This BLOG was established as a site to express feelings of the heart and mind surrounding the June 19, 2005 hit and run death of 15 year old Kayla Peter. The registered owner of the Lexus that killed Kayla is Susanna Goihman owner/chef of Azafran Restaurant located at 617 S. Third Street.
I don't know the Goihmans, and I haven't eaten at Azafran since 1999. I'm just a resident of this area.
At some point, for me, this all seemed to cross over from a desire for justice to a desire for vengeance, and that bothers me. Ms. Persico, in particular, seems to have a lot of sadness and unresolved issues from the prior tragedy in her family. And that's understandable, and she has my utmost sympathy, but that doesn't mean this is the proper forum or means for resolving all that.
The legal system works -- the police and DA's office aren't going to sit quietly when there's a dead body left at the side of the road. But investigations take time -- police don't want to arrest the defendant until they have to, to make sure they've got the evidence they need to hold the suspect and convict her.
There's no evidence that I know of, however, that the driver of that car (assuming it's Ms. Goihman) acted with evil intent. At worst (and most likely), she was stupid and grossly, grossly irresponsible. Whether she has an alcohol problem, was just drunk that night or wasn't even drunk at all, the criminal justice system is fully capable of assessing her responsibility and punishing accordingly. Both justice and mercy will be handed down as appropriate.
The law punishes; we don't. I don't see what legitimate purpose was done in shutting down her business and hurting her employees, or in harassing her neighbors.
I'd rather we all spent our energy supporting MADD and better street lighting to prevent future deaths rather than fighting with each other here.
This is a victory for justice. And these people have every right to celebrate.
What's really sad is that she didn't take responsibility for her actions immediately.
She ran like a coward and left a little girl to die in the street. If she had stopped to render aid, perhaps there wouldn't be warrant for her arrest. Could it be that she was drinking when she hit her and KNEW she'd be going to jail if she stopped?
Why am I wasting my "breath"?
To all who stood shoulder to should and wouldn't let Kayla's death be swept under the rug, KUDOS to you. Celebrate as much as you want!
I don't want to spend any more time in a space where open discussion is clearly unwelcome. The hurt and pain many of you have suffered is still too glaring to allow it, and the idea that alcoholism is a pernicious disease that merits some sympathy is clearly not going to gain a fair hearing.
I will just note that PA law will punish as follows:
"Any person who unintentionally causes the death of another person as the result of . . . driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and who is convicted of violating [the law regarding driving under the influence] is guilty of a felony of the second degree when the violation is the cause of death.
"The penalty is a mandatory sentence of 3-10 years incarceration and consecutive 3-10 year terms for each victim whose death is a result. The fine may be as high as $25,000 per victim."
I will apologize to Mrs. P. if I am speaking out of turn here, but I beleive this was intended for open discussion.
As you noted in your last post, many who come here are, in fact, too hurt to consider anything except elation with every step towards justice.
You note that "The legal system works -- the sad truth is, it doesn't always unless there are "cameras" on it.
My niece and her unborn son were killed by someone who, we were told, was not impaired in any way when his car struck hers (on the shoulder of the road, doing 70 mph). No criminal charges were filed by the DA. We finally received the official investigation report and in it, the driver confesses to having had A BEER. And there's more than just that and would take entirely too long to explain here. But the fact is that there are too many discrepancies in the report for us to overlookand trust that the justice system works on it's own. And so your statement:
"Whether she has an alcohol problem, was just drunk that night or wasn't even drunk at all, the criminal justice system is fully capable of assessing her responsibility"
really hard for me to get my arms around.
Regarding the idea that alcoholism is a pernicious disease that merits some sympathy, you're right, at this time it probably won't merit sympathy on this page but I'd be glad to discuss it with you. I know first hand what a pernicious disease it is. And that MAY explain why she ran. But it certainly doesn't explain why she refused to speak during sober moments. My ex is a recovering alcoholic and in the wake of some of his most irresponsible acts, he felt remorse.
If she is, in fact, an alcoholic, which I certainly don't know for sure, that doesn't excuse her making the choice to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence.
Hey, you wanna drink your life away you be my guest, but stay the hell off the road.
