13 January 2012

Amber Westin rides again!

| johnboy
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Old skool RiotACT fave Amber Westin has returned to the pages of the Canberra Times.

Amber is banned from driving until 2017 after killing Heather Freeman in a haze of drug driving in Woden:

but was caught in August last year when police spotted her talking on her mobile phone as she drove down Petterd Street in Page.

The Macquarie woman gave police officers a false name and told them she had just arrived in Canberra from Victoria.

She pleaded guilty to charges of driving disqualified, driving with a mobile phone and giving false information.

Westin’s defence lawyer told the court her client had gone to the Hawker shops to collect methadone before driving to her mother’s home in Macquarie.

Magistrate Grant Lalor appears to have taken great pleasure in labelling Ms Westin’s driving “contumacious“.

On receiving her four month custodial sentence she banged her head on the table until she had a fit, which no doubt will be taking up court time soon as a reason for her early release.

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What astounds me is that Amber Westin can drive. Obviously the victim’s friends are extremely forgiving people. I prefer the eye for an eye approach. She kills a friend/relative, I/my friends remove her eyes/arms/legs.

KB1971 said :

Its a shame she was not locked up the first time.

Permanently.

Fitzroy77 said :

First of all I would like to say how deeply ashamed I am, this person is my sister. While I disagree with some of the more violent comments I do agree with most of you. Let me stress how much I love my sister, how ever that DOES NOT excuse her actions!! She needs to be kept in goal for a long time. I’m tired of my family making excuses for her. How dare she drive again. She will not learn until she is taken away from society (her last sentence was not long enough in my opinion) for a long time. Our Grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, how would she feel if we had her taken away from us then the culprit just display a blatant disregard for her life? I can’t comprehend how she can bring herself to even sit in a car. As you can see I’m very angry at her, perhaps last time I was to forgiving. I know I will cop flack for posting this.. But grow up Amber. You have caused so much pain to those that love you. She has a beautiful child that is now with out a mother, again.
To those of you that want to post harmful comments to me, I stress once again that I do not

Fitzroy, I have always wondered how the family members of criminals feel towards their loved ones. Of course you always will love them, but is it still the same. Do you go and visit her. Is she remorseful (obviously not as she got behind the wheel again) Does she still have custody of the child when not in prison?? If not who looks after the child? You or your parents. Was she always a handful? When did she start doing drugs? Was she good at schooling? Has she ever had a job?

Just little things that have I have always wanted to know. And thankyou for your insight.

Fitzroy77 said :

I know I will cop flack for posting this..

Not, I hope, from us. Congratulations for having the guts to say it here.

Fitzroy77 said :

First of all I would like to say how deeply ashamed I am, this person is my sister. While I disagree with some of the more violent comments I do agree with most of you. Let me stress how much I love my sister, how ever that DOES NOT excuse her actions!! She needs to be kept in goal for a long time. I’m tired of my family making excuses for her. How dare she drive again. She will not learn until she is taken away from society (her last sentence was not long enough in my opinion) for a long time. Our Grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, how would she feel if we had her taken away from us then the culprit just display a blatant disregard for her life? I can’t comprehend how she can bring herself to even sit in a car. As you can see I’m very angry at her, perhaps last time I was to forgiving. I know I will cop flack for posting this.. But grow up Amber. You have caused so much pain to those that love you. She has a beautiful child that is now with out a mother, again.
To those of you that want to post harmful comments to me, I stress once again that I do not

Having family who do things like this is terrible.

I hope things settle down for you.

First of all I would like to say how deeply ashamed I am, this person is my sister. While I disagree with some of the more violent comments I do agree with most of you. Let me stress how much I love my sister, how ever that DOES NOT excuse her actions!! She needs to be kept in goal for a long time. I’m tired of my family making excuses for her. How dare she drive again. She will not learn until she is taken away from society (her last sentence was not long enough in my opinion) for a long time. Our Grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, how would she feel if we had her taken away from us then the culprit just display a blatant disregard for her life? I can’t comprehend how she can bring herself to even sit in a car. As you can see I’m very angry at her, perhaps last time I was to forgiving. I know I will cop flack for posting this.. But grow up Amber. You have caused so much pain to those that love you. She has a beautiful child that is now with out a mother, again.
To those of you that want to post harmful comments to me, I stress once again that I do not

This woman needs to be locked up for her safety and for the safety of the general public.

What a great role model for her kid/s. Hope they are placed in care, for a long long time.

So much fail in post #35 by AussieLyn.

Magistrate Lalor could be a breath of fresh air in the ACT Judiciary that has come in from country NSW. Will convicted criminals now receive judgements that are an incentive not to do the crime?

