Good news! In fact it is the best possible outcome and even the lawyer is gobsmacked. Today, in court, the police reduced Ming’s charge of “five counts of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm” to “one count of dangerous driving” and they deleted “bodily harm” from the charge (this was the most surprising thing since the accident did cause bodily harm).
The penalty is a $500 fine plus courts costs, and Ming loses his driver’s licence for three months. Considering he was facing the possibility of a $15,000 fine, a two year suspension of his licence, and maybe jail time, this is absolutely amazing!
Thank you so much for all of the comments on yesterday’s rather melodramatic post (which I have now edited into something less melodramatic ha!) I am also deeply grateful for the support and prayers of our family and friends, the character references for Ming, and for your patience with my moodiness.
And to God: thank you for restoring my faith, and my breath, and for the fact that we didn’t need the $4000-per-day barrister after all!
Tonight we are celebrating my eldest niece’s birthday and she was sure it would be a double celebration with good news for Ming. I wasn’t so sure and my optimism was limpy.
Then, this morning, at the lawyer’s office, when he told us that there was still no answer from the police and said it may well be another adjournment, my optimism tripped over and fell. “It’s like the Samuel Beckett play, Waiting for Godot“, the lawyer said, and Ming guffawed while I tried to smile. An hour or so later, Ming and I were sitting in the court’s waiting room rather listlessly when the lawyer came out of the courtroom itself and beckoned us in, whispering, “Godot has arrived”, then he went to talk to someone else. I looked at Ming with wide eyes:
Me: What does that mean?
Ming: Duh, Mum, the charges have been reduced!
Me: But why can’t he just say that?
Ming: Because he likes to speak in metaphors.
Me: But are you sure?
Ming: Yes!
Me: Well I need to hear the actual words.
And half an hour later, I did. Yeeha!
It’s over.
jmgoyder 
I was shaking when I saw your blog plop into my email. What a wonderful result. As you said, now you can exhale, and get on with life, which was in limbo for so long. A huge hug from Far North Queensland! ❤
You are very very kind to have been concerned – thankyou – such a relief!
Julie that is the best news ever 🙂 So happy for you and Ming.
I feel so gobsmacked with relief! Thanks Rachel x
Julie & Ming, wonderful , wonderful news. Savior it !
Regards
Thank you so much Peter!
good news
Yes!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
Hahaha – yes!
Yes, good news indeed. I remember a similar ‘accident’ I had when I was Ming’s age. They said in court I had rammed the police car but I had little memory of it. But they reduced the charges considering my age and I escaped with a three months suspended sentence, $600 fine, replacing the police car ($4000) and 12 months cancellation. That was back in 1969. I survived and so will Ming.
Well if he grows up with just a little bit of your kind of wisdom he will be lucky, Gus – thank you!
Yee Haw! So happy for all of you!And yes, i do believe God had a hand in this…
Me too!
Julie, I have to say I am so thrilled at the outcome, I couldn’t have thought of
anything worse than going to jail. You must feel so relieved. Love to you all.’Jen
Thanks Jen – so wonderful!
I am so happy to hear this dear Julie, this is wonderful news. Blessing and Happiness, love, nia
Thanks so much, Nia, it has been a long wait.xxx
The best news, you both must be so happy.
Now you can breathe xxx
Thank you, Julie!
As per usual I woke up early this morning 3:30 am and saw ‘The Verdict’… and I gingerly opened it up and was moved to say ‘Thank You Lord’… because I remember so vividly being exactly (well almost) like you over twenty-five years ago..waiting with bated breath to see if our son would be going to jail… and like Ming…. he didn’t. I am so happy for you both…. Diane
Thanks Diane – it has been a gruelling 6 months for our family. xxx
It sounds like, for once, Godot was worth waiting for! Congratulations all round – couldn’t be better news. You all can move on with your lives now.
Yes and thank you! I feel like I’ve been released from a dungeon.
