Strands #290 “You Say You Want A...
Quizzes & Puzzles1 min ago
Is this justice?
63 Answers
A 44yr old black man walks free from court with a smirk on his face after being convicted of a vicious attack on a 96yr old war veteran, which was unprovoked and leaves him with loss of vision in one eye. Is this justice?
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To my certain knowledge, there is one ABer who was given a custodial sentence for GBH - and I hope he comes along here to give us his view on this disgraceful situation. Since when was the penalty for this crime reduced to a three-year supervision order? It seems there is now no justice whatsoever in this country.
I really really cannot see the point in having a justice system, this wont be the last miscarriage, I am ashamed to be a citizen of this country the way it is going, I dont support the dealth penalty but if criminals were jailed for the length of time as they are in the Usa then maybe we wouldnt have so many criminals laughing at the system or commiting offences.
A vital piece of information not in the BBC report is that Stephen Gordon is diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. He is mentally ill and it was for this reason that treatment instead of prison was the judges verdict. Sending a mentally ill person to jail serves no purpose
The judge decided that treatment, rather than a custodial sentence was in the best interests of the public.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime /article2718156.ece
The judge decided that treatment, rather than a custodial sentence was in the best interests of the public.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime /article2718156.ece
Hospitals are for people who are sick. Jails are for re-education (Not punishment). There is little point in trying to re-educate someone who has acted because they are ill.
The main thing here is that he is getting treated. We do not know the mans circumstances ourselves and it has to be for others who are professionals to judge whether this man is likely to re-offend.
The Times report says he was found guilty earlier this year, so we must assume that it has taken this long to sentence him because they have carefully assessed reports of his health and whether he is a danger, and the best treatment available.
The main thing here is that he is getting treated. We do not know the mans circumstances ourselves and it has to be for others who are professionals to judge whether this man is likely to re-offend.
The Times report says he was found guilty earlier this year, so we must assume that it has taken this long to sentence him because they have carefully assessed reports of his health and whether he is a danger, and the best treatment available.
amsterdammer
You mentioned his colour because you wanted to stir up the hornet's nest that you later mentioned.
Then you raise your hands in mock shock when people pull you up on it.
Okay, let's turn it around for a second. Say If I'd written, "Why has this white kiddy fiddler been let off with a minimal jail sentence? Is this justice?:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/704 2650.stm
The question is drowned out by the irrelevent fact that that the man is white.
Do you understand that point?
You mentioned his colour because you wanted to stir up the hornet's nest that you later mentioned.
Then you raise your hands in mock shock when people pull you up on it.
Okay, let's turn it around for a second. Say If I'd written, "Why has this white kiddy fiddler been let off with a minimal jail sentence? Is this justice?:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/704 2650.stm
The question is drowned out by the irrelevent fact that that the man is white.
Do you understand that point?
Amsterdammer - I'll ignore the pointless race element that just undermines any serious debate
The attacker in question is a paranoid schitzophrenic. I have no doubt that prison is not the best place to treat somebosy like this, and that he would pose a danger to inmates and the public on his release. Clearly treatment for his mental illness is required
That said, the man is clearly not safe within the public realm wither as he poses as serious risk to people aroud him. I can't help but think that time in a secure hospital was necessary in order to help him overcome the illness and also protect the public.
When violence is used in this way we feel a primal urge to blame someone. Obviously the attacker in most circumstances is entirely at fault. We seem to understand sympathy for mental illness as long as the sufferers are docile or happy. If you have serious mental problems that make you act out in a violent way, then there is precious little sympathy.
This is a horrible thing that has happened to by all accounts to a peacful, dignified hero. I would raise more issue with the treatment of the dangerously mentall ill, rather than the attacker himself.
The attacker in question is a paranoid schitzophrenic. I have no doubt that prison is not the best place to treat somebosy like this, and that he would pose a danger to inmates and the public on his release. Clearly treatment for his mental illness is required
That said, the man is clearly not safe within the public realm wither as he poses as serious risk to people aroud him. I can't help but think that time in a secure hospital was necessary in order to help him overcome the illness and also protect the public.
