When is a murder charge NOT shocking?
Today's article in the Ottawa Sun about Stephanie Young was so typical of so many others that have come before it. The "girl" accused of killing a fellow human being on Saturday night is being depicted as a happy-go-lucky person who nobody would ever have thought was capable of committing such a heinous act.
Young is described as someone who enjoys snowboarding, playing soccer and a lover of the Ottawa Senators. She is said to be feeling "very badly about what happened". So? Ask Tammy Couture's friends and relatives about how concerned they are about poor Stephanie being so torn up about what she did on Saturday.
Sure, our pathetic justice system wants to see remorse. Our judicial system seems to provide convicts more benefits and support that it gives to victims and their families. So why should we be torn up about how this "poor 18-year-old" feels the morning after she murdered someone?
Every single time this happens someone is interviewed and says something like "I didn't think she was somebody who would do that." Just last week, the man who killed three family members before taking the coward's way out and blowing his own brains out was described as being nice and quiet. Is there anyone out there who would stand up and say "I was just waiting for Johnnie to kill his family, it was just a matter of time" when asked by a reporter?
Of course not.
So here we go... the spin has started. Poor Stephanie Young, the girl who loved snowboarding, playing soccer and was planning to get married in a few years is about to be painted as being the victim. Her friend Brandi Leduc says in the Sun today that "She would never hurt anybody because she wasn't like that" - well guess what... she IS someone like that now. She might have always been there for you in the past, Brandi, but aren't you happy you didn't cross her?
I must commend the Ottawa Sun for having the editorial intestinal fortitude to print a quote from someone who said that they never really liked the accused because of her tendency to start problems. That doesn't happen very often.
November 24th became a tragic day for someone in Ottawa... but not for Stephanie Young. She's not the victim here. It's Tammy Couture, her friends and family whose weekend went to hell in that one moment where Stephanie Young (oh yeah, allegedly) stabbed and killed her. True, it's never a good thing for the accused, but let's not try to paint her as being some poor martyr who would take it all back, if only she could.
She can't.
posted by Michael Mason @ 10:06 AM
46 comments
46 Comments:
The points you've made in your article are quite good, particularly in light of the fact that this is not the first time Ms. Young has had aggressive behaviour. I worked with Stephanie for quite a few years in a residential treatment center, and do not find the charges against stephanie shocking, or even out of character. In the time I knew Stephanie she assaulted 3 young women ( hitting one in the head with a glass vase, causing an injury requring 17 stitches), along with several group home staff. Stephanie never showed any remorse at the time of these assaults, aside from remorse regarding the consequences she recieved. Stephanie has had a difficult life, which can partially explain some of her behaviour and lack of empathy, however we need to draw the line somewhere, and if our justice system had been working properly, Ms. young would have been in custody years ago, and would not have been able to escalate to murder.
The points that you made are excelent. i agree with you 100%. I wish everyone can read this and think the same. I dont understand why they are making Stephanie look like shes the victim here... she deserves her punishement if not more. She should be happy that she doesn't live in a country where she would get the death penalty infront of everyone!!!I feel so sorry for Tammy's family, and friends, especially her mother, I would be devastated if my daughter was murdered, especially for such a stupid reason. Poor girl... :( (Tammy, NOT Stephanie)
I am a family member of Stephanie Young, STOP judging her and wait for the facts to come out. Judgemental Assholes!!
I was in jail with her. She has told many of us that she did it, and the Bitch deserved it.
She threatens others in jail by saying do you want me to kill her for you.
she thinks she is getting bail, she is a danger to the community.
She thinks she will get off and not do pen time. She needs to wake up. She told many of us that if she was not having the guy, then tammy would not, so she killed her, and she said she had the knife ready. So it is premeditated.
Im sorry but as Tammys close friend i would like to say thanks you those who do not support steph she deserves time and should not get a sob story or even be allowed in society what that girl took from me will never be replace her mother is hurt deeply and i hope that the justice system properly convicts her. Tammy was loved by many ... its only been less then six months it feels like yesterday she passed away she will never be forgoten. Please do not support someone like steph ... just beacuse she feels *badly*
The facts are simple... steph was in the wrong ... i know too well of what happend that night
Mr. anonymous person who worked with her, do you mind saying your name or e-mailing me at themagicianman@hotmail.com (my fake second e-mail) I want to see how credible you are in your comment.
