<<Print>>

A US JUDGE'S decision to sentence a teen to 10 years of church attendance over a fatal car crash has been branded "unconstitutional". Tyler Alred, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the crash that led to his 16-year-old friend John Dunn's death in December last year, reported Tulsa World. Muskogee County Judge Mike Norman in Oklahoma gave Alred a 10-year deferred sentence for DUI manslaughter. The conditions included 10 years of church attendance, finishing high school and completing a welding course. He also must take drug, alcohol and nicotine tests for a year, wear a drug and alcohol bracelet and be part of victim's impact panels. Alred's barrister and the victim's family agreed to the terms of the sentence, with Dunn's sister telling the judge that there was no sense in ruining two lives by sending Alred to prison. Judge Norman said that he had used the church requirement as a sentence condition before, especially in child support cases, reported Huffington Post. He had, however, never used it before for a manslaughter charge and believed his sentence would not pass a legal challenge. He said he believed neither side would appeal. "Both families were satisfied with the decision," Norman said in an interview.