Bedtime stories

I always like to read a little right before bed. Often, that reading is confined to pretending to proof read my blog.

Tonight's first offering is much better bedtime reading and just perfect for children as it's educational. I wish it had been around when mine were young, they would have got a bigger buzz than they did from telling their schoolmates that the reindeer pelt their grandfather brought back from Sweden was the new, slimline, sleigh-pulling Rudolph.

Enjoy a little dark bedtime ABCs - The Gashlycrumb Tinies.

The former is much better reading than what our local paper reported today although this one was certainly "lights out" for the victim concerned.

Just one punch ended David Van Berlo's life - and just one word sealed the fate of Paul Carmichael.

Carmichael, 28, yesterday pleaded guilty to manslaughter after dealing a single blow to Mr Van Berlo's head on April 19 in Bayfair Tavern's carpark.

The attack happened on the eve of Mr Van Berlo's 30th birthday.

In Tauranga District Court yesterday, details emerged about an evening in which a man's jealousy got the better of him with tragic consequences.

It was a Thursday night and Carmichael was having drinks with his partner at Bayfair Tavern in Mount Maunganui. Shortly before 1am, another patron at the tavern took exception to the way Carmichael behaved towards a woman and Carmichael was punched.

The tavern was immediately closed with about 15 people asked to leave.

Carmichael's partner went out to the carpark and was sick because she was so drunk.

At that point, Mr Van Berlo saw that Carmichael's partner had dropped her handbag and sweatshirt. He picked them and approached her to give them back.

But when Carmichael noticed Mr Van Berlo talking to his partner, he became irritated.

In later interviews, he described himself as a possessive, jealous type.

Carmichael punched Mr Van Berlo once in the head, causing him to fall backwards. He hit his head on the concrete carpark, immediately becoming unconscious.

Carmichael was walking away when a witness suggested he check his victim was okay.

He returned and lifted the man's head and shoulders and said "are you alright, bro?" before dropping his head back on to the concrete again.

more...

There are some dumb, low life, no-hoper bastards out there, eh.