Has quadriplegic been punished enough already?

A helpful reader altered me to this fascinating sentencing story out of California.  These sad facts provide an extraordinary setting to debate the purposes of punishment (not to mention the purposes of a public trial and the concept of closure):

The sentencing of a quadriplegic accused of killing a 69-year-old woman in a car crash was postponed this morning because his attorney is withdrawing his plea.

Danny Espinoza, 25, had pleaded no contest to felony vehicular manslaughter in the death of Dorothy Anne Walter. Espinoza was driving west on Stockdale Highway on March 5, 2006 and went into the eastbound lane near Buena Vista Road and slammed into Walter’s car. Walter later died at Kern Medical Center.  Espinoza was paralyzed from the accident.

Espinoza faces up to six years in prison. Judge Michael Lewis said this continuance is impeding closure and “this is a difficult sentence for all people.”  Espinoza’s attorney, Bruce Blythe, did not say in the hearing why he chose to withdraw the plea…. Laurie Kolkman, Espinoza’s mother, said a trial will help bring the truth about what happened in the crash. “I think it will be good,” she said.

Prosecutor Michael Yraceburn said the withdrawal was a surprise and that the defendant is having “buyer’s remorse.”… Walter’s family were scheduled to speak at the sentencing. Espinoza’s next hearing is scheduled for June 5.