I feel your immense relief, Julie. So very happy for you and Ming. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy dance – thank you!
well i should have read this one first:) so happy i could wake chris, it is 4:30 a.m. here so maybe i won’t, hahaha
Oh Sandra – you are such a tonic – thank you and Chris!
What a relief for you both … that’s wonderul news – so pleased for you. Now, finally you can relax.
Thanks Ingrid – am still in shock at how good this is! Jx
Oh Julie! This is such wonderful news for you both!!!! I was off line for a few days and just read your post. So glad — not only that the charges were reduced and all that but also, that your faith has been restored.
Hugs and love my friend.
Thanks Louise – it has certainly been an ordeal in so many ways. Love you!
i am so happy for all of you!!!!!!!!
Oh the relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my gosh, what a relief! My heart was in my throat when I saw the title of the post. So, so happy and relieved for you both. Now I’m betting your hands will start to heal…. 🙂
I so appreciate your concern and support and, yes, I think you are right about my stupid hands!
I could feel the relief and the breathing in this Julie! Wonderful news for your entire family. Ming is well, this is now behind you, and faith restored. 🙂
I never expected him to get off so lightly – a miracle!
It is Julie. I’m so glad for you and Ming and your family that this is behind you. Now that you “know” and can work through the last phase of it.
Yes!
Wonderful news. You and Ming can move on with life, well as much as possible. Keep smiling
Big smile now!
I can’t adequately express my relief and congratulations to you both…the never-ending weight has been lifted!! A fantastic judge made the right decision for your fantastic young man. Breathe deep Julie…amen.
Thanks Mimi – yes it feels like I am able to properly breathe again – amazing outcome! xxx
I have to tell you – I’m STILL doing a happy dance when I think of you and Ming..xx
I have tears in my eyes from such wonderful news, Julie.
So happy for Ming (and you & Anthony). I can’t tell you how heartwarming it is to hear the very best verdict possible. I’m sure Ming is heaving a deep sigh of relief too.
Now he can move on and put it in the past (as much as anyone can put such an episode like that in to the past).
Vicki
xo
Oh Vicki – you know more than most how this ordeal has affected me and your support has meant the world to me – thank you. It is finally over and, like you say, we can move on. Overwhelming relief. Julie x
Julie & Ming, there is a God after all, this is amazing news and relief with today’s outcome.
Thanks Mike – yes, the relief is beyond belief – I feel like we can get on with various jobs that need doing now! Jxx
Wonderful!
It certainly is – thank you!
So happy for you — what a saga this has been and life lessons for all.
Big lessons all right – thank you!
THANK GOD-ot! YEEHAW. I am tickled pink (and that’s a VERY good tickle!)
Rhonda, I am beyond happy – the relief is exhausting if that makes sense. I think I will probably sleep the whole of tomorrow away! Julie xxx
makes perfect sense and I hope you do! xoxo
Hooray! All is for the best as Ming has learned a valuable lesson. $500.00 is very inexpensive tuition for such an education.
You are so right!
Hooray!! $500.00 is a very reasonable tuition for such a valuable life lesson for Ming.
It is so wonderful because now that the injured children are all okay, this was the last ‘thing’ to be determined – I still can’t quite believe that it is over but it is – hurray!
I apologize for not keeping up with the drama but this is one time I’m happy to read the ending first!! Thrilled for you and Ming! 🙂
Thanks Lisa – I am ecstatic and exhausted!
Hear ya. Hope this makes sleeping a lot easier… You deserve a rest!
😀
Yes!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy to know this. I could hear your sigh of relief all the way to Florida. I am glad it is finally over.
Thanks – am still pinching myself!
He’s very lucky, and I’m sure he’ll be more careful in the future.
It has been suggested that he goes with police to high schools and gives a talk. Thanks Anneli.
Excellent idea.
WHAT A RELIEF!!!! GOOD THINGS DO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE!!! (love the reference to the brilliant and ever bizarre Mr. Beckett’s Godot! 😉
Oh Paulette – I am so relieved – thank you and yay for Godot!
