| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 4:38:02 PM |
ROSE VALLEY, Saskatchewan — A Canadian father who left his two toddler daughters to die in a blizzard wearing only diapers and T-shirts was sentenced to three years in prison Friday.
The sentencing came four months after Christopher Pauchay pleaded guilty to a single count of criminal negligence for causing the girls' deaths.
He lost the 1- and 3-year-olds while walking to a neighbor's house during a storm Jan. 29, 2008, with the wind chill hovering at 58 degrees below zero. Pauchay's family said he was drunk at the time.
Pauchay was suffering severe frostbite when he eventually made it to the neighbor's home and was taken to a hospital. Eight hours later, when he was able to speak, he asked about his children — setting off a frantic search that ended hours later when the girls were found dead in a field.
Pauchay's common-law wife, who publicly said she would stand by him after he pleaded guilty, was not at home when the girls died. The couple had another baby girl earlier this year.
Defense lawyer Ron Piche told the court this week that Pauchay was a doting father who had a momentary lapse in judgment.
"There's a lot of people that think wrongly about me. Those were my girls and I loved them," the 24-year-old Pauchay said.
However, provincial court Judge Barry Morgan said Friday that he felt Pauchay lacked insight into his behavior and wasn't willing to accept responsibility for what happened.
Pauchay, a member of the Yellow Quill First Nation, told a sentencing circle last month that he should never have been charged with a crime and described the deaths as an accident.
Prosecutor Marylynne Beaton argued Pauchay deserved to serve 2 1/2 to 5 years in prison. She said Pauchay made a choice to get drunk while he was taking care of his daughters and also rejected an offer of help from a brother-in-law who realized Pauchay was drunk that night.
Pauchay has 52 convictions, most of them for property offenses and failing to show up for court appearances or comply with court orders.
The 900-member Yellow Quill First Nation has been plagued for decades by alcohol abuse, high unemployment and a lack of housing.
After the girls' death, Chief Robert Whitehead called for an addiction treatment center on the reserve. A plan is still in the works and in the hands of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, he said
i heard this on the radio earlier and really didnt know which side of the story to feel more upset about,
should i be angry because a drunk was left in charge of babies?
or should i be mad because of a justice system that sees it fit, to not only admit that a father made a mistake which cost him the lives of 2 children he loved, but slapped him when he was already emotionally crippled and opted to put him in prison for 3 years.
really,. what is 3 yrs going to do?
this clown robert whitehead decided after these deaths to finally ask for a treatment center??? what kind of leader acts after the event has already occured????
if this is the best leadership they can get on these reserves i think its time to expect a deeper level of education and commitment from officials in charge of anything greater than a dinner fork.
it says they been plagued by alcoholism and unemployment for decades. how long were they prepared to sit on their hands before acting to protect the people they are supposed to be leading?
i realize its a tuff thing to defeat, however to wait for decades as the story says to actively seek a treatment center is ridiculous.
the whole story really got me upset. , there has to be a way to do something to stop these things from happening.
what do you think? more prison time? prohibition ? limits on sales of alcohol?
something else i find funny is, how come you cant bring a child under 18 into a bar or liscenced business, yet derelict parents can have alcohol stacked up in the fridge, along the walls and in plain site of the same children in their homes? isnt this a tad bit hypocritical ? | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 4:52:47 PM |
it says they been plagued by alcoholism and unemployment for decades. how long were they prepared to sit on their hands before acting to protect the people they are supposed to be leading?
Yep, that's a problem in a lot of places - and not just First Nations.
Governments at every level are generally reactive, not pro-active.
A comparison would be the dangerous intersection, where people have called for traffic lights for years to no avail. Then a pre-schooler gets killed as she tries crossing the street and bam - next week there are lights installed.
how come you cant bring a child under 18 into a bar or liscenced business, yet derelict parents can have alcohol stacked up in the fridge, along the walls and in plain site of the same children in their homes? isnt this a tad bit hypocritical ?
