English
We have recently interviewed family and friends involved in the Harcourt tragedy on the 3-1-2008.
A tragedy that happened because, once again like so many other times someone jumped into their car and drove after consuming alcohol, putting their own and all other passengers lives at risk.
How many times have we seen the news coverage of these horrible wastes of life in the carnage on our roads? And we will keep seeing it until people get the message “don’t drink and drive”.
Brenton Chaplin and Leigh Charter were the best of mates and always had been. Leigh Charter was a regular at the Chaplin home and loved the Chaplin family.
On the 3rd of January 2008, Brenton Chaplin, Leigh Charter and three other mates were at a BBQ when Brenton decided to visit a female friend. Leigh and the 3 other mates went along even though they were all intoxicated.
Brenton drove, he took a 80km corner at the speed (estimated by police) to be between 117 and 124kms an hour. He lost control of the car and it rolled. Two of the passengers were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the car. One of the passengers was Leigh Charter who was killed.
Good people, bad decisions. The decisions that were made that night led to the death of Leigh Charter and then on to an horrific chain of events that would end with two families totally shattered.
Accidents are called accidents because that is just what they are, Accidents- Not something that was done on purpose with any thought of malice towards anyone. However when that accident occurs because of a stupid, thoughtless decision there must be a punishment. Something that makes people stop and think before they make rash decisions that will harm others. That punishment in a case like this falls under the heading of justice.
It would be hard to imagine the heartache and grief that both the Chaplin and Charter families were feeling about Leigh Charter’s death, especially the Charters grief. Sometime that grief is too much to bear and we
A tragedy that happened because, once again like so many other times someone jumped into their car and drove after consuming alcohol, putting their own and all other passengers lives at risk.
How many times have we seen the news coverage of these horrible wastes of life in the carnage on our roads? And we will keep seeing it until people get the message “don’t drink and drive”.
Brenton Chaplin and Leigh Charter were the best of mates and always had been. Leigh Charter was a regular at the Chaplin home and loved the Chaplin family.
On the 3rd of January 2008, Brenton Chaplin, Leigh Charter and three other mates were at a BBQ when Brenton decided to visit a female friend. Leigh and the 3 other mates went along even though they were all intoxicated.
Brenton drove, he took a 80km corner at the speed (estimated by police) to be between 117 and 124kms an hour. He lost control of the car and it rolled. Two of the passengers were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the car. One of the passengers was Leigh Charter who was killed.
Good people, bad decisions. The decisions that were made that night led to the death of Leigh Charter and then on to an horrific chain of events that would end with two families totally shattered.
Accidents are called accidents because that is just what they are, Accidents- Not something that was done on purpose with any thought of malice towards anyone. However when that accident occurs because of a stupid, thoughtless decision there must be a punishment. Something that makes people stop and think before they make rash decisions that will harm others. That punishment in a case like this falls under the heading of justice.
It would be hard to imagine the heartache and grief that both the Chaplin and Charter families were feeling about Leigh Charter’s death, especially the Charters grief. Sometime that grief is too much to bear and we