Dilandach said :

I wonder if she’s been put in the pokey yet? I saw a… well, I can’t say it was a woman, let’s just say a thing which had a resemblance to her standing in front of the playground at the Jamison centre with Tshirt, Jeans and no shoes. Holding an infant with some other kids playing in the playground at the time.

As I walked past she yelled “Stare some more and I’ll show ya ma flappin hairy arse!” Not sure if she was referring to me as I had walked past or the car that had just driven in front of her.

You must have been there at the same time as me. A charming woman was she.

Interestingly, while I was watching my kid on the swing I counted 75 cigarette butts in the play area. Nice.

Dilandach said :

I wonder if she’s been put in the pokey yet? I saw a… well, I can’t say it was a woman, let’s just say a thing which had a resemblance to her standing in front of the playground at the Jamison centre with Tshirt, Jeans and no shoes. Holding an infant with some other kids playing in the playground at the time.

As I walked past she yelled “Stare some more and I’ll show ya ma flappin hairy arse!”

Class. Pure class.

Erg0 said :

I was busy thinking of ways to use “contumacious” in a sentence.

Her new home will be “girt” with prison bars 🙂

I wonder if she’s been put in the pokey yet? I saw a… well, I can’t say it was a woman, let’s just say a thing which had a resemblance to her standing in front of the playground at the Jamison centre with Tshirt, Jeans and no shoes. Holding an infant with some other kids playing in the playground at the time.

As I walked past she yelled “Stare some more and I’ll show ya ma flappin hairy arse!” Not sure if she was referring to me as I had walked past or the car that had just driven in front of her.

Where’s Mully when we need him?

KB1971 said :

Its a shame she was not locked up the first time.

Exactamondo

Deref said :

I agree.

I’m not interested in punitive revenge – I just want to get her out of harm’s way – hers and ours – forever. I don’t care if we put her up at the Hyatt, as long as we can prevent her from ever getting behind the wheel of a car again.

Oh, I don’t know. If the “punishment” for repeated serious driving offences was to be put up at the Hyatt then I might be tempted to drive like a dick so as to qualify. It’s the only way I could afford to move back to Canberra, should I want to (and I don’t).

I’m not arguing that something needs to be done (for Amber Westin, and people like her), because I like to think you can reach most people, eventually, even if it’s just through the passage of time. That said, there needs to be consequences for actions. To paraphrase Theodore Dalrymple, if there really was justice in the world, then there might be more people in prison, not fewer.

Jethro said :

Deref said :

NoImRight said :

Clearly a victim.

Yep. Waiting for Violet to admonish us for not realising that it’s not her fault.

I’ve had my arguments with Violet over the past week and I’m not going to put forward the argument that it’s not this woman’s fault, but I am going to argue against the punitive revenge fantasies being played out here.

Assuming that Ms Westin is not going to be sent to jail forever, we need to realise that at some stage she will once again be in the community, possibly even with access to a car. I would prefer time and money was spent trying to rehabilitate her. She obviously has some serious mental issues that need sorting out. Punitive revenge isn’t going to help anybody.

I agree.

I’m not interested in punitive revenge – I just want to get her out of harm’s way – hers and ours – forever. I don’t care if we put her up at the Hyatt, as long as we can prevent her from ever getting behind the wheel of a car again.

she needs to be sterilised

poetix said :

It’s interesting how some people are saying she should be killed; her ugly behaviour brings out the worst in others. Yes, it’s totally her responsibility, but locking her away for a long time (and ideally forcing her to undertake therapy, which does not include using the male showers, Matt) is all we can really do.

I’d also support the use of technology to ensure she never can drive again; some sort of immobiliser that can’t be removed from her body, if such a thing exists. Perhaps it should.

LOL, regarding my pretty harsh statement and the other things people have said on the fate of Ms Westin – I think it is just a matter of the “Good person Internet Anonymity = Douchebag” theory! Although I have posted a little bit at times about myself on this site so I don’t feel so anonymous anymore. Better clean up my act! As a consequence I am in agreement with what you said Poetix.

It’s interesting how some people are saying she should be killed; her ugly behaviour brings out the worst in others. Yes, it’s totally her responsibility, but locking her away for a long time (and ideally forcing her to undertake therapy, which does not include using the male showers, Matt) is all we can really do.

I’d also support the use of technology to ensure she never can drive again; some sort of immobiliser that can’t be removed from her body, if such a thing exists. Perhaps it should.