Anyone could write what you said based on the information the media gave us... I went to school with her till gr8 but she was 1 grade younger than me. she went to Dr. F.J. McDonald and then St. Joes(this is for credibility purposes)
Our justice system is focused on rehabilitation rather than the way the US teart it, lock them away and throw the key. Why? because over here they will get back out from jail, and if they do through the proper programs that have them leave jail sooner there is an 80% chance of success rate with changing the person rather than having the old fation way which has a very poor success rate.... -Youth in conclict with the law, Algonquin College, Police foudnations.
I may not agree with the justice system, but aparently the masses do.
Anyone saying remorse for tammy... tammys not all that great of a girl too so... aren't you all bias? I asked areaound and was told that tammy did drugs too... so? wtf people? who's telling lies and who's changing the story and who's just some random person making stuff up?
what is wrog with you.. Tammy was an amazing WE ARE NOT BIAS!!! Stepahanieyoung is not the victim and deserves the proper punishment. She took someones life. Tammy was loving and caring and never did anything wrong to anyone... why say something sooo wrong..... she is dead... whomever you are a selfish rude person grow up
I resided with Stephanie Young a few years back and she was extrememly threatning and aggressive with me. She was jelous and envious of me and even tried breaking up a relationship that I had at the time. She stole hundreds of dollars of clothing, jewlery, and make up from me. She became obssessed with an abusive exboyfriend of mine and wouldn't leave him alone and pretended that they were dating when the clearly weren't. I've found it within myself to forgive Stephanie for the turmoil that she has caused me in my life, and it's a shame that she wasn't convicted of a lesser charge sooner and that it had to escalate to murder. She even went as far as threatning to kill me in my sleep and carrying out an assault which took place when I was 14. She scratched me and punched me as hard as she could. In fear of being charged, I didn't retaliate. She is a danger to our society and needs to face the consequences of her actions or she will never come to terms with the pain in her upbringing and her own personal life. I don't think she is the victim in the situation, nor do I feel sorry for her, but she has a had a rough upbringing which lead to the poor decisions that she's made in her life. Again, no excuse to committ the crime that she did against Tammy. I was personally wasn't shocked to see the charges laid against her. She is cruel, bitter, cold, and a very jealous and sick human being. On the contrary, I do not believe that revenge against Stephanie is the right answer. Let her do her time in peace. That's enough of a punishment in itself.
awww youre all a bunch of whine asses
When I was living in a foster home a couple years back, Steph came there on relief for almost 2 weeks, I also went to school with her and have hung out with her a couple times.. not by choice but she is an aggressive person, and I am not really surprised that she has taken someones life, but its a little hard to take in... she did have that stuck up attitude I found... like as someone stated that she said if she couldn't have that guy then Tammy couldn't either.. I can totally see her saying that because I was in a similar situation like that with her... except i backed off but the guy told her off and eventually she gave up... I can definately say I'm glad I backed off, but I sympathize for Tammy's family and friends and I hope that justice is served for Tammy, and for all others who have suffered any type of assault or abuse from Stephanie Young. (and all those statements in the newspaper about Stephanie being nice and all that is complete lies)
Listen After reading all your comments i relized one thing most of you are bull shitting well frankly all of you are bullshitting.Stephine was a happy go luckey girls , i should know i am her cousin dam it .. i was always with her ..I know its sad that tammy is gone but stop making up these bull shit lie to make tammy look like the good one ..Tammy wasn't the good one eather . I should know that too she broke up me and my boyfriend so many times in the past and i hate her ...But yet i miss her ... I no longer hate her but yet , they where both in the wronge stop making steph look bad ...
