Samaritan or Killer?
It’s possible to be a Good Samaritan.
But is it possible to be a not-good-enough Samaritan?
A Canadian woman was recently confronted with that question when two killers accused her of not doing enough to save a man they had beaten and left for dead.
The woman was driving her car when she saw the two men viciously kicking and stomping a third man in the street. The assailants then fled, leaving their victim—who they had robbed—lying unconscious in the road. The woman called 911. But before police or paramedics arrived, an unsuspecting driver ran over the victim. He died.
The woman testified in court, and the two men were convicted of manslaughter. The woman was hailed as a Good Samaritan.
But when the killers returned to court for a sentencing hearing, they stunned the Samaritan by claiming she was responsible for the victim’s death. Lawyers for the two men argued that the woman had a responsibility to get out of her car and pull the victim to safety. Had she done so, the lawyers insisted, the victim wouldn’t have died.
The Samaritan had previously testified that she was too scared to leave her car, even after the assailants fled. “You always want to try and help a person as much as possible,” she said. “But you also have to worry about what could happen to you.”
A judge considered and then rejected the argument, telling the lawyers they could raise the issue on appeal for the two men.
“The question is, should they be held responsible?” the men’s lawyers ask. “And we say no.”
The Samaritan was reflective: “In a situation like this, you always think back and wonder whether you could have done something different.”
Could she?
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Comments
So ridiculous.
Blaming this woman is totally stupid. It’s because of things like this that others don’t bother to help out at all. I can understand her being scared. What if one of the attackers had seen her getting out of their car and attacked her? I mean if these guys had not robbed and beat this man almost to death, then she would not have had to stop and the other driver would not have to live with the fact that he ran the man over. The man’s death is totally the fault of the men who beat him.
Jenn | 1 year, 7 months ago
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Pointing the blame elsewhere...
These guys are just trying to get off for what they did so they are going to blame someone who was just trying to help another person. If it was me I would have done the same thing you are not going to risk your life for someone you don’t know. Its sad to say but its the truth. Those guys need to be punished for what they did! It was their fault not hers if they never beat him up and left him there to get hit he never would have died.
Leslie Ortega | 1 year, 2 months ago
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what is wrong with the world?
The way the world is anymore the criminals are getting better off help then the people who try to stop them. They sue the people they attack because they got hurt urign the attack and won some how. What is wrong with the world? This particular case they criminals created a situation disabled someone scared this poor lady to death then accuse her of not helping????? how can we let them get away with this? What lawyer thought this up saying the criminals get to do these things and win when they are the ones who are in the wrong?
Becky Rusher | 1 year, 2 months ago
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'Hat's Off To Her!
This is so typical of the criminal element that has plagued Earth’s decent society of the beginning of time up ‘till now. The criminal elements haven’t really changed that much, because no matter the circumstances that makes each crime/crimes different, yet the only thing(s) that hasn’t changed is the criminal(s) defense if there is one, and that’s that they do not take responsibility for what they’ve done wrong. Criminals have/has always blamed others for their horrible acts and deeds, This poor woman who’s handicapped decided that what she was seeing was something terrible being done to this poor soul and made the decision to at least call 911 as it was happening. Not very many people would’ve even done that much. I do not believe she made a/the wrong decision to stay in her car, because look what also could have happened to her. Then these two thugs would maybe have been responsible for two possible deaths instead of one. These two Spit-Balls of society has no one to blame but themselves and no one else. Maybe they’ll come to that conclusion after they’ve been arrested and locked up for a really long time and that they may just keep reminding themselves of how young and foolish (STUPID) that they’ve been all this time and maybe even come to the realization that they’ve thrown their lives away by choosing dumb,stupid and selfish choices, and at no one’s expense but their own. There is/are no excuse/excuses in this matter, and all they’ve done to themselves has earned them a long stay in a prison cell for each one of themselves for a really long time to come. Please do not blame someone else for what you two criminals did, because she did nothing wrong! I wish to thank this woman for trying to do the right thing and I pray this man’s family no ill will towards her. Hat’s off to you, Ma’am! Thank you.
jackie mcpherson | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Sick baby
Are there any organizations that will help me? My 8 year old Boston terrier, Sadie, needs a biopsy and removal of lumps to save her life. My vet says I need the $890.00 up front. I applied for credit but was denied due to a work shortage and a recent garnishment because of it. This is the worst Christmas of my life! I was hoping to go before my precious baby does. I don’t know how I’ll go on without her. I’ve had animals all my life and this is the 1st time I’m in this predicament. Any advice, please?
Thanks, Ellie
ellie lowry | 1 year, 2 months ago
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It is virtually impossible to be a good Samaritan when you are in a bad situation like that. I believe she did the right thing. She was probably just as scared for her life as the victim was. Although it could be viewed different ways and people deal with things differently I would have to ask myself just how I would deal with that situation. I mean after all, it’s not like she left him there without calling the authorities. It was a very unfortunate situation and I am sure she lives with the decision she made everyday. Put yourself in her shoes, that’s all I am saying!
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Difficult question
Do we blame the death of the victim on the men who beat him unconscious so they could steal from him, or do we blame the woman who stopped them from beating the victim more? Tough question. I’ll have to think about that for a while.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Basic teaching
The most important thing Emergency Services students are taught is to protect yourself FIRST. There is no question about this. The judge allowing this to go to appeals court shows their ignorance to the law. Defense lawyers will try almost anything to get their clients acquitted of charges because that is what they get paid to do.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Your kidding right?
That lawyer should lose his license for even suggesting that. The victim wouldn’t have been in the street to get run over if it weren’t for the killers…PERIOD! This is liberalism at its best. Never take responsibility and blame someone else. As far as I’m concerned these killers no longer have any rights. Let the family of the victim decide their punishment.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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Pathetic blame game
Not only does basic emergency response training teaches is for the responder to protect themselves first (you cannot continue to be of help if you become a victim yourself), but training also teaches responders not to move injured victims unless absolutely necessary, as they may have suffered spinal or other injuries that may be made worse by moving the victim.
Its offensive that such a counter-suit would even be considered… this should be in the “odd news” column, not in any sort of debate blog.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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