The PenOpticon

"Now mind you, people make mistakes" is what Fredericton Judge, Graydon Nicholas, told a packed courtroom after sentencing Peter Leon Howe to two years "house arrest" yesterday. Howe's crime? Last July, he killed a 22-year-old cyclist and left him dying at the side of the road.  Howe had consumed a case of beer and half a bottle of whisky at a party. He was smashed out of his mind when he refused an offer to stay over with a relative, got in his car, and ran down Robbie MacRitchie, 23. What a sad, unnecessary tragedy.  A drunken, irresponsible idiot, gets to walk away after snuffing out the life of a young man who was minding his own business — and being kind to the planet — by cycling. So what if it was Howe's first offense!  Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car after consuming that much alcohol must have been practicing and honing his "skill" for a number of years.  This may be the first time Howe has killed someone, but it seems likely — and lucky — that he simply "missed" on earlier drunken outings. Of course, that's pure speculation on my part.  Maybe Howe never had a drink in his life and just decided to test his limits last summer. Regardless, "house arrest" is a ridiculous sentence.  But what should we do this people like this?  I'm just writing from rage over such a stupid crime and sadness for the MacRitchie family. As for me, my body aches from a couple of days cycling to work. I was going to bus it today, but I'm going to pedal anyhow. See if I can spin some rage into a little joy. And remembrance.