Victim’s father does not want Mezzich prosecuted
Father of wreck victim doesn’t want driver extradited:
Tommy Brashier is the father of drunk driving victim Lindsay Brashier. A discussed before Lindsay Brashier was killed in 1996 when the car driven by her friend, Evelyn Mezzich, crashed killing Lindsay and paralyzing another passenger.
Mezzich fled the country to her native Peru to avoid prosecution. Lindsay’s mother, Marilyn Datz, wasn’t Mezzich brought to justice. Lindsay’s father, who is divorced from Datz, does not want Mezzich to be extradited.
The FBI had found her in Peru, where Mezzich is a Peruvian citizen. Tommy Brashier says she’s apologized to him several times, including twice after driving to see him at his home in Waco.
That sentiment goes along with several comments I’ve received from people claiming to be friends and family of Lindsay Brashier. However I believe that sometimes the need for justice outweighs a family’s wishes. If Mezzich was such a great friend to Lindsay Brashier then she should have served her time for playing such a large role in her death.
Tags: austin, drunk-driving, Evelyn-Mezzich, peru, texasRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Killers
11 opinions for Victim’s father does not want Mezzich prosecuted
Rachel Brashier
Dec 2, 2007 at 2:33 pm
No, b/c since she was such a good friend of Lindsay’s then I feel then Lindsay would not want this to happen to her friend for an Accident.
Soobs
Dec 2, 2007 at 4:40 pm
“The father of University of Texas student killed in a wreck more than a decade ago urged prosecutors to stop seeking the extradition of the car’s driver who now lives in Peru.
“I don’t see the point in bringing her here to prosecute her,” Tommy Brashier said Wednesday. “It potentially destroys more lives. Hasn’t there been enough tragedy already?”
Yeah, they never used to prosecute domestic violence crimes either, if the “family” or “victim” didn’t want to pursue it. Thankfully, however, society has seen that crimes need to be punished, regardless of what the victim wants. This is the first I’ve heard of this story. Having said that, the fact that she absconded to another country, CONTINUED to “party”, and has never paid the SOCIETAL price for breaking a law, is clear. She needs to stand trial for her crime, let the jury speak, and pay the price, if that is the verdict.
What is glaring to me, is the fact that she never bothered to stop drinking since the accident. I would hope, if I ever am in a position where my drinking causes a death, or injury, alcohol would be the LAST thing on my mind. BTW, there are no drunk driving “accidents.” EVERYONE knows that drinking and driving is a crime. They also know that your chances of an “accident” increase, with the amount of alcohol you consume. Just because possibly everyone in the car was drunk, does NOT negate the driver’s responsibility. I am dumbfounded that any mother could think differently.
Paulo
Dec 2, 2007 at 9:05 pm
The girl has to forever live with the fact that she killed one friend and paralyzed another. That’s really more punishment than any kind of legal sentence ever could be. The victims in this case knew it was stupid to ride with a drunk driver, but they chose to do it anyway. It sucks for everybody involved, but to try to further punish the driver seems like something motivated by revenge rather than actual justice. I agree with the father.
Rachel Brashier
Dec 2, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Paulo:
Thank you so much. I have been trying to state that for days…. I could not have said it better. Thank you!
Soobs
Dec 3, 2007 at 1:31 pm
“The girl has to forever live with the fact that she killed one friend and paralyzed another. That’s really more punishment than any kind of legal sentence ever could be.”
But that really isn’t the point. Society requires legal consequences when one commits a crime. I’m sure there are plenty of people who “made a mistake” and “have to live with it.” It doesn’t mean that the legal consequences shouldn’t be paid.
Concerned
Dec 6, 2007 at 6:13 am
According to the news, extradition is less likely since Mezzich is pregnant. One only hopes she doesn’t lose the baby. It would only extend the tragedy. Yet, I agree with Soobs. Society requires legal consequences when a person commits a crime. Unfortunately, Mezzich did commit a crime (as stated legally) and will have to pay for it. This will happen eventually, but the law also protects its citizens. Evelyn will not be extradited while pregnant. NOW all America(North and South) is aware of this case, and Evelyn is serving as another example to the immigrants of the US of what happens to them if they behave incorrectly…I feel sorry for Evelyn because given the circumstances, her parents were probably the ones who decided to leave the US, and start over again in Peru. I seriously doubt they wanted to go back to Peru. If not, then why did they leave Peru in the first place? My guess is they were trying to save their daughter from killing herself. Knowing you caused someone’s death must be a very difficult pill to swallow… Only time will tell the outcome.
patty
Dec 7, 2007 at 11:49 pm
I agree she will forever have to live with the cold hard fact that she killed another human being, and that in itself is a hard pill to swallow, another cold hard fact is she is living it up, partying, drinking, and making light of what the real tragedy is, drinking. I can speak for myself when I say I don’t think I could pick up another drink if I was responsible for someone’s death, let alone endorsing drinking and living the high life, and for all the world to see is even more disturbing. I would love to see Evelyn on the world stage, apolagize to both families.
Annabelle
Dec 11, 2007 at 11:27 am
Let us forget for a minute that this was a car accident. How would you feel if you knew that people could violate the law and find a safe haven in their country of origin? I dont think anyone would be happy. Last thing you want is for people to feel they can commit a crime and return to their countries and live wildly normal lives. The law says dont drink and drive. There are consequences. If you violate the law, you are liable.
Jc
Dec 14, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I guess what the father feels is very real…It could of been her daughter driving….and of course they all knew Evelyn had some drinks and got in the car with her anyways….
lm
Jan 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm
shell be extradited to the states
Carlos
May 20, 2008 at 8:32 pm
First of all my sincere condolences to the family of Lindsay…I’m Peruvian, I’m American, I’ve a girl that’s 18 years old. Most of immigrants have great respect for our laws. We are also humans and sometimes we broke the laws. I do not want to excuse the acts of a young woman that drove under the influence, but I have to agree with those who point to the fact that the deceased was very aware that they were drinking and driving. I’m sure those moments before the tragedy they were hugging and enjoying their friendship in the wrong way. Was Lindsay also intoxicated? If that was the case they all share the guilt of their irresponsibility. If Lindsay were alive, or, if she is looking from above all these, I’m sure that she’ll ask for forgiveness for her friend. If Ms. Mezzich happened to died at that accident, would that have been enough to get the deserved grievance to the mother?…
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