you are not right to defend steph i was tammys best friend i know her more than you think STEPAHIME YOUNG IS A MURDERER too bad soo sad for your pooor family huh .. she is DEAD because of that stupid little cousin of yours START by not talking shyt about her she is DEAD LEAVE HER ALONE ..and i hope steph learns her lesson and never see the light of day agian...im not threating anyone i just cant handle you jerks talkin about her like that ...TAMMY WAS A GREAT PERSON
Tams was an angel nobody should say anything wrong about her she ment the world to me
you all are idiots to defend steph i dont think you should defend a girl who stabbed her and left her to die nobody helped her i miss her sooo much wjhat that girl took from me could never be replaced... ill see her face in nov when she is in court dont thin i wont look at her the way she desreves ..... like nothing... you all know who i am .... Sooo fuck offf she is FUCKIN DEAD ... meeet her in fukin heaven steph see how she likes you then she was ur friend that night she didnt want ur b.f ur just jealous like u were of me.... I TOLD I WAS BETTER AND U KILLED MY BEST GIRL>>> ROT IN JAIL thats what you deserve... look at her mom you think that wasent all you it was .... man i cant even tell you how many pppl cared soooo anyone who wants to say shyt can fuck right offf wtf is this shyt doing on a site anyways she would not have wanted that ur idiots ... who are you and why are u gonna say things about her like that ,... all she ever did was be there for ppl .... you know your wrong... seee how you feeel later ...
STEPHANIE YOUNG TOOK MY STREET-SISTERS LIFE AND NEXT WEEK IN COURT .... SOME JUSTICE WILL BE DONE, NO WHERE NEAR ENOUGH BUT SOME STEPS WILL BE TAKEN .... AND TOOO HER CAUSIN UR A FRIKKEN MORON TO DEFEND HER, SHE IS A MURDERER, SHE MAY BE UR CAUSIN, BUT SHE KILLED SOMEONE AND SHE IS GOING TO GET WHAT SHE DISERVES .... ESPECIALLY IF SHE GETS OUT ... THATS NOT A THREAT EATHIER ITS A F*CKIN PROMISE B*TCH
I respect what the last girl said but seriously i think she is right steph should never see the light of day enough said she ddeserves to rot in jail ...Next week she wont get out if justice is sought in the right way thats for
I respect what the last girl said but seriously i think she is right steph should never see the light of day enough said she ddeserves to rot in jail ...Next week she wont get out if justice is sought in the right way thats for
THROW THAT BITCH IN JAIL FOREVER AND THROW AWAY THE KEY. MAKE HER SUFFER.. IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY. I HOPE THAT BITCH GETS RAPED IN JAIL.
I, too, worked with Stephanie Young in a residential treatment facility and when I heard about the charges against her I was only shocked that she hadn't already been charged and arrested for violent behaviour years ago. I wasn't at all surprised that she was capable of such a thing, my first thought was that it was probably over a pair of pants or a boy.
While I worked with her I witnessed a variety of psychopathic-type behaviours (I'm not diagnosing her as such but she definitely displayed some typical tendencies). She showed no remorse for anything she did and everything she did to anyone was done with a smile. Even when she tried to apologize she could never do it seriously. But when she wanted to she sure could turn on the waterworks. She was worried only about herself and I suspect the "remorse" she is displaying now would be only to get a lesser punishment, simply self-serving. During my time with Stephanie, there were many incidents of aggression.
Yes, Stephanie had a difficult life, but no worse than the other residents of the facility. Many of the youth I've worked with have had absolutely horrific lives and Stephanie's wasn't nearly the worst of what I've seen. She chose to wallow in self-pity and she chose to play the victim. She never worked at changing her attitude and she wasn't willing to take the help or advice offered to her so SHE chose this path. Nobody else. To those of you who think we're "bad-mouthing" her to make Tammy look better, I don't have a clue what Tammy was like. I'm sure she had the potential to be an AMAZING person, but you know what? So did Stephanie. She just never attempted to reach her potential. What I'm telling is the truth as I witnessed it. I had the opportunity to basically live with Stephanie. Living with someone and seeing them at their worst is completely different than being a friend to them. The one thing I noticed about the worst girls in the facilty was that 1-they weren't willing to accept help and 2-they were completely two-faced. They would behave one way with us in the home environment and completely differently with their friends or extended family. People always behave differently with people who don't HAVE to love or tolerate them. We were more like their parents and brothers and sisters (not cousins). They felt that it was alright to abuse us and the other residents because we HAD to be there for them no matter what. Well, guess what! Real life isn't like that. Those that learned respect for self and others have completely turned their lives around. It was obvious to us that Stephanie wasn't willing to work to change her circumstances. I could say so much more but really I would need to be called to testify in order to reveal anything specific.
