Share:

 

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on in the vehicular manslaughter case against student Bowen Du, it is the simple fact that it was an accident.

            Though despite it being completely unintentional, the consequences of the incident may unfortunately land the 19-year-old six years in prison – a potential result that is already heart wrenching, given that lives were dramatically affected, most especially the family and friends who lost Alice Zhang, one of the victims struck by Du’s vehicle.

            The use of a cell phone, intoxication, and excessive speeding have already been ruled out by the police department. The only thing prosecuting teams can rely on at this point in order to convict Du of vehicular manslaughter is negligence.

            But negligence on what grounds exactly? That is already a shaky argument.

On top of the list of potential threats on the road already ruled out by police, the sun shining through a dirty windshield played a major role in the accident.

            But can prosecutors press charges on the sun? Is there a law that makes it illegal for drivers with a dirty windshield?

No and no. Yet, discouragingly enough, these may be the very reasons why a vehicular manslaughter charge is being pressed against Du.

            The case seems to have taken a vengeful turn. It is undeniable that Du is to blame for striking both Zhang and Priyanka Patel, the other victim. In fact, he takes responsibility for it, said his attorney, Evan Freed.

The underlying issue here is that in the eyes of the justice system, this case will be considered a felony and if Du is convicted, the punishment has the potential to put him behind bars.

There are serious crimes that should be considered for serious punishment, and this certainly isn’t Du’s case. What happened that very April day was an accident – a tragic one at that, but one that doesn’t deserve prison time.

Follow: