Teacher Not Guilty Of Attempted Murder.

[OrcadianOil]

Teacher Peter Harvey cleared of attempted murder and causing GBH with intent, has been Bailed to return to Court next month.

A victory for common sense? OR Justice denied?

Personally, I subscribe to the former, it appears as though this man simply "snapped" in the heat of the moment against a pupil who apparently had been the ring leader in a campaign of total disobedience and rebellion towards this teacher and authority in general.
No doubt, the "wets" will bleat and disagree? Let's hear you all.
http://news.bbc.co.uk...ghamshire/8652243.stm

[Booldawg]

What find most horrifying is that I posted a link to this news story on Tuesday and it only warranted 5 answers. This Johnny-come-lately comes on here posting about it and gets over 40! This is the sort of behaviour that makes someone lash out with a dumb-bell!

[jake-the-peg]

I don't disagree with the verdict - I have grave reservations with the sentence.

GBH warrents a custodial sentence

If it's mitigated by someone who is of unsound mind then they need help in a secure mental institution.

Are you all still going to be cheering a victory for common sense if he turns up on the news next week after losing it on a bus and killing someone?

[Davethedog]

I am afraid this entire case highlights a couple of points

1) There is no dicipline in schools, I am not saying corporal punishment, but discipline a teacher cannot punish a child. Parents are on the "board" and do not understand the issues facing education but they are allowed to make decesions that affect the entire school.

A camcorder in a classroom???

2) There is such a lack of teaching staff that this gut was allowed to resume teaching even though he obviously couldn't face it.

He has done 8 months on remand, I am afarid the the people on this board were not privy to all the evidence, but the jury were and they didn't deliberate for long.
He has already pleaded to GBH the judge stated that "common sense had prevailed" which tends to point to mitigating circumstances.

[Davethedog]

As I said - You are not privvy to the evidence or were you on the jury?

[jackthehat]

I have great respect for people who are willing to stand at the front of a room stuffed full of hormonal, attitude-ridden teenagers who know that legally they 'can't be touched'.
The fact that this man was mentally fragile would have delighted (and certainly appeared to do so) a small but vicious and vocal group in the class.
That the teacher finally, goaded beyond the limits of his endurance, snapped and belted this boy probably had many of us nodding and muttering "..........I don't bloody blame him..........".
However, the sustained attack far exceeded any bounds with which I am personally comfortable.
The teacher should never have been back at work and this child should have been taken in hand a long time ago.
It is a tragedy all round, but as I have not been privvy to the sworn testimonies nor other evidence, I can only hope that Peter Harvey receives the treatment he requires; I hope that the boy concerned is, in some way, humbled and his behaviour improves and I hope that the other children at this school take note and treat their teachers with more respect.

[ummmm]

Jack....it might be a blessing in disguise.

[Quinlad]

He's not been let off in some symbolic victory for traditional values. It's not 'common sense' that allowed him to walk free.

He's been in prison for 8 months for GBH, to which he pleaded guilty. He now has a criminal record. Rightly so.