How wonderfully fantastic news!!! I am so happy for the both of you! What a weight off the shoulders, you must feel a thousand pounds lighter; happy days from now on out. 😀
Yes, lighter – that is exactly how I feel Laurie! xxx
Congrats, congrats, congrats, along with much love and many hugs xoxoxoxoxo
Thank you so much Denise!
you cannot know how happy I am for you–you both deserve the best–you have been to hell and back – ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))
Thanks for this – what a beautiful person you are!
Oh Julie, I am so relieved! My heart is filled with joy. Yay!
Diana xo
I am still gobsmacked! Thank you Diana xxx
I am so happy for you!
Wonderful, wonderful news, I am so happy for you both.
Still can’t believe it – we never expected anything this lenient!
I’m so happy for you and Ming, Julie. I don’t know if you could have asked for a better outcome! Yayyy!!!
Jennifer xo
Thank you Jennifer – best possible outcome and I still can’t believe it! Jxxx
I knew God would take care of all this. Ming never meant harm. He didn’t do anything with the intention to hurt and God knew this!!! I am so happy, so very happy for you two!!
I am feeling elated!
So glad
The relief is overwhelming – how are you doing?
I would say good and bad days still
My thoughts are with you constantly but I guess that doesn’t help what you are going through my beautiful friend.
My thoughts are with you too. Aren’t we something?
We are both very pleased for you and for Ming. You can start breathing now.
Thanks for all your moral support, Tom and Alison.
I am SO happy for you 🙂
Think of all the wonderful things you can achieve now that the ‘worry about Ming’s court case’ space is empty 🙂
Yes! Once I get my energy back I am going to do all the things I have been wanting to do for 6 months – hurray!
🙂
What a wonderful blessing. Hurrah for Ming.
It’s the next day and I am still quite shocked (in a happy way!)
I’m so glad for you both that it’s over. The wheels of justice to grind slowly. I imagine the wait has been far worse for you both than the penalty finally arrived at… Enjoy the weight being lifted from your shoulders.
Thanks lovely cousins!
That is the best news I could get this morning, you wouldn’t think I would be worried about what would happen to someone I don’t know but I was worried and now I am feeling so much better that you got some good news.
Thanks Jo-Anne. What a beautiful comment. Julie xxx
It’s absolutely wonderful to know that justice sometimes is done. It’s a wonderful outcome. I’m so happy for everyone involved. Lessons learned: now, on with life!
Yes – on with life! Thanks so much xxx
How wonderful! This is fantastic news Julie, and my warmest hugs of congratulations to you and Ming. Hooray! Cheers, Gina
Thanks so much, Gina – it has been a nightmare and now it’s over – phew!
I am doing (virtual) cartwheels! Such lovely, over the moon news, Julie!
God is great!
Yes God is great – thank you Lynda!
Julie, Sorry for responding so late, I could not be happier for you, Ming, and your family. While by some standards this is still harsh, it is by no means unfair. Ming is a good man, he will learn many different lessons from this experience most of them good. The family can collectively sigh in relief and you can breath easier. I am sorry that the incident happened at all, but I am even happier with the outcome. Take care, BIll xoxo
Thank you so much Bill – it is such a bloody relief that it is all over finally! Julie xxx
Great news! Huge sigh of relief…. 🙂
Hallelujah! What a relief!
so happy for Ming and for you! What a wonderful outcome.
So glad for you, and Ming! I’m sure he will be a cautious driver from now on!
This news made my night!! I’m so happy for you! Actually, I’m just plain happy. Listening to you talk about Ming has made me so fond of him, I could hardly stand this court date. What a relief. I’ll be saying celestial thank yous for a while now.
That is absolutely wonderful news! You must both be so relieved.
Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I found the news …. wonderful, but know I’m going to say what I shouldn’t say – WHAT DID I TELL YOU!!!??? I’m so glad that I was right – judges are not stupid and .. there is no evil in Ming and he did it all from stupidity, shit happens at times – so why should he give him harsh punishment. ????? So happy for you both .. and Anthony of course too.
You were right! Such a terrible few months though – so glad it is over now.