I'd say it's more irresponsible than hypocritical. In order for it to be hypocritical, those derelict parents would have to agree with the laws. Those types of parents would probably bring their kids to the bars with them, if they could: you know... save on babysitter money so they could have 2 more beers before last call. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 7:10:09 PM | i meant hypocritical in the legal sense. not on the parents part .
its not ok for the kids to look at booze in public establishments, however , you can influence them at home with it
when are we going to truly hit these people where it counts? there are drugs that can be administered to make them sick if they touch alcohol or certain drugs, why arent we adding these to the parole requirements?
screw the rights of the victimizers already, how many more innocents need to be sacrificed at the altar of human rights for the subhumans. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 7:46:25 PM | The thing about those drugs is they are only effective if they are taken. They work if the person is institutionalized and the drug is administered by a doctor or nurse, but can you see someone with such a drinking problem voluntarily taking that drug? I can't.
I sure don't know what the answer is trubblmakr, but I agree totally that it is extremely frustrating. Three years for killing two babies. Sad. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 7:54:41 PM | This whole story was, and still is, very gut wrenching for me. Being a mom, I can't even imagine what those poor babies went through. Not only from the exposure, but to have a father who is an alcholic that probably drank himself into a stuppor every day of their lives. WHERE WAS THE COMMUNITY THEN?! The community shows so much dam caring AFTER the fact. Did no one see that this guy was a chronic alcholic raising these babies?!!?
This father's sentence was way too lenient ---- typical Canadian Justice System sentence | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 7:58:04 PM | to be honest , i dont hold this man at fault.
he was a known drunkard, known as being this way by the babies mother and the brother, they both lewft him in charge, if anyone is to be considered "negligent" and at fault . i say the blame lays on the people that delegatted this guy the responsibility.
i think and hope those two are ashamed of them,selves and i hope that they might have learned a little lesson by the deaths of these children
if you recall the adage about the scorpion and the fox i think it explains the roles quite clearly in this instance
A scorpion was wandering along the bank of the river, wondering how to get to the other side. Suddenly he saw a fox. He asked the fox to take him on his back across the river.
The fox said, "No. If I do that, you'll sting me and I'll drown."
The scorpion assured him, "If I did that, we'd both drown."
So the fox thought about it and finally agreed. So the scorpion climbed up on his back and the fox began to swim. But halfway across the river, the scorpion stung him.
As the poison filled his veins, the fox turned to the scorpion and said, "Why did you do that? Now you'll drown too."
"I couldn't help it," said the scorpion. "It's my nature."
the mother and the brother both knew the nature of the accused. they both blindly turned their heads away and allowed an irresponsible man , to have a role as important as taking careof these 2 babies.
this doesnt remove the fault or blame , it merely shows the folly of not taking ones responsibilities seriously.
personally, id never leave my baby with a drunk , that would just be stupid. wouldnt u agree?
so if its stupid for me to do it or for you to do it, then how come we lay the full blame and fault on the only one that was acting according to his nature?
The thing about those drugs is they are only effective if they are taken. They work if the person is institutionalized and the drug is administered by a doctor or nurse,
well, we can put breathalizers in cars, and force criminals to see parole officers.
are we that impotent in our justice system that we cant add as a condition of being out of prison, a task of appearing every day at a prescribed time at a drs office or parole office where these drugs will be administered? failure to appear will result in being put back in prison
this wouldnt be a tuff thing to enact or make happen in any way
we just have to actually WANT to fix a severely flawed system | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 9:58:27 PM | it says they been plagued by alcoholism and unemployment for decades. how long were they prepared to sit on their hands before acting to protect the people they are supposed to be leading?
Widespread negative publicity brings the desire for change, as long as it's a 'private' issue amongst the members there's no need for strong action. It's a sad fact and we see it everywhere... ** Edit: I almost forgot to say, that doesn't make it ok but obviously that's the way things work, reserve leaders are just as irresponsible as any other political leader that chooses to be reactive instead of proactive. It's a sad sad state and I for one sincerely hope that this can be an awakening for this particular group along with so many others that are plagued with the same...
how come you cant bring a child under 18 into a bar or liscenced business, yet derelict parents can have alcohol stacked up in the fridge, along the walls and in plain site of the same children in their homes? isnt this a tad bit hypocritical ?
