Boating Accident/Death off Diamond Island

[SIKSUKR]

Sounds like some kind of an apology I guess.

[Airwaves]

It will be interesting to see if ANYONE that reads or participates on http://www.Winnipesaukee.com/forums will be allowed to sit on the jury?

With over 101,000 views on the Diamond Island Accident thread alone, it could become a factor in a fair trial. I wonder if that will be one of the questions that the prosecution and/or defense will ask during jury selection during the exclusion process.

HERE is the article mentioned by FLL

[jrc]

Originally Posted by Airwaves

It will be interesting to see if ANYONE that reads or participates on http://www.Winnipesaukee.com/forums will be allowed to sit on the jury?

...

If I was called to jury duty on a case like this, I'd be ready to show the judge and lawyers my comments on the forum. Then I let them decide if it disqualified me.

I feel like I'm an honest person and could still make a fair judgement, even given comments I made here. But I could also understand them wanting someone who didn't already have wrtten opinions.

Now, just reading about the case should not disqualify you.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Sounds like some kind of an apology I guess.

The Hartman, Litchfield, Boudoin, Blizzard families are very upset about a handful of supporters that express nothing but hate against boaters. They wish these people will take their agenda elsewhere and rightly so. I should know, I am a good friend with connection to these families.

I have live on this lake all my life. So has my father. We can connect ourselves to Leander lavallee, The Irwins, The Calllahans and The Goodhues. they have made this lake a great lake to be on. I disdain what the lake has become. No longer do I see a friendly wave from boaters that have been a tradition in the past. No longer do I see boaters respecting other boaters and no longer do I see the camaraderie between boat owners and waterfront property owners. The lake has become a battleground.

Sorry to rant Don, but enough is enough, these folks are beyond apologetic.

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

The Hartman, Litchfield, Boudoin, Blizzard families are very upset about a handful of supporters that express nothing but hate against boaters. They wish these people will take their agenda elsewhere and rightly so. I should know, I am a good friend with connection to these families.

I have live on this lake all my life. So has my father. We can connect ourselves to Leander lavallee, The Irwins, The Calllahans and The Goodhues. they have made this lake a great lake to be on. I disdain what the lake has become. No longer do I see a friendly wave from boaters that have been a tradition in the past. No longer do I see boaters respecting other boaters and no longer do I see the camaraderie between boat owners and waterfront property owners. The lake has become a battleground.

Sorry to rant Don, but enough is enough, these folks are beyond apologetic.

Why would anyone open up a thread in a forum when they know that there will be negative comments or frivolity being made against someone that they know.
Everyone in this forum knows that FLL likes to joke around and get people to loosen up a little bit. I don’t think that makes him a bad person or that he is trying to slander anyone with his comments. If I thought he was slandering someone, I would be the first to ask that he be banned from this forum. However he has not done that and I think some of the comments made about him are unfair.

Why don’t we let the webmaster make the decision as to whether anyone is doing something wrong with their comments.

[sunset on the dock]

Some good points, YS and I find it a bit tiresome that a couple of posters take such offense to the discussion of said accident. THIS IS A FORUM!!! Look up the definition! If anyone is truly offended by a discussion of the details regarding this accident because they have some personal connection to the participants or it interferes with their agenda then they have should just stay away from the thread altogether. As far as Broadhopper's comment about "nothing but hate against boaters"...the forum record shows a barrage of very negative comments(yes, hateful) from him aimed at so many who have an opposing view of how the lake should be managed.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Sorry to rant Don, but enough is enough, these folks are beyond apologetic.

I often ignore or avoid the controversial topics on this (and other) forums. But this statement I cannot ignore.

As someone who maintains websites far smaller and less volitile than this one, I don't think this is a fair burden to place on Don. He did not sign up to be judge and jury (though too often, that is the job of a moderator)

It's a fine line between constructive debate and needing to serve as judge and arbitor. Don does a wonderful job on this website keeping it focused on topics related to the Lakes Region. Let's not put too much of a burden on him that he reconsiders why he's doing this!

