Haley Barbour's responsibilty in the death of 18 year old Charity Smith

[sad sally]

OXFORD, MS (CNN) - Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour granted nearly 200 pardons on this way out of office, and most of the controversy has focused on the release of four convicted murderers.

But now it's a repeat drunken driver that's causing the outrage after receiving a pardon while in jail for a fourth DUI that resulted in death.

After Mississippi police arrested Harry Bostick for drunk driving at twice the legal limit, his third time in one year, he pled guilty to the felony charge and received a sentence of house arrest for one year. He was also to spend four years in an alcohol abuse program.

A federal prosecutor wrote, "Harry no longer drinks alcohol and can now be a positive factor in many lives." The Mississippi parole board recommended Bostick receive a pardon and Barbour agreed.

Just 7 days after he was recommended for a pardon, Linda Smith's 18-year-old daughter, Charity, was killed in a violent car crash. The driver was Harry Bostick.

http://www.wafb.com/story/16668075/teenage-death-sheds-more-light-on-controversial-pardons?du

and yes, the records show this was his fourth DUI.

[Angry Dragon]

1. Blame the parole board

it was their idea

[gopiscrap]

2. This needs to be hung around the GOP's neck

like Willie Horton was around the Dem's neck in 1988

[malaise]

3. My exact thought

[Zalatix]

4. The Dems are too "civil" to do that to the GOP

translation: timid.

[NutmegYankee]

5. The Pardon came after the death of the 18 year-old

Sick none the less to pardon this guy, but Barbour isn't responsible for her death. His pardon took effect while the drunk driver was in jail for the crash that killed her.

[hughee99]

6. Yes, but it's not as good of a story, then. n/t

[libinnyandia]

7. It is not inconceivable that the pardon could result in another death in the future. What would that

headline say? Barbour is evil and has no heart.

[NutmegYankee]

11. All I did was point out a fact.

Why the pouty post? I dislike Barbour's pardons because they were politically motivated and rewarded influential friends. It's an example of classic republican corruption. But, the OP's statement was factually incorrect, and I pointed that out. Also to blame in this screw up is a pardon system that doesn't confirm that the subject isn't charged with another crime before final approval of the pardon.

As for a future death - It is likely this drunk will go to jail with a felony conviction again, except this one will add felony negligent homicide and rack those years up.

[tabasco]

9. I hope he didn't have any pot on him

or he'll be in REAL trouble.

[JI7]

10. i'm watching the mother of this girl on CNN right now , it's really difficult to watch

she is in so much pain . that poor woman.

[puddin5]

12. Charity's paintings

Wouldn't it be neat if Charity's mom had prints made of Charity's paintings and we could buy them?
If anyone finds out about this, please let me know at [e-mail]

[madokie]

13. You know I'm just glad I quit drinking before I caused an injury

mine or anyone else's. If my drinking caused someones death I don't think I could live with that. It would have killed me as sure as the accident did the victim.