Thursday, January 31, 2008
Families Changed Forever
Sometimes people ask me if I'm affected by the news stories I cover. The short answer is yes. As a journalist, you can get jaded and cynical after covering the news for many years, but some stories still make a major impact. I covered one of those stories today.
On June 23, 2006, a car ran a red light at the intersection of 24 Highway and Noland Road in Independence. 23-year-old Jonathan Edwards was behind the wheel. He was drunk.
He hit a car with 18-year-old Crystal Blessing and 20-year-old Brandon Hankins inside. They were engaged to be married and were killed instantly.
Today, Edwards was sentenced for his crime. He plead guilty last year to 2 counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and Vehicular DWI. Edwards has taken responsibility for his actions from the beginning: he told a police officer at the hospital that night, "It's my fault, I'm drunk, it's my fault. I had at least 8 beers." He took responsibility again today, addressing the packed courtroom and expressing his guilt and sorrow for what happened. His lawyer said Edwards told him he deserved jail time.
Crystal and Brandon were described today by loved ones as two young, talented, giving people who were deeply in love. Family members made emotional pleas to punish Edwards for his carelessness that took two precious people from them.
I watched all three families today as the hearing progressed. Emotions were high, tears were flowing, and nerves were raw. Three families had been devastated by one act, one moment, one horrible decision.
Jonathan Edwards was sentenced today to 20 years in prison. Justice was served, but the impact from that deadly night will continue on for years and decades to come.
Edwards mentioned today that he hoped that this case will be a lesson for everyone about drinking and driving. It destroyed his life and took two other lives. It crushed three families who will never be the same.
Some stories impact journalists and hopefully our viewers as well. This is not just a story about loss and emotion and justice. It's a story that can be a lesson to all of us how one bad decision can ruin lives forever.
On June 23, 2006, a car ran a red light at the intersection of 24 Highway and Noland Road in Independence. 23-year-old Jonathan Edwards was behind the wheel. He was drunk.
He hit a car with 18-year-old Crystal Blessing and 20-year-old Brandon Hankins inside. They were engaged to be married and were killed instantly.
Today, Edwards was sentenced for his crime. He plead guilty last year to 2 counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and Vehicular DWI. Edwards has taken responsibility for his actions from the beginning: he told a police officer at the hospital that night, "It's my fault, I'm drunk, it's my fault. I had at least 8 beers." He took responsibility again today, addressing the packed courtroom and expressing his guilt and sorrow for what happened. His lawyer said Edwards told him he deserved jail time.
Crystal and Brandon were described today by loved ones as two young, talented, giving people who were deeply in love. Family members made emotional pleas to punish Edwards for his carelessness that took two precious people from them.
I watched all three families today as the hearing progressed. Emotions were high, tears were flowing, and nerves were raw. Three families had been devastated by one act, one moment, one horrible decision.
Jonathan Edwards was sentenced today to 20 years in prison. Justice was served, but the impact from that deadly night will continue on for years and decades to come.
Edwards mentioned today that he hoped that this case will be a lesson for everyone about drinking and driving. It destroyed his life and took two other lives. It crushed three families who will never be the same.
Some stories impact journalists and hopefully our viewers as well. This is not just a story about loss and emotion and justice. It's a story that can be a lesson to all of us how one bad decision can ruin lives forever.
Posted at 12:19 PM
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