Man Confesses To Drunk Driving Death In Online Video

And it is so rare to see someone taking full responsibility for a crime that he hasn't even been charged with yet. It does seem to be a heartfelt message to help prevent drunk driving. I hope it does have that intended impact, it's a powerful statement.

The video is far too polished to be on the whim and done under the influence of great guilt. I think its a public appeal to get an open public movement to help bring leniency in the final and inevitable sentencing.

Cordle’s video first surfaced on the website becauseisaidiwould.com, which is described as “a social movement dedicated to bettering humanity through the power of a promise.”

The website’s founder, Alex Sheen, a Cleveland-area resident who grew up in Powell, said Cordle reached out to him through his website’s Facebook page to make the video. Sheen said he shot the video on Tuesday in Cordle’s home.

“He feels very, very guilty for what he has done and he is just struggling with this,” Sheen said. “He wants to take responsibility for this. I can sympathize with him wanting to help people.”
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/public/2013/09/05/man-uses-youtube-to-admit-to-drunk-driving-killing.html

Cordle ends the three-minute-plus video with a plea. “I will take that (prison) sentence for just one reason, and that reason is so I can pass this message on to you.

“I beg you, and I say the word beg specifically, I’m begging you, please don’t drink and drive. Don’t make the same excuses that I did. Don’t say it’s only a few miles or you’ve only had a few beers ...

“I can’t bring Mr. Canzani back, and I can’t erase what I have done, but you can still be saved. Your victims still can be saved. So, please ...”

I wonder if he will commit suicide.

I'm taking the cynical approach on one. Clearly I don't trust the motive behind his actual confession.

. I think if he is really genuine, then he shouldn't want it part of evidence although I don't know if he personally has a choice in it.

I wonder if he will commit suicide.

It's hard not to remember the thread we had about that other DUI manslaughter case that did end with the driver's suicide.

I think that making this video is helping this man to be able to live with his guilt and remorse. He's willing to accept his punishment because he feels he owes that to his victim. And, in trying to discourage people from drinking and driving, by using his own example, he's trying to do something positive to help save other lives, and perhaps he can draw strength from that.

I certainly hope he doesn't commit suicide. No matter how long a sentence he receives, he's still a young man who will have a,
hopefully, long life ahead of him when he gets out.

And


he'll be able to live that life feeling
he has paid his debt to society and to his victim.

Quote:

I'm taking the cynical approach on one. Clearly I don't trust the motive behind his actual confession.

That is exactly why I thought it should not come into play in the courtroom.
It does seem genuine and heartfelt, but one never knows.
I think if he is really genuine, then he shouldn't want it part of evidence
although I don't know if he personally has a choice in it.

Lance Rinker.
Is Matthew Cordle the Hero or the Villain?
09/09/2013

On June 22, 2013 61-year old Vincent Canzani was hit and killed by a drunk driver. No one was ever formally charged with the hit-and-run which led to Canzani's death, but that's all about to change. His name is Matthew Cordle and he admitted to being the man who hit and killed Canzani that night in a profoundly unique video he posted online.

This video consists of Cordle declaring "My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani. This video will act as my confession".

But that's not all Cordle has to say.

"By making this video, I know exactly what it means. I'm giving prosecutors everything they need to put me away for a very long time. But I'm willing to take that sentence, for just one reason, so I can pass this message on to you. I beg you... I'm begging you, please don't drink and drive."

What's so unique about this video is that Cordle's message, and confession, comes off as sincere and genuine. Although he is confessing to a crime he is also delivering an intensely powerful message based on his recent experience drinking and driving. Even though Cordle killed another human being he has received an outpouring of support from those who watched his video.

Many of the comments left on the YouTube video are from users commending him for being honest, brave, and showing remorse for a horrible tragedy he was the cause of. With the sheer volume of support Cordle has received even though he's the reason why another human being is dead makes me ask the question;

Is Matthew Cordle the hero or the villain?

Two things are certain with this video confession, which makes you wonder which one of the two he is.

Number one is that Cordle unquestionably drove under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in the death of Vincent Canzani.

The second certainty is that Cordle made a video confession taking responsibility for his actions, delivering a heartfelt message about not drinking and driving, and looking quite remorseful all throughout.

With the amount and type of support received since his determined confession reports and further comments tend to share a general idea or sentiment. That sentiment is that Cordle is courageous, a generally good person, and is deserving of sympathy and others could learn a thing or two from his honesty.