I’m already awaiting her next court appearance for doing something stupid. Odd’s on her defence will be that her actions are now the direct result of a mental injury caused by ACT courts not having systems in place to stop people like her, who are obviously at risk, from injuring themselves on their premises. I foresee her not only getting off her next charge but also getting a nice compensatory sum:-)

Deref said :

NoImRight said :

Clearly a victim.

Yep. Waiting for Violet to admonish us for not realising that it’s not her fault.

I’ve had my arguments with Violet over the past week and I’m not going to put forward the argument that it’s not this woman’s fault, but I am going to argue against the punitive revenge fantasies being played out here.

Assuming that Ms Westin is not going to be sent to jail forever, we need to realise that at some stage she will once again be in the community, possibly even with access to a car. I would prefer time and money was spent trying to rehabilitate her. She obviously has some serious mental issues that need sorting out. Punitive revenge isn’t going to help anybody.

Maybe she was only poking the car?

Put her in Goulburn jail and make her use the male showers. Harsh but probably better than ganking her as someone else suggested.

Mr Gillespie5:41 pm 13 Jan 12

She should be humanely put down

NoImRight said :

Clearly a victim.

Yep. Waiting for Violet to admonish us for not realising that it’s not her fault.

And her friends to tell us what a grate personn se is and yous dont no nuffin arbout her.

Take the kids away from her. I cant believe how lightly she got off after killing someone (and the circumstances in which she did this was even more offensive).

Great to see the ACT Sentencing guidelines working so effectively???

+1 on getting rid of her all together, she will never learn, it’s not a right to drive it’s a privledge.

GardeningGirl2:12 pm 13 Jan 12

Does anybody know what sort of counselling or rehabilitation or SOMETHING will be given to her in jail, she really really needs help and I feel so sorry for her child. I also feel sad for the family who because of her lost someone who never got another chance to do anything and now they see her name in the paper again, so when is she going to value the fact that she does have the chance to do something with her life and do the right thing for her child?

Free Amber Westin!

On second thoughts, have her euthanased.

Someonesmother1:42 pm 13 Jan 12

She obviously has a problem and will never admit/face up to/recognise that she does. She has shown blatant disregard for any punitive measures and has only reacted when being sent back to jail. Perhaps she could undergo some intensive, confronting therapy while in jail and use the time wisely. It probably wouldn’t make any dfference though as she is probably only bummed becuse she got caught. I agree with the post that the person who let he use the car should be charged too. Heaven only knows how her children are being dragged up.

GardeningGirl1:02 pm 13 Jan 12

colourful sydney racing identity said :

F*** you Amber Westin, Seriously, f*** you for the damage people like you do to my faith in humanity.

+1
Where did she get the car? Time the courts did something about that, it ought to be either another charge for her taking a vehicle without permission or a charge for someone else allowing their car to be driven by someone who is unlicenced, disqualified, with potential tendencies for drugtaking, “seizures”, talking on a mobile phone while driving, lying and ignoring the law.

Clearly a victim.

colourful sydney racing identity11:58 am 13 Jan 12

F*** you Amber Westin, Seriously, f*** you for the damage people like you do to my faith in humanity.

Rollersk8r said :

Is it safe to say that (a) she still didn’t have a licence, assuming she didn’t have one at the time she was banned for 10 years […]

Pretty safe, as she was charged with driving while disqualified.

On a side note, I hesitantly admit that I was watching RBT the other night and saw them booking some dropkick who’d been caught driving despite not having a licence since 1990. He seemed genuinely unable to make the connection between holding a licence and driving a car – his only concern was that he might not be able to afford the fine. I guess he figured that he knew how to drive, so the piece of paper from the gubbmint was optional. The mentality of some people just boggles my mind.

It’s hard to see how banging her head would cause her any injury. You know, on account of it being solid bone all the way through.

What a piece of trash.

chewy14 said :

Wow,
you mean she actually might do some jail time?
Surely another slap on the wrist would be far more appropriate?

She did 7 months after getting slapped on the wrist the first time, then reoffending.

Wow,
you mean she actually might do some jail time?
Surely another slap on the wrist would be far more appropriate?

Bloody hell…

“The lawyer said the only common point between the current offence and the Woden crash, which occurred after a brief police pursuit, was that Westin was driving to collect methadone for a drug rehab program.

She said the young mother had now given up taking methadone because she associated it with illegal activity, was looking for work and had not breached any other court orders.”

Is it safe to say that (a) she still didn’t have a licence, assuming she didn’t have one at the time she was banned for 10 years, and (b) since 2007 she has been “looking for work”.

A sad and shameful story for all involved.

Its a shame she was not locked up the first time.

I was busy thinking of ways to use “contumacious” in a sentence.

I can only assume the silence here so far is due to utter disbelief.

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