Mother screaming, father in disbelief as their now 19 year old son is found guilty of first degree murder.
Then, 15 year old son was behind the wheel of his parents van when a police officer pulled them over, little did police officer Constable Garrett Styles know that these moments would be his last. The teen himself was paralyzed in the incident. The teen’s defence lawyer asked for no time in custody, arguing the teen's quadriplegic condition is punishment enough. Other options offered on the table were "open custody", a youth sentence and it was recommended an accessible facility in Ontario.
It was believed by the teen’s family that by waking up every day with the product of the incident, not being able to have the use of his legs and arms, is enough to discipline him.
By this verdict of quadriplegia being a punishment equal to first degree murder, what is the jury and judge assuming about those born quadriplegic. Are they born already punished with a crime equal to taking someone’s life? The Justice of the court stated that the teen is "already serving a life sentence, imprisoned in his wheelchair. (Sonsa, 2015)”
IMPRISONED IN HIS WHEELCHAIR
In a survey done in 2002, there were 2.7 million people who used wheelchairs over the age of 15 in the United States of America (USA) . This is just under one percent of the total population of the USA at the time.
In reference to the punishment of imprisonment to his wheelchair, could this possibly reflect the courts views on the 2.8 million wheelchair users as being punished by their abilities as well?
With the punishment of his disability it was proved through evidence that his life expectancy would be 25 years shorter and he is required to appear in public speeches multiple times a year to speak on how he obtained the injuries.
Is disability a punishment?
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/other/no-jail-time-for-teen-who-murdered-const-garrett-styles/ar-BBn4Twm
http://newdisability.com/wheelchairstatistics.htm
http://www.unityfm.ca/index.php/contact/1486-no-jail-time-for-teen-who-murdered-const-garrett-styles.html