While it's easy to condemn a person for being responsible for why something terrible happened, one could say it's difficult to praise the manner in which that person responds to that situation. That seems to be what is happening here.

But isn't Cordle still the bad guy in all of this? Isn't he the villain here? Someone that shouldn't be receiving praise because of the fact he killed someone by driving drunk?

That's the unusual thing when it comes to a situation such as this.

Yes, Cordle broke the law and killed someone as a result.

But Cordle is using his experience in a way that could possibly prevent someone else from doing what he did and possibly save a life, or more, in the process. He also seemed generally sorry for his actions the pain he has caused the family and friends of the man he killed. His remorse, his wanting to take responsibility for his actions and accept the consequences are what make us want to like him.

We know that what he did is horrible and he deserves to be punished, but how he is handling this life changing experience makes us want to like him in a sense. It seems almost noble, he seems like a person worth welcoming back into society once punishment has been passed onto him.

In this story Cordle is the hero and the villain, which isn't all that uncommon in the grand scheme of things. People are inherently good but we are only human and we make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are the ones that are the most damaging but it's how we respond to these life altering events in our lives that is able to define and reflect who we are deep down most often.

Hopefully Matthew's message is heard around the world to help prevent a senseless tragedy such as this from impacting the lives of others. In the meantime it's up to us, as spectators, to allow the justice system to do what it sets out to do and attempt to properly pass judgment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lance-rinker/is-matthew-cordle-the-her_b_3883295.html

YouTube Drunk Driving Confessor Leaves Judge 'Incensed' With Not Guilty Plea
By LINSEY DAVIS
Sept. 11, 2013

An Ohio judge was visibly angry when the man who posted an emotional video confession online, admitting to killing a man in a June drunk driving accident, blindsided the court by pleading not guilty.

"I'm sorry you all came. I'm sorry you all came for this whole big thing," Judge Julie Lynch told the court on Tuesday. "There's no reason to be arraigned here."

Lynch was presiding over the Columbus, Ohio, court for the arraignment of 22-year-old Matthew Cordle, who was indicted this week for one count of aggravated vehicular homicide for causing the death of Vincent Canzani, 61, on June 22, and one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Cordle turned himself in to police on Monday.

Cordle made headlines after his video confession to killing Canzani went viral last week. In the video he said he'd take full responsibility and plead guilty. But Judge Lynch told ABC News that Cordle's lawyers decided that Cordle would plead not guilty at the last minute.

"Everything was going to be guilty," she said of the court date. "I'm somewhat incensed by somebody who isn't forthright with the court."

So why would Cordle plead not guilty despite his assertions? His attorneys told ABC News that it's a common maneuver to get the legal ball rolling, and that they planned on changing the plea to guilty. Cordle, who was not arraigned Tuesday after he entered the not guilty plea, is due in court today.

"I was blindsided by the fact that we didn't go through with an arraignment, because the prosecutors that I spoke with, they knew our plan was to enter the not guilty plea," attorney George Breitmayer III told ABC News.

Judge Lynch said that Cordle's attorneys are trying to game the system. Under Ohio law, entering a guilty plea locks in the judge -- in this case Lynch. She said that she believes Cordle's team got spooked after she told them she didn't know how she'd sentence Cordle, who faces anywhere from 2 to 8 and a half years in prison.

ABC News Chief Legal Affairs Anchor Dan Abrams said that these factors can all make a difference in sentencing.

"It seems pretty clear he's going to plead guilty," Abrams said. "Once you commit to pleading guilty, there are only one a few questions left: What's going to be the sentence? And who determines that? The judge -- and which judge you get -- can make a big difference."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/youtube-drunk-driving-confessor-leaves-judge-incensed-guilty/story?id=20223748

This is weird legal maneuvering.

Cordle can't avoid jail time--he killed someone while driving drunk, and he's already admitted to it.

Just because he killed someone, doesn't mean he's guaranteed jail time. True its VERY likely he'll get jail time. Heck, if he's smart, he can maneuver "jail time [already] served" and probation as he final sentencing. I bet he's aiming for that as his final and best case sentencing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio man who confessed in an online video to causing a fatal wrong-way crash after a night of heavy drinking will plead guilty in the case next week.

The man, Matthew Cordle, entered a preliminary plea of not guilty Wednesday in a procedural move allowing a judge to be appointed to accept a guilty plea.

