Quit ye like men...
Babble on.
Those are the opening words of my high-school's motto (or at least the english translation of it): Quit ye like men, be strong.
These two "old boys" certainly didn't uphold that tradition.
Cab driver Tahir Khan had just dropped off his last fare and was headed south on Mount Pleasant Rd. It was 10:20 p.m.
Racing north were two Mercedes driven by 18-year-olds, each pushing 140 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, police say. Next to one driver was the popular video game Need For Speed.
As the Mercedes rounded a bend, the taxi made a left turn on to Whitehall Rd. A loud crash shattered the still of Tuesday night.
One of the Mercedes, a silver 1999 model, T-boned the taxi, drilling it into a utility pole, police say.
Khan, 46, died instantly, and the driver of the mangled Mercedes escaped with just a few scratches. The driver of the other car fled, returning to the scene after ditching his car a few blocks away, posing as a bystander, police say.
...
The accused are university students — believed to be studying at Ryerson and York — and both had attended St. Andrew's College, a prestigious private school in Aurora, graduating in June 2004. One played on St. Andrew's football team, and both were average students who never got in trouble, said head football coach Courtney Shrimpton. One of them lives in a tony neighbourhood just north of the Bridle Path.
Criminally bad judgement isn't limited to kids with money. But in my experience, a privileged upbringing can certainly facilitate it.
And speaking of criminality, this quote bears comment:
Outside the courtroom where the two teens made a brief appearance at bail court in College Park yesterday, the aunt of one described them as "really good boys."
"It's tragic, it's horrible what happened. Now I am going to be worried about him staying in jail with criminals."
Not to put too fine a point on it: that woman's nephew is one of those criminals she doesn't want him associating with. He ended a man's life for the sake of some immature thrill-seeking. Where better than jail to have him stay?
Babble off.
posted by Babbling Brooks @ 11:46 a.m.
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well said Damian.
Damian, that denial-wracked auntie reminds me of the guy who worries his friend is drinking too much: "Yeah, I feel really sorry for him, because he's an alcoholic. Every time I go into the bar to have a drink, he's there, and if he isn't, he shows up before I leave."
By the way, great blog, Sir. I just discovered it about a week ago.
Having done my fair share of criminal work as a wee lad, it was amazing how many non-criminals found themselves in the position of being guilty before the court. It was quite stunning to these folks to find out that beating, cheating fines payment, drunk driving, etc, were actually involved with crime! I think of that every time I hear about "law abiding citizens" as well. Reminds me of the year when I was a kid when a good chunk of the leading businessmen in the church never quite showed up. Our minister father had to tell us that we had to stop asking questions as they had all be sent to jail for running the drug ring in the town, selling to those bad kids on the wrong side of town - the criminal side, you know.
Quit Ye Like Men?
Are you an Old Conway then?
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