[Steveo]

Is this still on schedule for March 1st or has there been another delay

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Steveo

Is this still on schedule for March 1st or has there been another delay

I did a little searching around and it appears still slated for March. If there is going to be any further delay it will not come out until the March time frame...

In reading the couple of articles I did today, I was struck by something I didn't like. It appears that the delay in January to have the trial in March was so that Ms. Blizzard could have surgery, and be allowed adequate time to recover, and that this was related to injuries suffered in the accident.

Now My question is this, at this point, I can't image any surgery she needed to under go was life threatening. Necessary well that is a different story, and it may have very well been. But the question is, could the surgery have taken place after the Trial. Now grant you by asking for the delay Ms Blizzard has waived her right to a speedy trial. But my concern is for all the other people involved and effected by this tragedy. Don't they have a right for this trial to have taken place and the issue resolved.

In short although Ms. Blizzard surgery may have been necessary, is it right to delay a trial, because of non life threatening surgery? Or is this another defense tactic, to try and put more time in between the incident and the trail so as to hopefully remove the spotlight of the incident form the trial.

[Woodsy]

LI....

The surgery my not be life threatening, however once in she is in state custody it will be the state who has to pay for the surgeries....

I would also expect one more delay... I doubt they are going to make the jury travel over the ice on the lake in March to visit the accident scene...

Woodsy

[Yosemite Sam]

Regardless of how I might feel about certain laws on Lake Winni and how this accident happened, I have real heart felt sympathy for Ms Blizzard and her family.
I have two daughters a little older that Erica and I don’t know how I could possibly go through what her family must be going through now.

[sa meredith]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

Regardless of how I might feel about certain laws on Lake Winni and how this accident happened, I have real heart felt sympathy for Ms Blizzard and her family.
I have two daughters a little older that Erica and I don’t know how I could possibly go through what her family must be going through now.

Well...at least her family can see her, talk with her, offer support, try to comfort her...
How about the family of the girl who was killed????
My guess is that they probably would like some measure of closure. And for that, the trial must take place.

[PennyPenny]

Originally Posted by sa meredith

Well...at least her family can see her, talk with her, offer support, try to comfort her...
How about the family of the girl who was killed????
My guess is that they probably would like some measure of closure. And for that, the trial must take place.

Well said SA Meredith. The victims family wonders every day what is next for them. I know there is an upcoming birth of a grandson in the near future that will probably put a smile on their faces.

[NoRegrets]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

Regardless of how I might feel about certain laws on Lake Winni and how this accident happened, I have real heart felt sympathy for Ms Blizzard and her family.
I have two daughters a little older that Erica and I don’t know how I could possibly go through what her family must be going through now.

Well said.....Nothing can change the outcome of that night. The blame and trial will not change the torn hearts and spirits of this part of Winni's history.

[fatlazyless]

It's probably a good idea to not prejudge a trial and assume a verdict.......you really need to let the trial take place and no doubt the blood alcohol level will be a key piece in the process......after all....Attorney James Moir's motion to have the blood alcohol level not be admitted into evidence was denied by the judge in April 2009. In today's NH legal system, the blood alcohol level number seems like it can be a very big deal.

On January 5, 2010, the www.citizen.com article by Bea Lewis refers to the April 2009 ruling with a quote from Judge Kathleen McGuire in Belknap Superior Court who ruled that the defendant "drove a boat headlong into an island at an unreasonable rate of speed was the probable cause Marine Patrol needed to believe the defendant had been drinking alcohol and that evidence of intoxication would be found in the defendant's blood."

www.citizen.com google 1/05/10

[Mr. V]

If the defendant has any brains, she'll accept a plea bargain.

I foresee a harsh sentence if she wastes the court's time and is convicted.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

"...In today's NH legal system the blood alcohol level number seems like it can be a very big deal..."

Like, alcohol impairs judgment or something?

[OCDACTIVE]

Seriously some of these posts are extremely hurtful to everyone involved. Please have some compassion. Lets wait to see what comes out of the trial before judgement is passed.

I am surprised that this thread hasn't been shut down yet.