Justice and Emma Czornobaj

Re: “Czornobaj found guilty in duck- related collision” (Gazette, June 21)

Are we not going too far having to always blame someone whenever there is a death?

Death is both tragic and painful for the surviving family members, but ruining a young woman’s life for being a caring kid is not the answer.

Things happen, and it is a tragedy that two people lost their lives, but a third life should be spared.

This is not the pilot of a plane or captain of a ship, but simply a young university graduate who happened to be in front of ducks that had no business being there; she cared and was not thinking, or rather thinking as many young people would.

Claudio Vecchio

Dorval

Emma Czornobaj was nearly a hero. Had she stopped to help ducks in danger in virtually any other situation, she would have been praised for her actions. And now, after a verdict that has found her guilty on all four counts, she faces the possibility of life in prison.

Czornobaj should not be considered a criminal. She is a human being who did something very stupid.

For most people, our momentary brain lapses go virtually unnoticed and only end up having minimal impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. Czornobaj, however, is paying the ultimate price for a short moment in which she failed to act reasonably.

I do not wish to undermine the impact that her actions had on the victims and their family. Jail time, however, will do nothing to rectify what happened. This young driver has already learned her lesson.

It is time that we stop equating jail time with justice. Allowing Czornobaj to serve her sentence in the community is the only way for a little bit of good to come out of a tragedy suffered by all the parties involved. Carly Meredith

Brossard

I am horrified to read of the conviction of Emma Czornobaj, which could result in her being sentenced to life in prison for an act that any human being would have performed in her place, myself included.

How is it that the right to travel though the countryside in a machine at maximum speed supersedes the right of other animals on the planet to simply live? She stopped her car and got out to try to rescue a group of baby ducks on the highway.

It is a tragedy that André Roy and his 16-year-old daughter Jessie died when they drove into Czornobaj’s car at full speed, killing them both. But a criminal act? Not in my opinion.

The statement by Annie-Claude Chassé, the prosecutor — “We hope that a clear message was sent to society that we don’t stop for animals on the highway” — leaves me cold.

Does the law really give us the right to kill other creatures with impunity when they get in our way?

What message does that send to our children?

And what does that say for the future of civilization?

Laurie Gordon

Beaconsfield

Only in this province can someone can get away with killing children, yet someone involved in a tragic accident who intended to save ducklings can face life in prison.

Emma Czornobaj’s lawyers should have had her plea “insanity” at the time she was trying to save those ducks.

She would be free by now.

Nancy Zenone

Montreal

The fact that this accident resulted in a trial is an indictment, not of this young woman, but of society itself.

The action of stopping on a main highway may have been foolish, but it was at least an attempt at an act of kindness. The fact that this act rebounded, resulting in the death of two other people, can in no way merit a custodial sentence.

This young woman cannot be further punished because she will have to live with the result of her good intentions for the rest of her life. This is not a case of setting an example as a deterrent to others; it is simply society taking revenge.

There are those who drive in a reckless fashion on a daily basis. Many drivers who have caused accidents that resulted in death have not even lost their driver’s licences; and yet this unfortunate young lady might be sent to prison.

There are former political leaders who by their actions have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, and who now live in the lap of luxury.

What double standards society practises!

Keith Norman Wyatt

Dickson, Alta.

If Emma Czornobaj’s car had failed mechanically and come to a stop on the highway, in all probability, she would not have faced criminal charges, even if the stop had caused death to someone following. The Crown would have had to prove gross negligence to have had any hope of conviction.

As we know, tragically, this was not the case. A misplaced sense of kindness resulted in two deaths.

However, incarcerating Czornobaj would do no one any good.

The state will have to pay the prison costs. This is a case where community service would be the ideal punishment; unfortunately, it appears likely that the judge will not have this option, because of the 2007 amendments to the Criminal Code.

We should trust our judges, not hem them in, with unduly restrictive amendments to the law.

In the Czornobaj case, it seems likely a sentence of disproportionate severity will be imposed on someone for an act of monumental stupidity, but one committed with no criminal intent.

Paul Jones

Île-Perrot