Challenge of the Day.

[Cassandra]

That's quite sad I find myself feeling a bit sorry for him.   

Yes my late wife felt the same. She knew I was rather fond of the old rascal and that I visited him during his periodic encarcerations. He once made her a beautiful bracelet I remember, as he was also a highly skilled jeweller and watch maker. In fact he could have made a really good living by honestly pursuing those abilities.

It was the danger of being caught that appealed, I always felt. Fatally he'd been in 'Military Intelligence' during WW2 and was often parachuted into France to break into German possessions to gather information by photographing documents etc. I think he just loved the challenge!

Always behaved in custody and court with superb manners, once asking the Judge how his wife was recovering following an operation on her hip!

[Scrumpy]

What a fascinating man..

[Cassandra]

What a fascinating man..

Yes he was, apparently a breed now long gone I'm told ...

[dextrous63]

I should add both the 'gifts' he left were family heirlooms, with providence to prove it .

Absolutely.  I'll not mention Shaw Taylor then 🫣🤭

[JBR]

Fatally he'd been in 'Military Intelligence' during WW2 and was often parachuted into France to break into German possessions to gather information by photographing documents etc. I think he just loved the challenge!

Always behaved in custody and court with superb manners, once asking the Judge how his wife was recovering following an operation on her hip!

Despite his criminality, I find myself admiring the man.  What a shame he turned to crime when he could have made so much of himself and what more he could have done for the country and his fellow men.

[muddy]

I had to laugh myself, I can still see it vividly to this day and thankfully I do have a sense of the ridiculous. It was a scene straight from the 'Goon Show'! The chap in question could have been played perfectly by the actor 'Freddie Jones'. Yes he was a thief, but all my animals were extremely fond of him. He specialised in National Trust Properties or Museums, not liking to upset 'privates' with sensitive dispositions by stealing their sentimental items. He was also a 'melter', ie everything was instantly reduced in his oven in the cellar to weighted gold or silver. This particular 'bent' also made it hard for the 'old bill' to gather specific evidence against his activities! He came from a good family, his father was a 'right honourable'. Once I had to dispose / 're-home' his 5 Greyhounds following my failure to prevent another elongated term in the jug! I was more successful at this activity (they all went to private domestic homes) than I had been as his advocate. I should add both the 'gifts' he left were family heirlooms, with providence to prove it .

The trouble is children and animals are notoriously bad judges of character , they love the most awful people .
( Hitler was good with both )

[Cassandra]

The trouble is children and animals are notoriously bad judges of character , they love the most awful people .
( Hitler was good with both )

Not my experience, I think the 'Yorkie' in question appreciated 'Bertie' (the 'gentleman' burglar) for his kindnesses, perhaps not fully appreciative of The Theft Act 1968, section 9. He frequently accompanied me when I interviewed clients in Chambers, or cells  over the years and possessed a strong penchant for sniffing out the ungodly.

[Cassandra]

Despite his criminality, I find myself admiring the man.  What a shame he turned to crime when he could have made so much of himself and what more he could have done for the country and his fellow men.

I think he'd contributed from 1939/1945, far more than millions do in a lifetime. He held the D.S.O. for bravery behind enemy lines, which he also honoured me by leaving in my care upon his death. Post war he developed a small chain of jewellery repair shops operated by his ex service compatriots whom he trained. He sold out to the Limited Company, owned by these men that he'd formed. Life in 'civvie' Street bored him I always felt, so he resorted to crime to "pay the bills and gently fornicate". He was certainly a 'successful failure', something I can relate to ...

[muddy]

We should have the Death Penalty reinstated.for proven heinous crimes 
Murder is now, not the odd, one off crime as it used to be, it is becoming a daily epidemic of multiple murders, .
Incarcerating them doesn't make us better people .

[Cassandra]

Is Capital Punishment a satisfaction for revenge, or a restraint to it's enactment? - The Eternal Question.

I would have personally had no hesitation in sentencing some of the people I have known to death without a qualm. They are the embodiment of an evil that fortunately nearly all ordinary folk never have to experience.

Toady with DNA there is no chance that murderers could die when innocent - as may have been the case in the past before such technology existed. The disgusting slaughter of Fusilier Lee Rigby, by Islamist Assassins in 2013 is likewise irrefutable by video recordings.                         

[JBR]

Is Capital Punishment a satisfaction for revenge, or a restraint to it's enactment? - The Eternal Question.

In my opinion, it is primarily a deterrent and also a just reward for taking the life of someone else.

I am sure it was an effective deterrent in the past, because the number of murders per head of population is now very much higher than it was then.  I heard such a thing on GB News not long ago, and I have a suspicion that the numbers are almost double now than then, if I remember correctly.

I also feel that death for intentionally taking someone's life is the only fair consequence.  Some claim that incarceration for life is more of a punishment, but I think that might depend on the conditions that evil person experiences.  Having good friends in prison to associate with, for example, would hardly be a terrible punishment.

[muddy]

I do belive that when the line is crossed and is quite deliberate as in the Lee Rigby killing there is no coming back and the death penalty needs to be imposed .
The pity was that the policewomen who shot and wounded one of them didn't shoot to kill them both.
Would have been instant justice and have saved a lot of trouble and expense .

[Cassandra]

I do belive that when the line is crossed and is quite deliberate as in the Lee Rigby killings there is no coming back and the death penalty needs to be imposed .
The pity was that the policewomen who shot and wounded one of them didn't shoot to kill them both.
Would have been instant justice and have saved a lot of trouble and expense .

Trouble is they can then land up in the revolving court of woke revenge, years of abject misery not only for them, but their families too. The Metropolitan Police officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba has been denied anonymity for the continued criminal proceedings, at a hearing at the Old Bailey today.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC has ruled that the officer, currently known only as NX121, will be named on today.

The judge has decided that, although the officer's name and possibly date of birth will be made public, their address will not be shared and there will be restrictions preventing photos or court sketches. Oh well done, thank you sir!

Who'd want to ever volunteer for the job in the firearms unit, when a split millisecond decision places you after 16 months of misery (why, so long) in a court charged with the murder of someone you never knew, with your name splashed everywhere and your family in hiding!

[Alex]

Many hideous killings over the last few years in UK, but Lee Rigby's murder was one I'll never, ever forget.