A Conclusion Waiting In The Wings
Yes, he is an intelligent young man from a 'good' family, whom fortune smiled upon in bestowing upon him all manner of societal entitlements.
And he moved in a circle of similarly well-endowed young people, the upper crust of society, those from among whom future leaders often emerge. There is no doubt he is intelligent, but he is also a little dull-minded in that it would appear he resists learning from previous encounters-of-a-dismal-type.
Nothing expunges the simple fact that Jack Tobin had three previous license suspensions. And almost twenty previous convictions relating to driving infractions, some quite serious. Speeding, driving while under the influence of alcohol, that kind of thing. And several years earlier he had been driving erratically, with a friend on the roof rack of his vehicle who was thrown off and injured.
That kind of thoughtless 'fun' with speed and booze and danger and evading disaster is usually left behind when a young man reaches the age of majority. But as in Jack Tobin's case, not necessarily. Young Jack seemed to be irresistibly drawn to reckless displays of derring-do. And he obviously enjoyed them all the more in the presence of his friends.
One of whom was himself destroyed by his own attraction to the same kind of truly stupid behaviour. These are the kinds of high-jinks with a fatally universal appeal, particularly among young men. Alex Zolpin will be forever 24 in the fond memory of those who loved him.
He too was impaired by alcohol when he went along with his great good friend, the reckless Jack.
Fun and games impaired or perhaps enhanced by the 190 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood coursing through Jack's veins. Over twice the legal limit of blood alcohol.
Ontario Court Justice Lise Maisonneuve found, in her opinion, the risk posed to the people driving in the truck alongside Jack Tobin was not unforeseeable. He, and they, chose of their free will, impaired by high spirits and too many spirits consumed, to engage in reckless behaviour. That ultimately resulted in tragedy.
Three years in prison will translate to a segment of that time served, and time off for good behaviour, and society can be assured that under these grim circumstances and in a long-lasting mood of regret, Jack Tobin's behaviour in prison will be exemplary.
Nothing, not the genuine depth of his remorse, nor the relatively mild reproach meted out for taking someone's life, can expunge the record of Jack Tobin having previously spun a vehicle about with a friend clinging to the roof rack in another alcohol-fuelled celebration of life.
The danger that stunt exposed did nothing to adequately strike his consciousness, and warn this young man off future such exploits. The death of Alex Zolpis was the result; a conclusion waiting in the wings.
And he moved in a circle of similarly well-endowed young people, the upper crust of society, those from among whom future leaders often emerge. There is no doubt he is intelligent, but he is also a little dull-minded in that it would appear he resists learning from previous encounters-of-a-dismal-type.
Nothing expunges the simple fact that Jack Tobin had three previous license suspensions. And almost twenty previous convictions relating to driving infractions, some quite serious. Speeding, driving while under the influence of alcohol, that kind of thing. And several years earlier he had been driving erratically, with a friend on the roof rack of his vehicle who was thrown off and injured.
That kind of thoughtless 'fun' with speed and booze and danger and evading disaster is usually left behind when a young man reaches the age of majority. But as in Jack Tobin's case, not necessarily. Young Jack seemed to be irresistibly drawn to reckless displays of derring-do. And he obviously enjoyed them all the more in the presence of his friends.
One of whom was himself destroyed by his own attraction to the same kind of truly stupid behaviour. These are the kinds of high-jinks with a fatally universal appeal, particularly among young men. Alex Zolpin will be forever 24 in the fond memory of those who loved him.
He too was impaired by alcohol when he went along with his great good friend, the reckless Jack.
Fun and games impaired or perhaps enhanced by the 190 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood coursing through Jack's veins. Over twice the legal limit of blood alcohol.
Ontario Court Justice Lise Maisonneuve found, in her opinion, the risk posed to the people driving in the truck alongside Jack Tobin was not unforeseeable. He, and they, chose of their free will, impaired by high spirits and too many spirits consumed, to engage in reckless behaviour. That ultimately resulted in tragedy.
Three years in prison will translate to a segment of that time served, and time off for good behaviour, and society can be assured that under these grim circumstances and in a long-lasting mood of regret, Jack Tobin's behaviour in prison will be exemplary.
Nothing, not the genuine depth of his remorse, nor the relatively mild reproach meted out for taking someone's life, can expunge the record of Jack Tobin having previously spun a vehicle about with a friend clinging to the roof rack in another alcohol-fuelled celebration of life.
The danger that stunt exposed did nothing to adequately strike his consciousness, and warn this young man off future such exploits. The death of Alex Zolpis was the result; a conclusion waiting in the wings.
Labels: Human Fallibility, Justice, Society
posted by Pieface | 6:50 PM
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