General Chat

The murderer of my brother's sister-in-law has just been given a 14 year sentence. She didn't know her assailant, so how safe are the rest of us? It seems to me that crimes involving finance are considered far more serious than murder. What do the rest of you think and is there anything that we can to to extent this sentence? Nes

Nesta - it is shocking isnt it? but 14 years is good going - my friends sister and her boyfriend were killed by a lorry driver who failed to see the red light they were stopped at - catapulted their car across the junction - he got away with the 6 months he spent in jail pending the court case - and it wasnt the first accident he had had thru lack of attention!!

Thanks Anne and Stump. I just wonder where we are going with our crime and punishment. It seems all wrong. Nes

Nes - all crime, no punishment - that's exactly where we're at!

Nesta, How awful for you and your family to have to go through this. However... 14 years is pretty much as much as you could have expected... to give a longer senetence he would have had to have received a life sentence, with a recommendation on a minimum amount to be served. The only other alternative is an eye for an eye - many would advocate bringing back the death penalty. Don't want to comment further on that, I'm sure we all have our views. My best wishes to you and your family Paul

A friend of mine, as a silly young girl, got mixed up with a bloke who beat her up regularly. One day he beat her up so badly she passed out, clutching her 3 month old baby in her arms. The charmer continued to kick her, in the head, accidentally ripping off the baby's ear. He was taken to court, said he was sorry, but she had post natal depression and had been nagging and he "just snapped". He was fined £100. He was allowed to see his child under supervision at the Social Services Office. This supervision was withdrawn when the child was 2 years old and he now sees him freely. Since then, the Charmer has beaten up no less than THREE women he has been involved with, so severely in one case that the girl has brain damage. Each time, he is acquitted, although once he was sent on an Anger Management Course. It is of course, always the woman's fault, she hit him first etc. I know the jury are not allowed to know his previous convictions, but surely the JUDGE knows, and can direct the Jury? It can only be a matter of time before this man kills someone - but of course, it will be her own fault, not his. I truly, truly despair of our "justice" system.

Nesta, Anne & MArjorie, Cannot imagine how all this feels, reminds me of the Great Train Robbers Trial and what the Judge said "He Was Going To Make An Example Of Them" Seems that was the last time that was done, People remember he gave them 30 years (this was to be an example) I do wish some Judge would be allowed NOW to do the same but for what this scum do to people. I agree seems if you steal you get more than if you harm another human being is this saying something about our Capitalist way of life Money is more important than PEOPLE, Wish they would let the PEOPLE VOTE ON THAT ONE I think it would change things, Although we would have to convince Europe to allow the vote to be carried, and they probably wouldnt allow it. Pat x

Despite all its failings we still live in a Democracy. If you want something changed then you have to either put pressure on the M.P.s - and keep the pressure on - or start your own political party with people who share your views. See how successful the UKIP became with just a few popular policies. Imagine how they would do if they really got to doing what the public wanted! How many people have actually written to their MPs about anything? Very few indeed. It is for this very reason that they think they can get away with doing absolutely nothing that the electorate want. Hence your views are never represented. If they were under more pressure to do what we want under threat of not being re-elected then you would soon see the changes. And NO I do not believe in bringing back Hanging - it is far too lenient for some of these B----rds. Perhaps drawing, and quartering might fit the bill, followed by castration for rapists and sex offenders, removal of the eyes for paedophiles, lethal injection for drugs dealers, and absolutely no reprieve for drunken drivers. Anyone want to join the Genes Reunited Party?

The law in my opinion is an ARSE!! There are so many bad things happening and because previous convictions can not be declared the evil gits get away with it all the time....

What galls me is that the sentences imposed by the courts are not in reality the ones served. With 'good behaviour' their sentence can be cut by half in real terms. There's a lot to be said for the 'three strikes and out' system which would at least get persistant offenders off the streets forever! Our prisons are overflowing so instead of building more - we let prisoners out! Where's the sense or justice in that? I do not advocate the reintroduction of the death penalty - one innocent person executed is too much for me but for goodness sake let's have a justice system that imposes tough penalties and sticks to them! Mags

I do agree that the system is far to lenient especially on the constant offenders.... but then i get irritated by what they get in jail and it's supposed to be a punishment..... Gyms, libraries, education, 3 meals a day.... some pensioners can't afford to heat their homes and the scumbags in prison get it all!!

to John Macdonald. Where do I sign for this wonderful party that will introduce all you mention??

nesta they should bring back the death penalty for scum like that.my sympathies go out to you and your brother and the family for an horrific crime that the americans would strap them to a chair and take their life for their actions.take care love and hugsxxxxxxxx(:

I find it so unbelievable some of these sentences, i feel for all your family, they should be jailed for life or hanged for their crime. A very close friend of mine had his 13yr old grandson killed by his mums junkie boyfriend ,who gave him an overdose of heroin, but he got off as it was his word against a 10year old child, and they couldn't prove it, it turned out once the jury said innocent, he had done it before. Its so tragic for any family to have a loved one taken from them. my prayers go out to all sandra

Thanks all for your messages. How ever bad you think you are being treated, you always hear of someone worse off. This little 'B' is only 18. He pleaded guily to the murder and attempted murder of another girl on the same evening. He did not know either of these women. What the family are affraid of is that someone, in a few years time, will have to suffer what they have been through because he will be out on the streets again. I wonder if the Judge would had been so lenient if 1) it had been one of his own family or 2) if he reaffends, the original Judge would have to bare the consequences and serve a simular sentence. I really don't know what this country is coming to. It seems to me that it is the law abiding people that get kicked and put down at every opportunity. Nes

Nesta I read about this chap in the paper today, I did wonder if he was the one since it said he'd got 14 years. He really should have got a longer term, life really should mean life in cases like this. Paul