Harry Roberts. When will a life sentence be life ?
Discussion
Harry Roberts, murderer, coward, despicable piece of s
t is to be released.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29734816
He personally gunned down two unarmed cops as an accomplice murdered a third. Clearly they should have been hung but missed hanging by a few months. Given life in prison so why is he being released ? When will this government wake up ? Life should mean life !
I sincerely hope a relative of one of the poor sods gunned down tracks him down and snuffs out his pathetic life..
t is to be released.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29734816
He personally gunned down two unarmed cops as an accomplice murdered a third. Clearly they should have been hung but missed hanging by a few months. Given life in prison so why is he being released ? When will this government wake up ? Life should mean life !
I sincerely hope a relative of one of the poor sods gunned down tracks him down and snuffs out his pathetic life.
.I prefer my state and judiciary to remain separate, in part so that crimes cannot be politicised, and in part that political pressure can't be used to help "friends of the govt"
I'm sure our judiciary and independent boards annoy the hell of of every elected govt, but they seem to get it largely right.
I'm sure our judiciary and independent boards annoy the hell of of every elected govt, but they seem to get it largely right.
With todays "red button" generation, thankfully the public is very much not involved with the justice system.
People already think they can "vote-off" programs and people on television if they don't like them or disagree with them - the likes of the X-Factor and other crap of its ilk think people have this magic button. The number of "complaints" against programs has greatly increased, however without merit.
We recently had a close call with the Dave Lee Travis case where because of "numerous complaints by the public" his sentance was to be reviewed - nothing came of that and it certainly shouldn't have based on the public.
Legal and justice system needs to remain impartial.
People already think they can "vote-off" programs and people on television if they don't like them or disagree with them - the likes of the X-Factor and other crap of its ilk think people have this magic button. The number of "complaints" against programs has greatly increased, however without merit.
We recently had a close call with the Dave Lee Travis case where because of "numerous complaints by the public" his sentance was to be reviewed - nothing came of that and it certainly shouldn't have based on the public.
Legal and justice system needs to remain impartial.
Vaud said:
Fortunately public opinion is disregarded in sentencing as it is rarely balanced or impartial.
- ding*
Damn-near-80yo is released from prison. Is he REALLY likely to go straight out and shoot another couple of plods? Of course he isn't. He's going to be utterly institutionalised, and probably head straight into, at the very least, sheltered housing or more likely a care home.
It's also worth remembering that whilst he's out on licence - for all of his life - he'll go straight back inside if he so much as farts out of tune.
TooMany2cvs said:
Vaud said:
Fortunately public opinion is disregarded in sentencing as it is rarely balanced or impartial.
- ding*
Damn-near-80yo is released from prison. Is he REALLY likely to go straight out and shoot another couple of plods? Of course he isn't. He's going to be utterly institutionalised, and probably head straight into, at the very least, sheltered housing or more likely a care home.
It's also worth remembering that whilst he's out on licence - for all of his life - he'll go straight back inside if he so much as farts out of tune.
TX.
PS You view the crime as nothing more than "mind-meltingly stupid"
If people on life sentences really served life then it would just be a massive drain to the taxpayers and making over population of prisons worse.
If we put them to death as some have suggested, it would only make criminals harder and more desperate. You only have to look at crime in the USA to know that the death sentence isn't a deterrent.
On top of that, as soon as the state are able to justify killing someone, then it sends out a message to society that killing is ok if justified. Ironic.
Releasing them from prison at some point may (at times) be beneficial. If they're re-formed and released it's possible for them to contribute something back into society at some stage.
The above 3 are the only 3 choices i can think of. Bad crimes will still happen no matter what policy a country adapts and each has their pros and cons.
If we put them to death as some have suggested, it would only make criminals harder and more desperate. You only have to look at crime in the USA to know that the death sentence isn't a deterrent.
On top of that, as soon as the state are able to justify killing someone, then it sends out a message to society that killing is ok if justified. Ironic.
Releasing them from prison at some point may (at times) be beneficial. If they're re-formed and released it's possible for them to contribute something back into society at some stage.
The above 3 are the only 3 choices i can think of. Bad crimes will still happen no matter what policy a country adapts and each has their pros and cons.
Terminator X said:
Deterrent and retribution is the point surely?
Is he going to do it again? No. He has been deterred from doing it again.Has he suffered for his crime? He's lost his entire adult life to the criminal justice system.
