17 replies to this topic

[Belushi87]

murder because someone else gave him the drugs, killing him

a accident because he was giving to much or it could have been the mixure of the drugs

a suicide because he was doing drugs for so long that he was killing himself slowly

what do you think?
i have a hard time classifying it without sounding like a ass.

[theologica]

I believe the person in question was charged for it. It was ruled "involuntary manslaughter", meaning it was technically an "unlawful killing" WITHOUT malicious forethought (using drugs isn't considered a felony, or at the time, wasn't, anyway -- the drugs were a misdemeanour, through which the death occurred. As such, the "malice" of the misdemeanour, is carried over into the killing, thus becoming involuntary "constructive" manslaughter).

[Belushi87]

i think it can go either way.
john could have said no and done it himself or he could have not mixed both drugs.

[theologica]

Yes, but that's a "what if".

If John had said no, he would still be alive, am I right? And we wouldn't be asking these questions.

The court ruled that it was an involuntary manslaughter.

[Belushi87]

its hard to say because we weren't there so its hard to say what really happened. we really don't know what john said or did. like you said, there are alot of "what ifs" if only we can turn back time.

[theologica]

Well, I'm trying to give you an answer to your question, kid. You asked if it was considered murder, accident or suicide. So, based on the evidence we DO have -- because EVIDENCE speaks to us when we LET IT, the same EVIDENCE that put away the person responsible until she paid for her crime -- it wouldn't be considered any of these three things. Involuntary manslaughter is NOT the same as murder, nor is it an accident since it occurred during the act of a misdemeanour. Thencely, it was also NOT a suicide.

You asked a question, I'm trying to give you an answer.

[Belushi87]

i can see that.
and i am saying that cathy smith involuntary gave belushi the drugs, she involuntary injected the drugs into him, she had the chose not to give him the drugs, and of course she suffered the consequences of being the one who "killed" him.

[Elwood72]

She did kill him.She voluntarily gave him the shot.No one forced her to do it.She could have refused,but she didn't.

The courts ruled it as an involuntary manslaughter.....

AFAIC,it was murder...


That's why she'll always be The Bitch That Killed John Belushi in my eyes.


...and that's how I classify it.

[Belushi87]

i can see why people would call it murder, but wouldnt belushi be part of it too, because he was the one that wanted to do in the first place, and because she was there she did it. the question is if cathy wasn't there, would he want the speedball? and would he still be alive today?

[Blueblood]

*sigh*

I have no sympathy for drug abusers. It is what it is.

When one abuses drugs, a tolerance is built up so more are required to achieve the desired affect. The brain wants that affect yet the body can't tolerate additional chemicals.

John built up a tolerance, he wanted more, she obliged, he died.

[ZackBlues]

You know, it's some sad ****, but when you have an addiction like he had, it's almost as if you want to kill yourself. You know the drugs might do it, but you don't care. It's all about making life easier so you can deal or not have to think about all the problems. But I really don't think its that girl's fault. She should have been smarter about it, but he would have done it to himself eventually. I just wish he didn't have to be remembered like that.

[vicious]

as i can making out from the documantary Final 24... i personnaly think it was murder

[Belushi87]

john could have stopped doing drugs anytime. i heard somewhere that when he was first acting after high school, he couldnt stand drugs, he didnt want to do them, i wonder what made him start. maybe peer pressure?

[Blueblood]

The following viewpoints are among the top 6 arguments for the reasons behind substance abuse and drug addiction.

• Chemical Dependency is a disease
  
• Neurological imbalances lead to Chemical Dependency
  
• Biological imbalances lead to Chemical Dependency
  
• Cultural Factors lead to Chemical Dependency
  
• Curiosity leads Teenagers into Chemical Dependency
  
• Media Glamorization of Drugs and Alcohol leads to Chemical Dependency

[Belushi87]

its too bad that it had to happen, i know deep down that he had the strength and the willpower to quit, i know that he had people that cared about him the most to help him. its sad to know that he had a great future ahead of him and he let it waste.

[bbcentral]

Belushi87 said:

its too bad that it had to happen, i know deep down that he had the strength and the willpower to quit, i know that he had people that cared about him the most to help him. its sad to know that he had a great future ahead of him and he let it waste.

That's a pretty judgemental way of putting it. He was trying to quit, but overcoming any kind of addiction is one of the most difficult things a person can do. Just ask anyone who's tried to quit smoking, or give up drinking. Or even someone who has tried to diet to lose weight (such as myself). It's damn hard, you know it's wrong but your brain overpowers you and you relapse. That's why I successfully dieted for a week, before giving in to temptation and going to McDonald's at 3am once. (I've lost 24kg/52lbs so far). But it's still a struggle, and probably one I'll have for the rest of my life.

The struggle with addiction is fairly well summed up by Leo McGarry on the West Wing, where he has a chat with Karen, the recently fired intern who leaked his alcoholism secret to the press:

Quote

Leo: "I wanted to meet you and I wanted you to meet me.... When you read in my personnel file that I'd been treated for alcohol and drug abuse, what went through your mind? Karen, it's okay, you can say it. The worst thing I'm empowered to do is fire you and I've already done that."
Karen: "My father drank a lot."
Leo: "So did mine. In fact he died from it. He came home late one night very drunk. My mother was yelling at him. I'm not sure about what, but I heard the yelling downstairs from my bedroom. She came upstairs and he went out to the garage and shot himself in the head."
Karen: "Is that why you drank and took drugs?"
Leo: "Nah. I drank and took drugs cause I'm a drug addict and an alcoholic."
Karen: "How long did it take you to get cured?"
Leo: "I'm not cured. You don't get cured. I haven't had a drink or a pill in six and a half years. Which isn't to say I won't have one tomorrow."
Karen: "What would happen if you did?"
Leo: "I don't know. But probably a nightmare the likes of which both of our fathers experienced and me too."
Karen: "And, so after six and a half years you're still not allowed to have a drink?"
Leo: "The problem is that I don't want a drink. I want ten drinks."
Karen: "Are things that bad?"
Leo: "No," Leo says with a laugh.
Karen: "Then why?"
Leo: "Because I'm an alcoholic."
Karen: "I don't understand."
Leo: "I know. It's okay. Hardly anyone does. It's very hard to understand. . . . You haven't answered my question yet. When you saw my personnel file, when you saw I'd been through treatment, what went through your mind?"
Karen: ". . .you have all these important decisions to make in your job. . . . People's lives. . . ."
Leo: "Karen, what you did caused a lot of problems. For me for the President for a lot of people we don't even know. But I'm not sure it wasn't a little bit brave. . . . You and I will give each other a second chance"

[Belushi87]

i guess we're never know without talking to the people who really knew him

[kriankay]

Old topic, but I have to mention this.

In Samurai Widow, Judy talks about some interview that Cathy did. In the interview, she says she guessed John died around 10:15. It seems like in other places, she said he was still alive when she left. If that had really happened, then she wouldn't know the time he died.

Plus, according to the Final 24 documentary, she (I can't stand typing her name, blegh), she gave him the last shot before 4am. From what I've read (in Samurai Widow), death from heroin occurs within an hour. If that's the case, he would have died early in the morning, not late morning.

Something doesn't sound right there.