I do have sympathy for those who are addicted. I realize that the things they do under the influence are probably not things they'd do in a sober moment. But I DON'T have sympathy for someone who is aware of their problem and refuse to take action to resolve it.
Randi, you NEVER, EVERhave to offer an apology. You and your story drive all of us to continue this quest to completion...and ...to get involved for others and their messages well after this is done.
I know your reaction was from the heart and not the head. While I don't know for sure, I am assuming that you are a friend of Kayla's. Death is so hard for most everyone, but especially for the young.
I lost a sister to a house fire when I was 14, she was 13. Now, 27 years later I lost my niece to whom I was very close.
Can I tell you..........I reacted most often with my heart than with my head when I lost my sister. The opposite was true when I lost my niece.
It seems that as we get older, while no one wants death to touch their lives, we tend to expect that it will happen to someone we know. And for those of faith, the message of life everlasting, the moving on to a place of peace is of more ocomfort than perhaps it would be to a teenager. I know that message didn't comfort me one bit at 14.
My heart hurts for yours. I understand your grief. Keep talking about it to people who understand. Let your tears come when they want to come. And in the moments between the tears,....live. That's what Kayla would have wanted.
When you read an offensive comment, try to remember that the person writing may not have the in depth knowledge of the situation as perhaps you or I have. It's alot easier to be sympathetic when you're not emotionally attached.
A very wise friend once offered me this to think about:
Some times in life you can't change the situation, but changing the way you LOOK AT IT makes it bearable.
It's been working for me for years!!!! Hope it does for you too.
Hi all, today, Monday August 22, we will watch and wait to see if the arrest warrant has been presented to the DA. If we hear no word we will bigin phase 3 of "Justice For Kayla".
16 comments:
It seems an Arrest Warrant will be signed as early as some time today!!! Just heard the news on Channel 6.
So as it turnsout, perhaps tonight will be a celebration of Kayla's life AND a celebration of the arrest of her killer.
http://www.nbc10.com/news/4870779/detail.html
This case is a tragedy for everyone involved. The kind of giddiness and jubilation being expressed here is completely inappropriate.
I don't know the Goihmans, and I haven't eaten at Azafran since 1999. I'm just a resident of this area.
At some point, for me, this all seemed to cross over from a desire for justice to a desire for vengeance, and that bothers me. Ms. Persico, in particular, seems to have a lot of sadness and unresolved issues from the prior tragedy in her family. And that's understandable, and she has my utmost sympathy, but that doesn't mean this is the proper forum or means for resolving all that.
The legal system works -- the police and DA's office aren't going to sit quietly when there's a dead body left at the side of the road. But investigations take time -- police don't want to arrest the defendant until they have to, to make sure they've got the evidence they need to hold the suspect and convict her.
There's no evidence that I know of, however, that the driver of that car (assuming it's Ms. Goihman) acted with evil intent. At worst (and most likely), she was stupid and grossly, grossly irresponsible. Whether she has an alcohol problem, was just drunk that night or wasn't even drunk at all, the criminal justice system is fully capable of assessing her responsibility and punishing accordingly. Both justice and mercy will be handed down as appropriate.
The law punishes; we don't. I don't see what legitimate purpose was done in shutting down her business and hurting her employees, or in harassing her neighbors.
I'd rather we all spent our energy supporting MADD and better street lighting to prevent future deaths rather than fighting with each other here.
Just to reiterate, based on what SeanSister said while I was writing:
I absolutely agree with all of you: the driver's actions were reckless and reprehensible.
That doesn't mean that I have to agree with the way you've chosen to respond.
Kingsley,
This is a victory for justice. And these people have every right to celebrate.
What's really sad is that she didn't take responsibility for her actions immediately.
She ran like a coward and left a little girl to die in the street. If she had stopped to render aid, perhaps there wouldn't be warrant for her arrest. Could it be that she was drinking when she hit her and KNEW she'd be going to jail if she stopped?
Why am I wasting my "breath"?
To all who stood shoulder to should and wouldn't let Kayla's death be swept under the rug, KUDOS to you. Celebrate as much as you want!
I don't want to spend any more time in a space where open discussion is clearly unwelcome. The hurt and pain many of you have suffered is still too glaring to allow it, and the idea that alcoholism is a pernicious disease that merits some sympathy is clearly not going to gain a fair hearing.
