Another example of what an 'ass' the law is in BG. As if the parents of Manuela haven't had enough to worry about. A quick court proceedure (irrespective of the amount of compensation they recieve)will at least help them to get on with their lives as best they can. My family have been involved in trivial claims in court that have gone on for 7 or more years... Where is the much needed legal reform?

Ex-NHL player Ramage gets four years in fatal 2003 crash; will appeal Module body 1 hour, 1 minute ago 12 What's this By Gregory Bonnell, The Canadian Press ADVERTISEMENT NEWMARKET, Ont. - Rob Ramage's reputation as an "exemplary citizen" was trumped by a judge's desire to send a strong message of deterrence against drunk driving as the former NHL player was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for a crash that killed his friend, former NHLer Keith Magnuson. Magnuson's death on Dec. 15, 2003, was "tragic and senseless" and occurred under circumstances far too common on the nation's roads and highways, Ontario Superior Court Justice Alexander Sosna said in passing sentence. "The carnage on our roads caused by impaired drivers continues unabated," Sosna said. Ramage's case bore "the hallmarks of too many events, done by too many drivers, culminating in too much pain," he said. Ramage's wife wept as the judge sentenced her husband to prison for impaired driving causing death, among other offences, and banned him from driving for five years after his release. The Ontario Court of Appeal decided Thursday afternoon that Ramage will be allowed to appeal his conviction. Lawyer Brian Greenspan was to seek Ramage's release on bail said he expected his client would soon be home with his family in St. Louis. "Obviously this has been a very trying and emotional time," Greenspan said outside the court. "The release that has been arranged calls for his residence to be in St. Louis." At the sentencing hearing in December, Magnuson's family said they have forgiven Ramage and requested he be spared jail time. Instead, they asked that he be sentenced to travel North America speaking to high school athletes about the dangers of drunk driving. "The Magnuson family ... I thank them for their forgiveness," Ramage told the court before sentence was passed. "Keith Magnuson was a dear friend and mentor. I can only imagine what a loving husband and father he was." Although the judge called Ramage an "exemplary citizen" who has expressed true remorse and wouldn't pose a danger to the community if released, he said the "serious crime" demanded a sentence that would deter others from drinking and driving. Magnuson was killed when a rental car driven by Ramage slammed head-on into another vehicle, driven by Michelle Pacheco, just north of Toronto. Ramage and Magnuson had just left a funeral reception for another former NHL player, Keith McCreary. Pacheco, who was in court Thursday, suffered a broken heel and upper body injuries. Last October, a Newmarket, Ont., jury found Ramage guilty on all five charges he faced. On Thursday, the court stayed one of the counts - having excess blood alcohol - on the mutual consent of the defence and Crown. The prosecution, which had sought a sentence of three to five years, said evidence showed Ramage had up to four times the legal blood-alcohol limit at the time of the crash, although none of the hundreds of people at the funeral reception could say he had a single drink. The defence, which had asked for a conditional sentence to be served in the community, claimed blood and urine tests were flawed and that any smell of alcohol came from beer cans that exploded in the accident. Mark Osborne, a former teammate of Ramage's in Toronto, said he was surprised by the stiff sentence. "It's definitely a lot more than anybody had anticipated," he said. "People had heard a couple of years and maybe less time being served." Osborne said he had spoken to Ramage in the past few days, and the former Maple Leafs captain told him he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions. "What he's learned over the course of time and the support that he's got through friends, I think he's really prepared, emotionally and mentally, to deal with whatever consequences," Osborne said. A Missouri jury has already awarded the Magnuson family US$9.5 million in their civil suit against Ramage and National Car Rentals of Canada. Ramage played 15 seasons as an NHL defenceman with eight teams, winning Stanley Cup rings with the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens. He also played for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers. Ramage retired after the 1993-94 season. Magnuson was a rugged defenceman who played his entire 11-season NHL career with the Blackhawks, retiring after the 1979-80 campaign. He also coached the team for a season and a half. WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS NEWS STORY Nobody may be forgiven for killing POSTED BY: petrovskyn on THU, JAN 17, 2008 08:44 PM -0500 0 0 Report Abuse Hmmm how can the judge say a 4 year sentence is a strong deterent to drunk driving and killing a passenger? Sentencing seems a little short and with good behaviour and counselling he'll be out in 2 years if not 3. POSTED BY: William Q. on THU, JAN 17, 2008 08:43 PM -0500 0 0 Report Abuse OKAY THERE ARE CIGARETTES AND DRUGS AND ALCHOL OUT THERE. I DO NOT NO HOW THE REST OF CANADA FEELS BUT I DO NOT GO TO CHURCH. I WORK AND AVERAGE OF 140HOURS IN 11DAYS STRAIGHT THEN I TIE ON ON. LOOK AT THE FARMERS THAT MADE THIS GREAT NATION THEY STILL DRIVE HOME DRUNK AT 2MILES PER HOUR ON EVERY BACK ROAD OUT THERE. FIRST OFF SLOW DOWN PEOPLE AND SECOND YOU CAN NOT BAN EVERYTHING THATS BAD.YOU HAVE WILL POWER SO USE MAKE A CHOICE.IFYOU SCREWED UP YOU SHOULD GET A STIFF TREATMENT.OILFIELD/FARMER POSTED BY: KCP on THU, JAN 17, 2008 08:36 PM -0500 0 0 Report Abuse Shamrock,what proof do you have of a previous DUI in St Louis?The only other ST Louis related story that I can recall involving a hockey player and the law was Gilmore's diddling the 14 year old girl.Do you really think that if Ramage had a a previous DUI,it wouldn't have been made public by now,except for your BS statement? PROVE IT,there has to be some record of it,now prove it,especially given the profile of this trial. POSTED BY: zhappyending on THU, JAN 17, 2008 08:28 PM -0500 0 0 Report Abuse dont get me wrong,i dont agree with drinking and driving.but tell me where the justice is when dany heatley can do the exact same thing to his best freind a few years ago and get off scot free,cause the parents of the victim didnt want to see dany go to jail,and the magnuson family fells the same way about rob ramage going to jail and they have forgiven him,but the justice system is so different in canada and the states it is pathetic. REST IN PEACE KEITH. POSTED BY: JOHN A on THU, JAN 17, 2008 08:23 PM -0500 0 0 Report Abuse 1 - 5 of 110 | More... POST YOUR COMMENT You must sign in to leave a comment. LIKE IT? 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