no other major transgressions in the community or elsewhere (again, I'm assuming this because you didn't say there were any other problems). Yet he gets 10 years!!!   

I would think someone in your area Bar Association would readily come to your cause and I can't understand why that hasn't happened. 

You have had more than your share of tragedy and I admire your strength in coping with it.