When violence is used in this way we feel a primal urge to blame someone. Obviously the attacker in most circumstances is entirely at fault. We seem to understand sympathy for mental illness as long as the sufferers are docile or happy. If you have serious mental problems that make you act out in a violent way, then there is precious little sympathy.
This is a horrible thing that has happened to by all accounts to a peacful, dignified hero. I would raise more issue with the treatment of the dangerously mentall ill, rather than the attacker himself.
brionon
As I said in my answer: "The main thing here is that he is getting treated" and he will be supervised and hopefully his condition controlled.
People far more qualified than you and I have given their assessment to the Judge in order for him to pass sentence. I hope they are right and that he is safe to be on the streets. If you do not accept such medical opinion should be given in passing sentence, then the prisons will be even more full of people who shouldn't be there than at present.
As I said in my answer: "The main thing here is that he is getting treated" and he will be supervised and hopefully his condition controlled.
People far more qualified than you and I have given their assessment to the Judge in order for him to pass sentence. I hope they are right and that he is safe to be on the streets. If you do not accept such medical opinion should be given in passing sentence, then the prisons will be even more full of people who shouldn't be there than at present.
You see there we differ -you have confidence in Experts and I don't. It was Experts who told us with a sneer;''Of course the man in the street thinks that the Panda is a Bear but We Experts know it's a type of Weasel'' and ;a few years later,''Of course the Man in the street thinks the Panda is a Weasel,but we Experts know that it is,in fact, a Bear.'' And Dr. Spock who KNEW how we should raise our Kids-only for him to admit years later that he'd got it wrong.
And those who Know how we should dress and eat-they never stop and they are VERY Often just-WRONG !!!
And those who Know how we should dress and eat-they never stop and they are VERY Often just-WRONG !!!
Gromit, so he will receive treatment and he will be supervised - and 'hopefully' his condition be controlled? What if it's not, and he goes on to commit more offences? What about his victims? Don't they count? Also I take it you assume he'll be supervised 24 hours a day? That I very much doubt.
How many times, on the advice of 'experts', have mentally ill people who have committed terrible acts been either released into the community, or allowed to remain in the community, only to commit further crimes, even murder? And how many times have we heard 'experts' say 'lessons have been learned', when clearly they never are. If this man is mentally ill, then prison is not the answer, but the public must be protected and he should be removed from society and placed into an appropriate hospital at least until his treatment is completed.
How many times, on the advice of 'experts', have mentally ill people who have committed terrible acts been either released into the community, or allowed to remain in the community, only to commit further crimes, even murder? And how many times have we heard 'experts' say 'lessons have been learned', when clearly they never are. If this man is mentally ill, then prison is not the answer, but the public must be protected and he should be removed from society and placed into an appropriate hospital at least until his treatment is completed.
It is the same old story again and again, if a black person does wrong then the colour of their skin should not be highlighted or even mentioned. And yet they are soon to play on their colour if it is advantageous to them, and if it is, yet another chance to play the race card..
Take black on black shootings/stabbings there is always an excuse, ie.poor housing, under achieving,lack of role models etc etc. Non of these are the cause it is drugs and their gang culture. All other nationalities in this country seem to cope.
Even when this person was confronted by the cctv evidence, he had the nerve to say the video had been doctored by the police, and he had in fact been assulted by the 96 year old, even though the video showed the victim hanging on to the bus rail with both hands.
It would have been interesting if the roles had been reversed ie White man/Asian/Chinaman attack a 96 year old Black man, and walks from court with smirk on his face.
I would think there would have been an outcry from the "Black Community" accusations of a vile racist attack, and the courts not giving out a tough enough sentence because the victim happened to be Black.
Take black on black shootings/stabbings there is always an excuse, ie.poor housing, under achieving,lack of role models etc etc. Non of these are the cause it is drugs and their gang culture. All other nationalities in this country seem to cope.
Even when this person was confronted by the cctv evidence, he had the nerve to say the video had been doctored by the police, and he had in fact been assulted by the 96 year old, even though the video showed the victim hanging on to the bus rail with both hands.
It would have been interesting if the roles had been reversed ie White man/Asian/Chinaman attack a 96 year old Black man, and walks from court with smirk on his face.
I would think there would have been an outcry from the "Black Community" accusations of a vile racist attack, and the courts not giving out a tough enough sentence because the victim happened to be Black.
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