5 killed on Macleod trail crash - Update: GUILTY!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Burninator

So when does a traffic accident become a criminal matter?

One of the quotes on last night's news was a police officer saying something to the effect of "it was evident that it was a fatal impact." His tone made me think that the scene was like something out of a horror movie.

So, when it is obvious that there has been a fatality, I think it automatically becomes a criminal investigation.

[Eddie Bronze]

Honestly I haven't paid a lot of attention to this since the trial started because I'm confident in the end the justice system will fail us once again. Laws are set up to protect the damn crooks in this country.

From what I've read though, the problem I see with this case right now is that it seems to be focused on him being drunk. Personally, I don't care whether he was or wasn't, sober or intoxicated doesn't change the fact that the SOB is a murderer. Two adults in that car and 3 little children who had their entire lives ahead of them. He took it all away from them and now the rest of his life should be taken from him, life sentence with no chance of parole. But it won't, watch and see.

[fredr123]

The accused is reported to be taking the stand this morning. If you're ever going to attend a trial live, the most interesting time is probably when the accused is on the stand. After his lawyer is done, the Crown will get a chance to cross-examine. Skillful cross-examination is an art and to see it done by a master is something you can really appreciate.

[burn_this_city]

I dont see how taking the stand is going to help his chances. I really can't see why he didnt plead guilty and try for a reduced sentence. Its hard to see how his guilt would be in doubt.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I dont see how taking the stand is going to help his chances. I really can't see why he didnt plead guilty and try for a reduced sentence. Its hard to see how his guilt would be in doubt.

Pure speculation here. That the driver was hammered when he caused the accident seems to be of concern for a lot of people. Doesn't help that witnesses saw him toss the vodka bottle either. If Tschetter didn't testify, the judge and everyone else would be left with that testimony and nothing else to counter it. It would be pretty hard not to draw a negative inference from the accused not testifying.

My guess is you're going to hear a sad story about how this man's life sucked, how he was having the worst day of his life and it got immeasurably worse. We'll also hear how he wasn't drinking that day. We'll hear how when he got in the accident he noticed the vodka bottle in his cab and thought no one would believe he wasn't drinking so he tossed it away. We'll hear about how sorry he is for this horrible tragedy and we'll hear that he regrets everything that happened.

[Azure]

I wish they would videotape it, and put the video up online for us to see.

Would be a good way to educate the general public on court proceedings.

[burn_this_city]

I hope if he does testify that he gets nailed in the cross examination. Should have plead guilty you coward.

[Boblobla]

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...b=CalgaryHome3

The man accused of killing five people in a traffic accident has taken the stand in his own defense.
On December 7, 2007, Tschetter was driving a cement truck that smashed into the back of a car stopped at a light on Macleod Trail.
The accident killed five people including three children.
Tschetter's lawyer says his client was driving erratically but denies he was drunk.
Witnesses at the scene say they saw Tschetter throw a bottle of vodka into the back of his truck.
On Monday, Tschetter testified he accidentally drank from the bottle of vodka thinking it was his water bottle.

Accidentally drank from a bottle of vodka? I hope this guy rots.

[Azure]

Wow, desperation all over.

Accidentally drank from the bottle? Right.

[FlamesKickAss]

yep vodka and water taste so similar.

[pylon]

This guy definitely deserves to rot now. What a lame ass defence. I can honestly say if I did something as heinous as this idiot I would just plead guilty and throw myself at the mercy of the court if I hadn't already stuck a shotgun in my mouth. I couldn't live with myself after something like this, let alone insulting the court system and their families by trying to play the system with a BS defence. Disgusting.

[The Ditch]

I can't believe he said that, talk about the worst excuse possible.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm amazed that the judge didn't burst out laughing. I know I would have.

[Russic]

wow ... You kill off an entire family and then you face their relatives and simply slap them in the face with an excuse like that. It's days like this I wish I believed in hell.

[fredr123]

http://mikeoncrime.com/article/14400...at-killed-five



DATE: Mar 16, 01:25 PM

THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY – The driver of a cement truck admits he was distracted, frustrated and in a hurry in the moments before a crash in December 2007 that killed five people on Calgary’s outskirts.
On the stand at his manslaughter trial, Daniel Tschetter testified he was having trouble with his truck’s water lines and needed to get the vehicle back so he could wash it out.
He testified that he was travelling about 120 or 125 kilometres an hour when he plowed into a car that had stopped at a red light.
He said the vodka bottle witnesses saw him throw into the back of the truck after the crash was one he kept in the cab for “customer appreciation.”
He said he was in shock after the crash and took a swig from the bottle, thinking it was a bottle of water.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by fredr123

He said he was in shock after the crash and took a swig from the bottle, thinking it was a bottle of water.

OK, that actually makes sense. I can see taking a swig after the crash by mistake.

However then you should 100% take a breathalizer. If the cop doesn't want to give one insist. You'd have to wait ~30 minutes as you had just taken a swig, but then it would have shown him to be at .01%.

Edit- just to clarify all I'm saying is that what he said doesn't sound as damning as what we first heard. I still think he hasn't disproven the Crown's evidence of him being drunk.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by fredr123

http://mikeoncrime.com/article/14400...at-killed-five



DATE: Mar 16, 01:25 PM

THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY – The driver of a cement truck admits he was distracted, frustrated and in a hurry in the moments before a crash in December 2007 that killed five people on Calgary’s outskirts.
On the stand at his manslaughter trial, Daniel Tschetter testified he was having trouble with his truck’s water lines and needed to get the vehicle back so he could wash it out.
He testified that he was travelling about 120 or 125 kilometres an hour when he plowed into a car that had stopped at a red light.
He said the vodka bottle witnesses saw him throw into the back of the truck after the crash was one he kept in the cab for “customer appreciation.”
He said he was in shock after the crash and took a swig from the bottle, thinking it was a bottle of water.

Grounds for 2nd degree murder?

I mean, if he wasn't drunk and all.....

[Nufy]

I wonder how much was left in said bottle if he just took a swig out of it.......

It was recovered right ??

[burn_baby_burn]

Great defense. "Sorry for killing those five people, but I was in a hurry".

[Ryan Coke]

Let's say I buy that it is possible that you somehow managed to mistake the Vodka for a water bottle (glass vs plastic, totally odd size, etc) because you are in shock. But then suddenly you are thinking clearly enough that you are worried the police might think you've been drinking and decide to hide the evidence. The shot of Vodka must've cleared his muddy head right quick.

Meanwhile, his overriding concern is that the police think he might've been drinking, as opposed to the fact he just killed 5 people. I don't know, but maybe the fact that I had just killed 5 people, drunk or not, might've been top of my mind.