You can't stop someone from having it in their home, it's their private choice, obviously I agree that parents need to be more responsible for what they are subjecting their children to and how they deal with alcohol and other such issues... at least the government is taking responsibility for the regulated side but they can't spy on every parent and throw them in jail for keep liquor in the house. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/7/2009 10:46:49 PM | well they can apparently stop us from owning and improperly storing firearms in our homes. and it is policed accordingly.
it seems the gov only takes responsibility for things it can apply more taxation to and charge licensing fees for.when do we hold them accountable for not taking appropriate action to prevent things like this?
they jail a guy for 3 yrs . a minimalistic sentence which will certainly cause media hype and dsell papers and anger the general public, for a NON CRIME , what did he do really? he didnt actually kill anyone, he really didnt even allow anyone to die, he was put in charge of babies , when he was in no shape or condition to take charge of them. why isnt the mother being jailed and the brother in law?they , if anyone are the ones truly responsible in this situation.
im sure a 3 yr jail sentence will rehabilitate a man that lost his own 2 babies,
if it were me i think id be wishing for death every day. id be praying id died that night as well.
i think the legal precedent being set in this situation will bring shame to canada and all its people for many years to come, the leniency and the lack of human compassion , and in the end, the lack of action to correct this type of situation . | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 6:59:03 AM | I don't know what to think of this.
People can get lost in a blizzard when they're sober too.
Need more info maybe. Why were they all outside?
If the mom couldn't be with the kids and the only person available to watch over them was a chronic alcoholic who was intoxicated at the time, then that's not very good. Sounds like more support in the community is a good idea, even some respite care for the kids so they can be safe while mom takes a break. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 10:59:19 AM |
People can get lost in a blizzard when they're sober too.
True... but would they take basically naked babies (Tshirst and diapers) outside in -58C temperatures? That really is beyond alcohol-induced stupidity. It sounds more like an attempted murder-suicide to me. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 6:15:14 PM | Cndn girl, you must have not read the story. It happened quite a while ago and the details were widely reported.
They weren't out lost in the wilderness or anything. They found that one of the girls had a cut leg so it's believed the father was taking them to get it looked after, but he was so out of his mind drunk that he passed out in the snow. He may have been drunk for days. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 8:04:14 PM | Daisy, I seem to remember hearing that there was party at someone's home, the mother and father and children were there.. Drinking ensued and the mother and her brother left to go party somewhere else.
At some point, Dad decided to walk to their home.. 1 km or so from the party home. He grabbed the girls, and headed out.. Apparently forgetting coats, blankets etc.
He was found hypothermic near a road and put in the drunk tank.. apparently when he sobered up he remembered he had the girls with him. They went back and found them.
Quite honestly, what he has to live with for the rest of his life in guilt is probably the only meaningful sentence he'll get.
Alcohol abuse on the reserves is rampant. Two little girls died on this one but hundred's more are raped, abused, starved and neglected by their own parents every week across Canada. It's not one particular reserve, its widespread. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 8:14:16 PM | Thank you, Bipolarintense, for posting the link to the complete decision by the judge in this particular case.
Pauchay, who has a whopping 51 entries on his criminal record, hasn't successfully quit drinking since the death of his daughters, and according to this document, questions what prison is going to do for him, and how he was being kept from the things he loves to do. Sounds really chock full of repentance, doesn't he?
According to the decision, both Pauchay and Jimmy (the girls' mother) abused alcohol on a regular basis. The couple fought, and the mom took off for the weekend, leaving Pauchay with the kids. It doesn't say why the mother didn't take the kids with her. He then made the decision to buy booze, become el blotto, and take his nearly-naked kids outside during a blizzard.
Keep in mind this guy will be eligible for parole at 1/3 his sentence, seeing as he is a federal inmate. And he'll get double credit for the remand time he's done. I'd be surprised if this guy does over a year in the joint.
I also read about his time at a residential school, and the fact his parents were also alcoholics. While I can sympathize with the abuse and horrible environment he grew up in (my upbringing was abusive as well), I think it's up to the individual to find the intestinal fortitude to conquer one's addictions, and be a grown-up. If I can do it, so can anyone. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 9:19:29 PM | | Can anyone answer these questions - is his wife/g-f expecting their third baby? I seem to recall hearing that somewhere. If so, what happens to this baby when he is released from prison? Will he have the same parental rights? | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 9:48:03 PM |
what is 3 yrs going to do?
this man will have to live the rest of his life w/the loss of his children.. so in essences he`ll have a life sentence hanging over him..
this clown robert whitehead decided after these deaths to finally ask for a treatment center???
how do you know that the chief hadn`t tried prior to these deaths??.. remember the media only gives us bits n pieces of a story & not the whole story..