I think everyone needs to leave what happened to the court system. This article had very good points and I really enjoyed reading it, but these posts have turned into some drama session. I don't know these girls, and although I have heard things from people and through the media about Stephanie, it does not matter. Just because there is a tragedy doesn't mean someone needs to be bashed and threatened. It is obvious that Tammy is the victim and it does not need to be talked about back and forth from two sides of the party.
I myself went through a tragedy and lost a close friend of mine that caused turmoil between our friends. There are two sides of what happened, but we didnt sit on chat boards and talk about our friends. we let him rest in peace, and how thankful i am for that after reading this because I am so discusted in the way people are talking to each other.
if anything havent you all learned that fighting is not the answer. silence is gold, and espescially at this time at this type of event YOU DONT NEED TO CHARACTERIZE THE KILLER, OR THE VICTIM. IT IS SO CLEAR WHAT HAPPENED THAT TALKING ABOUT IT DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
AT THIS TIME YOU SHOULD ALL LEARN TO GROW UP AND BE THANKFUL FOR KNOWING SUCH AN AWESOME GIRL. YOUR MOURNING PROCESS WILL ONLY TAKE LONGER IF YOU DONT GET OUT OF THIS MESS YOURSELF. YOU WILL BE ANGRY AND YOU WILL MISS YOUR FRIEND, BUT LET THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HANDLE IT. I CAN ASSURE YOU THEY WILL NOT BE READING THESE POSTS AND SEEING WHO MADE BETTER COMMENTS TO ONE ANOTHER.
I am not gonna spend an hour writing a whole page about Stephanie, but what i would like to say is to whomever claims they were her cousin and was ``always with her and she`s not that kinda person``. Well unfortunatly she most definetly is. I lived with That girl for more than two years in a residential home. over that time i never saw any cousin that was ``always with her`` All i saw was a jealous, outta control angry aggressive teen. it is true that she liked soccer and the ottawa senetors and blah blah blah, but that still doesnt change what shes capible of. coming from some one that knew that side of her i can honestly say im suprised that this didnt happen sooner. i cant even count the times shes been aggressive and abusive to other residents who lived with us, myself included. Its very unfortunate that Steph is your cousin and its effecting your family, but shes NOT the victem and i know the court system will do the right thing.
I lived with stephanie for quite a long time in the same group home and agency. Anyone, who lived with stephanie on a regular basis, knew the truth about her. She was emotionless, cold and had been all to many times caught up in lies. She was a pathological liar who seemed to only show any sort of sympathy or emotion when it came down to her getting out of trouble. She would cause fights and trouble for no known cause and did not fit in very well with her peers. To be honest i felt like she wasn't all there. That her mind was somewhere else. She was one of the one's that i lived with that made me think, its only a matter of time, and i was right. People need to realize that unless you see the person's problems first hand, you live with it constantly, you have no idea. And in a home like that, the true colours show. There is no fear or withholding herself.
I don't hate stephanie, i think the choice she made that night was absolutely horrible, and my heart goes to tammy and her friends and family. I do however think that stephanie is one of those people who definately needs to learn by the consequences she is given. Lesser sentence and "illness" cover-ups are only feeding the problems she has. She finds fake empathy and emotion get her what she wants. Im no doctor, but to sum it up, her behaviour definately screams sociopathic to me. i really dont know if there even is a consceince in there. If there is, i have never seen it.
A sunny fall morning,
A chilly november night,
Began with love and happyness
And ended with shock and fright.
As we went downtown that day and we found out
About the night before,
The shock set in; the grief began
And we felt it more and more -
Even when you're not in sight
You're in my thoughts day and night
Love is what will keep you here
And make me thankful for all we share
If love could change the way things are
you would live forever and go so far
You'd know that I was always there
That I'll always love you, I'll always care
Matt Manley
I wish not approve on it. I think warm-hearted post. Expressly the appellation attracted me to be familiar with the whole story.
Genial brief and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you seeking your information.
Easily I assent to but I about the brief should have more info then it has.
WHY DONT YOU ALL SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET A LIFE
Hi
Very nice and intrestingss story.