Attorneys for Cordle say he will plead guilty Sept. 18 to aggravated vehicular homicide to make good on his pledge to accept responsibility for the crash. His attorneys say they will decide later whether to seek Cordle's release on bond before sentencing to allow him to spread his anti-drunk-driving message...

A judge didn't allow Matthew Cordle to go ahead with a plea Tuesday, saying his lawyers didn't follow court procedures for first appearances. Franklin County Judge Julie Lynch also alleged the attorneys balked at coming before her because she wouldn't promise a specific sentence, something they deny.

Lynch has set a combined $255,000 bond.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/11/matthew-cordle-hearing_n_3905534.html

Judge postpones arraignment for man who confessed to killing on YouTube
By Randy Ludlow
The Columbus Dispatch
September 10, 2013

Matthew Cordle, whose video confession to killing a man in a drunken-driving crash generated international attention, never expected this.

He never expected the dramatic video, produced by the founder of an obscure website, to go viral and generate millions of hits and debate about his motives.

He never expected the crush of cameras and reporters that swamped him and his lawyers as a deputy sheriff cuffed him and took him to jail yesterday.

He always expected one thing, however, and still does — to keep the promise in his video to plead guilty and accept “full responsibility” for killing a man.

Watch the YouTube confession here

Cordle, 22, was indicted yesterday by a Franklin County grand jury. He is accused of driving the wrong way while drunk and causing the death of Vincent Canzani, 61, of Gahanna, in a crash on I-670 near 3rd Street on June 22.

His lawyers said the Powell man was “at peace with his decision” as he surrendered on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. Cordle faces 2 to 8 1/2 years in prison.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said Cordle is not “a professional actor” and was sincere in hopes that his video confession would keep others from drinking and driving. Still, O’Brien said he will seek the maximum sentence.

Cordle’s lawyers said he is prepared for such a sentence, but that they still pray the depth of his public remorse sways a judge to impose a shorter sentence.

“A heavy-handed sentence could send the wrong message that accepting responsibility is the wrong thing to do,” said Martin Midian, a Columbus lawyer who represents Cordle.

Cordle has no felony record and no prior DUI arrests. His blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.19 percent following the crash, more than twice the 0.08 percent level at which a motorist is presumed drunk in Ohio.

He was scheduled to be arraigned today in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, but Judge Julie Lynch postponed the hearing until Wednesday.

Lynch said she was told that Cordle was prepared to enter a guilty plea and, when he did not, postponed his arraignment.

She said prosecutors were seeking a maximum prison sentence, while Cordle's defense lawyers wanted "half," or about four years. Lynch said she was willing to impose less than a maximum sentence if Cordle was truly remorseful.

Cordle's failure to plead guilty "calls into question the validity of being so forthcoming in his YouTube video" about his plans to plead guilty, the judge said.

However, Cordle's lawyers said yesterday, and repeated today, that their plan was to plead not guilty before Lynch, so the case would be assigned a trial judge at random, and then quickly enter a guilty plea before that judge.

His lawyers said he still intends to plead guilty and is expected to learn his sentence about a month after entering the plea.

Cordle’s attorneys yesterday said the video was no plea for leniency.

“He wanted to own up to the promises he made in the video,” said George Breitmayer III, who also represents Cordle. “He didn’t do this for any other purpose but to raise awareness about drunken driving and get some closure for the victim’s family.”

Absent his video, Cordle’s attorneys said his case would have generated little more than brief coverage in The Dispatch and on local TV news. No one, including Cordle, expected the explosion of attention, they said.

In his online confession, Cordle admitted to “blackout” drinking and then driving the wrong way on I-670, striking Canzani’s vehicle. He said he would not dishonor Canzani’s memory by doing anything other than pleading guilty.

He begged viewers of the video to learn from his mistake and not drink and drive. The video confession, posted online last Tuesday, was featured on major websites and national TV news broadcasts.

Alex Sheen, a Cleveland-area man and founder of becauseisaidiwould.com, produced the video after Cordle reached out to him in a bid to warn others not to drink and drive.

The YouTube version of Cordle’s confession — “I killed a man” — had 1.25 million views as of yesterday.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/public/2013/09/09/cordle-drunken-driving-indictment.html

He never expected the dramatic video, produced by the founder of an obscure website, to go viral and generate millions of hits and debate about his motives.

He never expected the crush of cameras and reporters that swamped him and his lawyers as a deputy sheriff cuffed him and took him to jail yesterday.

He always expected one thing, however, and still does — to keep the promise in his video to plead guilty and accept “full responsibility” for killing a man.