I will just note that PA law will punish as follows:
"Any person who unintentionally causes the death of another person as the result of . . . driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and who is convicted of violating [the law regarding driving under the influence] is guilty of a felony of the second degree when the violation is the cause of death.
"The penalty is a mandatory sentence of 3-10 years incarceration and consecutive 3-10 year terms for each victim whose death is a result. The fine may be as high as $25,000 per victim."
Have faith in the system. Justice will be done.
Kingsley,
I will apologize to Mrs. P. if I am speaking out of turn here, but I beleive this was intended for open discussion.
As you noted in your last post, many who come here are, in fact, too hurt to consider anything except elation with every step towards justice.
You note that "The legal system works -- the sad truth is, it doesn't always unless there are "cameras" on it.
My niece and her unborn son were killed by someone who, we were told, was not impaired in any way when his car struck hers (on the shoulder of the road, doing 70 mph). No criminal charges were filed by the DA. We finally received the official investigation report and in it, the driver confesses to having had A BEER. And there's more than just that and would take entirely too long to explain here. But the fact is that there are too many discrepancies in the report for us to overlookand trust that the justice system works on it's own. And so your statement:
"Whether she has an alcohol problem, was just drunk that night or wasn't even drunk at all, the criminal justice system is fully capable of assessing her responsibility"
really hard for me to get my arms around.
Regarding the idea that alcoholism is a pernicious disease that merits some sympathy, you're right, at this time it probably won't merit sympathy on this page but I'd be glad to discuss it with you. I know first hand what a pernicious disease it is. And that MAY explain why she ran. But it certainly doesn't explain why she refused to speak during sober moments. My ex is a recovering alcoholic and in the wake of some of his most irresponsible acts, he felt remorse.
If she is, in fact, an alcoholic, which I certainly don't know for sure, that doesn't excuse her making the choice to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence.
Hey, you wanna drink your life away you be my guest, but stay the hell off the road.
I do have sympathy for those who are addicted. I realize that the things they do under the influence are probably not things they'd do in a sober moment. But I DON'T have sympathy for someone who is aware of their problem and refuse to take action to resolve it.
Randi, you NEVER, EVERhave to offer an apology. You and your story drive all of us to continue this quest to completion...and
...to get involved for others and their messages well after this is done.
With deep respect.
Donna
Cmon now...everyone is entitled to speak their mind. We all have different views and perspectives. It's what makes the world go 'round.
Brokenhearted,
I know your reaction was from the heart and not the head. While I don't know for sure, I am assuming that you are a friend of Kayla's. Death is so hard for most everyone, but especially for the young.
I lost a sister to a house fire when I was 14, she was 13. Now, 27 years later I lost my niece to whom I was very close.
Can I tell you..........I reacted most often with my heart than with my head when I lost my sister. The opposite was true when I lost my niece.
It seems that as we get older, while no one wants death to touch their lives, we tend to expect that it will happen to someone we know. And for those of faith, the message of life everlasting, the moving on to a place of peace is of more ocomfort than perhaps it would be to a teenager. I know that message didn't comfort me one bit at 14.
My heart hurts for yours. I understand your grief. Keep talking about it to people who understand. Let your tears come when they want to come. And in the moments between the tears,....live. That's what Kayla would have wanted.
Brokenhearted
One final thought......
When you read an offensive comment, try to remember that the person writing may not have the in depth knowledge of the situation as perhaps you or I have. It's alot easier to be sympathetic when you're not emotionally attached.
A very wise friend once offered me this to think about:
Some times in life you can't change the situation, but changing the way you LOOK AT IT makes it bearable.
It's been working for me for years!!!! Hope it does for you too.
Hugs
As of today, there's no warrant.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/12429502.htm
I'm sure that hard work and patience will eventually pay off.
How long can it possibly take to write, type and issue a warrant? Perhaps enough time to allow "G to flee?" God help this city if that happens.
Hi all, today, Monday August 22, we will watch and wait to see if the arrest warrant has been presented to the DA. If we hear no word we will bigin phase 3 of "Justice For Kayla".
Patti O.
I'm on my knees!!!!!!
Knock it off! I'm thanking God....what were you thinking????
WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
And she looked like shit too. Even better!
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