I went to high school with Steph... AT first i befriended her and hung out with her. After seeing her behavior and the way she acted i quickly found out that steph was not a good person, i watched her pull a chunk of hair out of a girls head...shes violent and should go to jail...like any person she may have her nice moments but she is not a nice girl. She should be punished severely. I had never met someone in my life that was as empty as steph was...and i feel so much for Tammy's family!! It hurts me to know that at one time even if i realized how she was, that i was friends with her.
I miss you tammy so much my daugter misses you to you are in our heart you are in are thoughts every day we actually light up a candle every special occasions and remember all the good times we had whith you we will always remember you.
excuse you who ever the hell you think you are. you cant depict someone over something that they did in the heat of the moment. has anyone really asked tammys boyfriend what really went down. no ofcourse not because no one wants to knwo what his role in the whole ituation was. did u know he played both tammy and her no bet you didnt bet you didnt know that tammy was the one that went after her first. strait self defence. ive known steph since kindergarden shes a good girl yea shes got her problems but everyone does. if you push someone to there limits god only knows what you would do. so dont go and be painting my friend into this horendous monster when you dont know the facts from the night and weeks before it even happened. tammy may be the victom but she may be the one that caused her own death think about that one.
Why don't you all just shut the fuck up!!
Stephanie deserves life in prison...nothing less
To those who support Stephanie...THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR MURDER!! I don't care what the boyfriend did or didn't do, only a psychopath resorts to murder and I'm almost positive she's a psychopath. I also worked with Steph in the group homes. She is a pathological liar and shows no remorse. I remember reading/hearing about her throwing a kettle full of boiling water at another resident...she missed and ended up leaving a staff member disfigured for life. AND she laughed about it! Even her own mother seemed to dread the home visits. She deserves the highest sentence...that's one "woman" who I don't believe can be rehabilitated.
BTW - Anonymous who posted "why don't you all just shut the fuck up" sounds EXACTLY like Stephanie Young herself. Is that you from prison??
I also was in Ottawa and Napanee jail with her and YES she did admit to stabbing that other woman and laughing about it and she also threatened myself and multiple others when I was released she was laughing on how innicent she looked and how could she make herself look younger and how she wasnt going to prison. heres the thing she fucking deserves to be not only locked up for this hanious crime but in solidar confinment for the rest of her life she is a threat to every other person. Plus she likes to get sexual with some of the immates so she has had a vacation for her bull shit. the bible says an eye for and eye i think she should get exactly what she did to that poor woman done to her
I lived in a group home with Stephanie Young and the way her so-called friend make her out to sound fun, kind and easy going is anything but true. Our group home was probably on the polices speed dial because of Stephanie Young and her temper. I was also their when Tammy died. It was suppose to be my birthday party. Stephanie knew what she was doing. The way people try to sugar coat what happened makes me sick. That charge should have never been dropped to second degree. If it wasn't for Stephanie being in the care of CAS she would have been in jail a long time ago. She didn't even seem to care when she was at her preliminary hearing. I will never get the memory of that scary night out of my head, I will never stop missing Tammy and I believe Stephanie should not get to be a free person. What she did impacting many peoples life forever, not 10 years, not 20 but for life.
I agree with the person above. What happened happened. Stephanie was in the wrong, whether Tammy was a great person or a horrible person, Stephanie was still in the wrong. Tammy was a great, amazing, wonderful person in my opinion and Steph should be locked up for life, not just because she killed a wonderful person but because she killed a person. a person with a loving mother, caring friends, and who could of changed the world if she got the chance
Tammy will not be forgotten we all loved you lots.....did anyone know her? Really know her? She was still a loving caring free spirit after all she had been put through all her life. SHE really did have "potential".
RIP you will always be in our hearts and memories.
Murder is murder karma
This comment has been removed by the author.
I was in jail with Stephanie. She never laughed about the murder, she had been a friend of Tammy. She is very immature and probably has a personality disorder. It seems everybody on here knows what a psycho steph is, did Tammy not know steph very well or something?? She went back to Stephanie's place to fight with her. She wanted to beat up Stephanie and go have sex with Will. Stephanie's not the only one who was in the wrong.
The facts are she killed my sister and best friend thanks tho.
R.I.P tammy miss you girl.
You are breaking confidentiality
Post a Comment
<< Home