there has to be a way to do something to stop these things from happening
when you find this 'something' OP.. then let the rest of us know.. k?!.. apparently educating people on alcohol abuse isn`t doing any good.. look at how many people are dieing at the hands of an alcoholic person (s) each day!.. i stopped counting awhile back on how many people come into ER under the influence of alcohol or that have been hurt by a drunk driver!.. its truly a sad world we live in when innocence people pay the price w/their lives by an alcoholic!.. | |
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Joined: 8/31/2008
Msg: 20 | |
| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 10:32:02 PM | Yeah the media is quick to point out people's culture when the criminal is not white. The blame goes to the race. NHI attitudes of the courts may be related to this? Nah This is Canada there is no racism here. Aboriginals have only been considered legally human for 40 years. Look at the States, it's been a couple hundred years before Dark skinned people there were considered human until now where they are gaining acceptance. Expect Canada to take longer because the average citizen doesn't acknowkedge how racist their policies are. Heads in the sand won't make change.
Acoholism is an affliction of all races. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/8/2009 10:46:48 PM | Yet it is only the "natives/aboriginals/indians" or whatever is the chosen word of the day that ask for a separate justice system "healing circle/tribal consult". I am sorry if that is racist to some but gimme a break... his "elders" decided he should serve his time in the community... yah... right... that always works... or has worked before.,. or ever did... In his past!
I also fail to know what the United States has to do with anything about this?
You do the crime... you do the time... it has nothing to do with race.
Edited to add.. do you have any proof of the NHI factor in this case? | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/9/2009 5:56:44 AM | this man will have to live the rest of his life w/the loss of his children.. so in essences he`ll have a life sentence hanging over him..
That was someone's answer to "What will 3 years do?"
Yeah. Poor guy. Except...
Pauchay, who has a whopping 51 entries on his criminal record, hasn't successfully quit drinking since the death of his daughters, and according to this document, questions what prison is going to do for him, and how he was being kept from the things he loves to do. Sounds really chock full of repentance, doesn't he? | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/9/2009 7:37:00 AM | | This will likely ruffle more than a few feathers. This fellow has been in trouble for a long time.In my opinion,his breeding ability should be terminated, and he should be counselled about life skills-IMHO! | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/9/2009 9:26:18 AM | Don't bring the race card into effect in rgards to this monster. You're implying he's getting a bad wrap for being native. It's assumed being that he's native the media portrayed him as a "typical native drunk or drug abuser".
The only race card i've seen played out with this case is a race card that benifited him. 3 years for a brutal murder; wow, how disgusting. | |
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| 3 yr sentence for allowing children to freeze to death
Posted: 3/9/2009 10:09:28 AM | people that play the race card are just sad in my opinion.
ill have to agree with^^ on that comment.
this story isnt about race, its about alcoholism and lack of responsibility and it could just as easily have been a black yellow or white person being charged and the response would be exactly the same.
i dont agree with it being termed murder though , as i really highly doubt he intentionally lost his babies in the snow. or that he made an intentional decision to harm them in any way, (at least i hope he didnt)
he is merely a product of a system that allows one to wallow in their excesses rather than to actively curb it and treat them.
the so called chief of the reserve and the other people on the reserve were active enablers of this guys problems, so many people are accomplices to this crime , it would be impossible to charge them all with negligence.
hopefully though they will all learn from the death of these 2 babies and actually take precautions in the future to make sure it will never again happen
it sad that two children can have their lives taken from them for the cost of a 24 of beer and a bottle of whiskey, however . if at least a few alcoholics hear of this story and actively try to change their lifestyle so they arent the next" monster" then something good would have come from all this
alcohol is a horrible "legal" drug that the government benefits and profits from , why else would they sit so idly by as innocent people drop like flies from its abuse.
from the drunk driver, to the drunken abusers to the drunken bonehead that walk out into the snow all of these people are being mass produced and enabled by the very people we are electing into power.
maybe they should be putting a cap on the amount of alcohol one person may buy from a liquor store per 24 hr. they wanted to go after night club owners as being to blame for people getting injured outside their clubs after they are drunk , why shouldnt the law also incriminate liquor store owners as well.
we wont cure alcoholism by handing them out as much booze as they can afford to buy
maybe prohibition is a good idea in this day and age
.funny thing is, they make a drug that makes you reticent and relaxxed illegal yet legalize a drug that makes you irrational,violent, sleezy, and stupid. guess we know what kind of voters they actually want | |
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