Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for DUI Manslaughter
Margaret Caitlin Walker, 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday for killing a cyclist while driving under the influence (DUI).
The victim, Zeshan Haider, was attending graduate school at the University of Florida at the time of his death.
Walker took a plea deal that will require her to permanently give up her driver’s license and be on probation for three years after her release from prison.
On November 27, 2022, Walker was driving on S. Main St. and SE 33rd Pl when she struck and killed the victim, the arrest report states. Hours later, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers found the victim deceased at the scene after getting a 911 call about the body.
Walker was originally facing an additional hit and run charge for leaving the scene but it was dropped as part of the plea deal.
According to the arrest report, Walker "stated she felt 'tipsy' to the extent that her normal faculties were impaired from consuming the alcoholic beverages while she operated the vehicle. At the time of the crash, [Walker] advised she looked down in the vehicle to adjust music when she felt the vehicle strike an object. [Walker] advised she stopped to check her vehicle and thought she had struck a road sign. [Walker] stated she did not report the crash because she did not want any points on her drivers license."
The victim’s brother delivered a long and emotional impact statement, court records show.
“I would like to thank all those who have been with me on this difficult journey of life. I would like to salute my esteemed justice and judge. I would like to thank all those colleagues who supported me more than the Pakistani community, including Debbie Snyder, Jackie Robinson, John Kelly, Dan Glassman, and Jesse Smith.
Today, after almost two and a half years, the time I had been impatiently waiting for has finally arrived. My greatest wish was to be present in court that day and see if there was any remorse in the eyes of Miss Margaret when the verdict was announced. But unfortunately I am not there. My writing will make me feel my presence there.
My Lord, in which words I could express my loss today, which was caused by the carelessness and selfishness of Margaret Walker… Does Margaret have any idea how much effort my brother must have put in to achieve this success, how many sacrifices he must have made?
Margaret has shattered not only my brother's dreams but also the dreams and hopes of our entire family. My brother was the light of my life. He was a total asset to my life. The pain of being separated from him cannot be described in words…
I don't think his death was a one-time [instant] death. He must have endured that agony alone for hours. I don't know what he must have thought in that solitude. Who must he have missed and how did he leave this mortal world? This question still lingers in my mind, that something that has been hit from behind should have fallen straight ahead and not into the bushes on the side of the road.
I still have the news and images that were circulating on social media those days. The photos in which the media representative pointed out that the dead body was present here. I zoom in on these photos and if Zeeshan had fallen on top of them while hitting them, the bushes should have been broken off, but that's not the case at all. It was as if someone had been forcibly thrown over there. I still have those pictures and those news [reports].
The sad thing is that instead of giving him first aid, he was left there alone. What a painful moment this must be for a person who is alone seven seas away from home. And for the 70-year-old mother who still wishes her son had been taken to the hospital in time. So maybe fate is different today…
If it were up to me, I would have locked her up for the rest of her life. A person who doesn't realize [their] mistake is an animal, and animals have no place in human society.
In my opinion, America is the safest country. My brother Zeeshan used to tell me that there is a lot of humanity here, even birds and animals are taken care of here. I still remember his words when he told me that even if animals came across the road, they would be given the right of way first. But who knew that a few days later he himself would become a victim of this injustice?
I want a picture of Margaret sent to me when she is sentenced so I can see if there is any shame in [her] eyes. I am also grateful to the person who saw Zeeshan's body for the first time and immediately informed the police. It's possible that if they had ignored him, things would have been even more miserable for me. They are my benefactors. Their kindness to me will remain…
I have suffered a great loss from my brother's death, not only physically and financially, but it is a spiritual wound that can never heal. My entire family depended on him, he was a source of guidance for our children. After all, who can guide children in matters of education now? He was the one who had endured all kinds of hardships, his absence has turned everything dark. So to speak, two and a half years have passed, but for us, time still stands still. Life goes on, but the purpose of living has come to a standstill. My mother cries every day and I can only say for their comfort that everything is, it will be based on justice. The death of their young son will not be in vain.
I hope the decision will be right. My Lord, I appeal to you for a decision. Judge, I appeal to you for justice. You are the one who will do justice, you will surely bring us justice. I will never be able to say enough about the words I have to say, nor the emotions, nor the pain, nor the loss, nor the shock that is so profound.
No one's life is so cheap that they kill a person and leave him. Apathy—You are only hope of our justice, my Lord. I hope we will definitely get our right, by God willing.”
Walker is scheduled to be released in 2033.
