Posted 7/02/2007 07:40:00 PM by Douglas

What a tragic end to a tragic story.

A Spring teen who survived a brutal beating with a pipe last year apparently jumped to his death from a Cozumel-bound cruise ship on Sunday.

An 18-year-old was observed by "a bunch of people" jumping over the railing of the upper deck of Carnival Cruise Lines' Ecstasy around 7:35 a.m. Sunday, said Coast Guard spokesman Adam Eggers.

A written statement from the cruise line also said an 18-year-old appeared to jump from the ship.

I don't think many could understand his physical or emotional pain he's been through. What a senseless tragedy.

Still, I don't think this is an example for more Draconian Hate-crime laws.

Ritcheson called on Congress to strengthen U.S. hate crime laws.

"I appear before you as a survivor," Ritcheson told members of a House Judiciary subcommittee April 17. "I am here before you today asking that our government take the lead in deterring individuals like those who attacked me from committing unthinkable and violent crimes against others because of where they are from, the color of their skin, the God they worship, the person they love, or the way they look, talk or act."

The two cretins that did this got 90 years and a life sentence behind bars. I'd say that the Criminal Justice system is working quite well in this case.

Labels: Ritcheson