Thugs get off scot free

[muddy]

The Palestinian action thugs who van rammed a Elbit factory - a factory that provides jobs for working people . Not entitled unemployed thugs / paid agitators

They caused criminal damage and attacked a police officier with a sledge hammer

Now they have walked free .

This is a complete and utter travesty of justice  and a prime example not of two tier policing but of two tier justice .

Lucy Connelly got nearly three years for a four hour tweet .

[Michael Rolls]

Disgraceful

[GrannyMac]

Agreed. 

[klondike]

It's not being called Broken Britain for fun. EVERYTHING seems to be broken about it these days.

On the bright side it looks like the Mandleson scandal may have done for Starmer.
On the downside of the contenders only Red Ed isn't either besmerched with tax evasion (Ange) or was a big pal of Mandelson too apart from Red Ed. Expect things to get worse before they get better - if they ever do.

[Alex]

Was this jury fixed ?    Crazy how you can fracture a police officer's spine with a hammer and get off, but post a "nasty" tweet and you get 30 months prison time   

[klondike]

It'll be the sentencing guidelines. Special reductions for unwanted visitors or prize idiots/thugs supporting them.

[JBR]

I find such things completely disgusting.  Who wants to protect criminals simply because they are non-white?
This country is heading for the Third World.  I really hope that Reform can turn things round, but even so I am beginning to feel that they won't be able to, as it's already gone too far.

[klondike]

I read a bit about it - the problem was with the jury. They were acquitted on one charge and no verdicts on the others. Possibly a retrial.

[JBR]

I read a bit about it - the problem was with the jury. They were acquitted on one charge and no verdicts on the others. Possibly a retrial.

Oh dear.
There has been talk about 'non jury trials', I'm now beginning to see a possible advantage of that.
However, I still think that we should have juries, certainly for the most serious offences, but if a judge believes that for whatever reason a jury is either incompetent or biased for some reason, it should be possible to call for a retrial.  After that, the members of the jury should also be examined for their possible underlying biases and, if found to be seriously biased, be listed as unsuitable for jury service.

[Michael Rolls]

Absolutely

[Ashy]

Whatever we think of the accused, the CPS charged them with aggravated burglary which is actually more serious than attempted murder. There are a number of things, including weapons and intent to use them, that the crown has to prove beyond reasonable doubt, to the jury. The charge carries a possible life sentence. Well I wasn't there in the court, but I can guess how the defence played it. 

[klondike]

So does that acquittal mean they can't now be charged with attempted murder?

[JBR]

Whatever we think of the accused, the CPS charged them with aggravated burglary which is actually more serious than attempted murder. There are a number of things, including weapons and intent to use them, that the crown has to prove beyond reasonable doubt, to the jury. The charge carries a possible life sentence. Well I wasn't there in the court, but I can guess how the defence played it.

That's another thing.  A 'life sentence'.  That could be as little as 15 years, so a 16 year-old murderer could be out by 31 and ready and willing to kill several more people.

Further to my earlier post, I might add that if any person has been charged with any crime in the past, even if they have paid the price for it, they should not be allowed to sit on a jury.

[Mups]

That's another thing.  A 'life sentence'.  That could be as little as 15 years, so a 16 year-old murderer could be out by 31 and ready and willing to kill several more people.

Further to my earlier post, I might add that if any person has been charged with any crime in the past, even if they have paid the price for it, they should not be allowed to sit on a jury.

Good post,  and I entirely agree with all of it.  

And regarding the so-called 'Life Sentence',   why are they even allowed to call it that, when it is never usually anywhere near a life sentence?   That has always bugged me.

Even then, whatever the sentence passed,  they are often still let out half way through for 'good behaviour.'     It makes a mockery of sentencing.

[JBR]

Good post,  and I entirely agree with all of it. 

And regarding the so-called 'Life Sentence',  why are they even allowed to call it that, when it is never usually anywhere near a life sentence?  That has always bugged me.

Even then, whatever the sentence passed,  they are often still let out half way through for 'good behaviour.'    It makes a mockery of sentencing.

It does indeed.
One suggested contraindication of hanging for murder is that the act can later be disproven.

A suggestion: 15 years in jail, if the act not been disproven by then, hanging.
It would give them something to 'look forward to'! 🤣

I'm laughing, but I think it would repay the murderer and probably act as a better deterrent to others.