[Industrialblog,
March 7, 2007]
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad
I've been following this story for a while ... it was a horrible murder in my hometown of Toms River, N.J. In 1996, a 17-year-old named Michael LaSane brutally murdered popular teacher Kathleen Weinstein for her car. The case garnered national fame because Weinstein taped a conversation with LaSane prior to her murder. The tape proved critical to the investigation.
LaSane was arrested two days later, Weinstein's car parked in front of his house. He ended up pleading guilty to murder, and received a 30-to-life sentence. A gift. That means he'd get out of jail, in all likelihood, at age 47. He could spend the second half of his life a free man. If he took advantage of his time in prison, that would mean he could potentially get at least part of his life back.
But LaSane instead got his plea overturned and was awarded a new trial. The evidence against him was ironclad. He had no chance for acquittal. But he was too blinded by something to understand that. His case was nationally famous, the tape leaves no doubt that it's him. The prosecutor proceeded to indict LaSane on charges of murder, carjacking and kidnapping. Now he's looking at 60 years without parole — getting out of jail at age 77.
Today he was convicted. Sentencing for the future ...
We'll keep you posted.
Bottom line: He got 30 years for murder, and faces another 30 years for not realizing what a gift he got the first time around. I guess if you're dumb enough to throw someone else's life away for a car, and dumb enough to throw your own life away by killing someone, you're dumb enough not to learn from your mistakes after 11 years in jail.
LaSane was arrested two days later, Weinstein's car parked in front of his house. He ended up pleading guilty to murder, and received a 30-to-life sentence. A gift. That means he'd get out of jail, in all likelihood, at age 47. He could spend the second half of his life a free man. If he took advantage of his time in prison, that would mean he could potentially get at least part of his life back.
But LaSane instead got his plea overturned and was awarded a new trial. The evidence against him was ironclad. He had no chance for acquittal. But he was too blinded by something to understand that. His case was nationally famous, the tape leaves no doubt that it's him. The prosecutor proceeded to indict LaSane on charges of murder, carjacking and kidnapping. Now he's looking at 60 years without parole — getting out of jail at age 77.
Today he was convicted. Sentencing for the future ...
We'll keep you posted.
Bottom line: He got 30 years for murder, and faces another 30 years for not realizing what a gift he got the first time around. I guess if you're dumb enough to throw someone else's life away for a car, and dumb enough to throw your own life away by killing someone, you're dumb enough not to learn from your mistakes after 11 years in jail.