Harris County prosecutor gets tough on drunk drivers
Diepraam's critics say he goes overboard on some cases
By BRIAN ROGERS
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Harris County prosecutor Warren Diepraam shepherded the 27-year-old woman in a wheelchair to the front of a busy courtroom. The mother of four � brain-damaged, unable to communicate and barely able to move � moaned and cried out in flashes.

The man whose car hit hers at 98 mph walked in and agreed to his sentence � 10 years in prison. At the time of the crash, his blood-alcohol level was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit. The 26-year-old man hung his head as the woman's mother cried from the witness stand that his judgment will be in the next life.

Diepraam escorted the family out, lamenting the unfairness of a healthy defendant and a devastated victim.


Details.