Incriminating Evidence
A couple riding their bicycles together in Pleasanton, Calif., were hit by a passing car; the 58-year-old wife was killed. The 18-year-old driver refused to give a statement to police, and was released. Once investigators determined he was driving 83 mph in a 40 mph zone, Cody Hall was charged with felony reckless driving, and vehicular manslaughter. But locals were shocked when those charges were upgraded to second-degree murder. Prosecutors must show “implied malice” to prove that Hall engaged in “an intentional, unlawful act done with conscious disregard for the risk to human life” for a murder conviction. They may have the evidence they need for that: investigators found Hall’s Twitter account, where his pre-crash posts included such gems as “Drive fast live young” and “Someone come on a death ride with me !!!” He is being held without bail, and faces 15 years to life in prison. (RC/San Francisco Chronicle, NPR) ...Anything you Tweet can and will be used against you in a court of law.Story Update: Due to the circumstances, Hall faced a murder charge, but prosecutors reached an agreement with him that allowed him to plead no contest to the lesser charge of felony vehicular manslaughter. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Original Publication Date: 18 August 2013
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 20.
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 20.
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