Terminator X said:
PS You view the crime as nothing more than "mind-meltingly stupid"
<shrug> Did he go out that morning and say "I know, I'll kill a couple of coppers today?" Nah. Sure, he was in the middle of something very dodgy - an escape from the Scrubs? - but he didn't go looking for the Police with the intent to kill them, did he?So what would you call it?
Terminator X said:
Shouldn't be let out imho but when do they ever pay any attention to Joe Public. Child killers and cop killers should never see the light of day tbf.
TX.
I also believe life should mean life but why do you think people who murder a select group should be treated differently to other murderers? TX.
Basically the Jama brothers would serve (whole) life for the murder of PC Beshenivsky (rightly so) but Steve Wright who killed 5 women in Ipswich would have a chance of getting out (he doesnt)
Eclassy said:
I also believe life should mean life but why do you think people who murder a select group should be treated differently to other murderers?
Basically the Jama brothers would serve (whole) life for the murder of PC Beshenivsky (rightly so) but Steve Wright who killed 5 women in Ipswich would have a chance of getting out (he doesnt)
I agree with eclassyBasically the Jama brothers would serve (whole) life for the murder of PC Beshenivsky (rightly so) but Steve Wright who killed 5 women in Ipswich would have a chance of getting out (he doesnt)
If I murder a defenceless 4 year old child it's a horrific crime, especially for the parents.
If I murder a defenceless 8 year old child it's a horrific crime, especially for the parents.
If I murder a defenceless 12 year old child it's a horrific crime, especially for the parents.
If I murder a defenceless 15 year old child it's a horrific crime, especially for the parents.
If I murder a defenceless 16 year old adult it's a horrific crime, especially for the parents.
If I murder a defenceless 21 year old adult it's a horrific crime, especially for the parents.
etc
I see no difference in the fate of the murderer in any of the above.
I've oversimplified, and defined adult as 16, but hopefully my point is clear.
Eclassy said:
I also believe life should mean life but why do you think people who murder a select group should be treated differently to other murderers?
Basically the Jama brothers would serve (whole) life for the murder of PC Beshenivsky (rightly so) but Steve Wright who killed 5 women in Ipswich would have a chance of getting out (he doesnt)
Wright also got a whole life tariff and will never be released.Basically the Jama brothers would serve (whole) life for the murder of PC Beshenivsky (rightly so) but Steve Wright who killed 5 women in Ipswich would have a chance of getting out (he doesnt)
Most people with whole life tariffs haven't killed police officers.
For what it's worth, even as a copper I have no strong feelings about his release. He did an awful thing, served a very long stretch, and as someone above said is no doubt extremely institutionalised. Can't imagine he's going to enjoy the few years left to him.
rambo19 said:
TBH, I can't understand people screaming about this when the average murderer only spends about 12 yrs in prison.
He shot 3 people in cold blood, Police if it makes any difference. Do you think that chap who threw hand grenades then shot the female Police officers recently should be let out?TX.
they should stop them calling them life sentences
at the same times they should ban broadband speeds being refereed to as up to... or sales being up to 80% off everything
it's just language really, if they called it a wibble sentence, and every wibble sentence had minimum term, but could continue beyond it if the person failed to show remorse or was still considered a threat and could be recalled after release if they did appear to be a threat again or for various other possible reasons. No one would be having a pointless debate asking for wibble sentences to mean whole wibble.
at the same times they should ban broadband speeds being refereed to as up to... or sales being up to 80% off everything
it's just language really, if they called it a wibble sentence, and every wibble sentence had minimum term, but could continue beyond it if the person failed to show remorse or was still considered a threat and could be recalled after release if they did appear to be a threat again or for various other possible reasons. No one would be having a pointless debate asking for wibble sentences to mean whole wibble.
If feel some of the things said by the police on the radio today are very insulting to the public.
They claim not to be any different to the public but go on to say that anyone who murders a policeman should never be let out.
The inference I draw from that is they feel entitled to special rights and privileges
This is a slap to anyone who has lost a sibling by murder, they aren't as important.
They claim not to be any different to the public but go on to say that anyone who murders a policeman should never be let out.
The inference I draw from that is they feel entitled to special rights and privileges
This is a slap to anyone who has lost a sibling by murder, they aren't as important.
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