Alysha Macphail- 6 yr old missing on Scottish Island

[andymc]

Kingdom35 said:

matchmaker said:

Might be of interest - video of the sentencing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-wes...

Everytime we hear about these devilish acts I always ask my partner, how the hell can these Lawyers try and defend the accused.

I understand its their jobs, but when does it cross the line, when do they think/say no I don't want to defend the accused on this case....

How do they feel if they succeed in their job and get people off sentencing that blatantly did it...we all know some people get off on technicalities or justice isn't served etc...it happens but how does it make these people feel who are "just doing their jobs"?

They cant just block it out or "its my job" surely theyre repping people that are just pure evil.

This article is the closest ive seen anything on the above..

if he wasn't properly represented he could ask for a retrial

[Kingdom35]

Thanks, making a bit more sense, in a way he needs to be represented or he might get away with it more so than if he wasn't.
Still to me and apart from the level of intelligence needed, I wouldn't ever want to be a lawyer due to the fact id hate to have to work to get a scumbag off of such an evil act.

[deckster]

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, making a bit more sense, in a way he needs to be represented or he might get away with it more so than if he wasn't.
Still to me and apart from the level of intelligence needed, I wouldn't ever want to be a lawyer due to the fact id hate to have to work to get a scumbag off of such an evil act.

You wouldn't be alone. Friend of mine switched to being a purely prosecution barrister for precisely this reason.

[The Mad Monk]

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, making a bit more sense, in a way he needs to be represented or he might get away with it more so than if he wasn't.
Still to me and apart from the level of intelligence needed, I wouldn't ever want to be a lawyer due to the fact id hate to have to work to get a scumbag off of such an evil act.

It is one of the consequences of living in a civilised country.

Everyone is innocent until proved guilty. Anyone and everyone is entitled to be represented in court.

I apologise for the cliches.

[XDA]

The Mad Monk said:

It is one of the consequences of living in a civilised country.

Everyone is innocent until proved guilty. Anyone and everyone is entitled to be represented in court.

I apologise for the cliches.

It's proven guilty.

HTH.

[Stan the Bat]

deckster said:

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, making a bit more sense, in a way he needs to be represented or he might get away with it more so than if he wasn't.
Still to me and apart from the level of intelligence needed, I wouldn't ever want to be a lawyer due to the fact id hate to have to work to get a scumbag off of such an evil act.

You wouldn't be alone. Friend of mine switched to being a purely prosecution barrister for precisely this reason.

Difficult to do, a barrister is supposed to take any cases offered to him.

[deckster]

Stan the Bat said:

deckster said:

You wouldn't be alone. Friend of mine switched to being a purely prosecution barrister for precisely this reason.

Difficult to do, a barrister is supposed to take any cases offered to him.

Whilst that's technically true, different barristers and different chambers have different specialities. You don't go see a fraud specialist if you're looking to defend a murderer. And the chambers' clerks wield an awful lot of influence over which cases go where.

[Stan the Bat]

Yes, I know, and if a barrister wishes to progress up to the bench he will have to have experience of both sides.

[kowalski655]

Counsel don't get to choose,they take instructions as requested, although those instructing them will choose someone with the knowledge and experience worthy of a case
Called the cab rank rule, which is why BV72 describes himself as a sort of taxi, although he has never done what Frank7 did
They can't lie to the court,and if their clients tell them to, they can, I believe,tell them to FRO! They can strongly advise their client to plead guilty. I'm sure they often bring testimony through gritted teeth, but they aren't the jury. Everyone has a right to a proper defence,even the scumbags.

[ninepoint2]

I see an appeal has been raised...any lawyer involved with that must have a seriously defective moral compass IMHO

[Digger]

ninepoint2 said:

I see an appeal has been raised...any lawyer involved with that must have a seriously defective moral compass IMHO

Why?

[Neonblau]

ninepoint2 said:

I see an appeal has been raised...any lawyer involved with that must have a seriously defective moral compass IMHO

The appeal is against the length of the sentence, the 27 year minimum, rather than the conviction.

[Gecko1978]

Justice mist be blind everyone must get a fair trial sentence and where applicable the right to appeal. That's the reality of civil society.

27 when your 16 is a long time to get rehabilitated my hope is he sees error of his ways an upon understanding that does the decent thing an takes his own life.

[aaron_2000]

Digger said:

ninepoint2 said:

I see an appeal has been raised...any lawyer involved with that must have a seriously defective moral compass IMHO

Why?

Appealing to see a Bundy in the making serve less time in prison isn't immoral to you in any way? I guess all he did was rape, defile and slaughter a little girl who he abducted from her bedroom. No biggie. It's not like he parked on double yellows or anything.

[Pastor Of Muppets]

Its a real pity we cant ask for a freedom of information request to the SPS on how this vile creature is coping
in jail. Hopefully very badly with many more years of it to come.

[bongtom]

I doubt it. Cushy places now.
Sex offenders are segregated and protected in their own wing.

He might get get called a “nonce” if someone was lucky enough to spy him across a courtyard but that’s about it.

[anonymous-user]

I don't think people would describe Scottish prisons as 'cushy'. Although they appear better than the ones south of the border in terms of violence etc.

Either way, they don't exist to facilitate revenge. More of this 'civilised society stuff'.


In terms of the stuff above about legal representation. How do you think the state is kept in check? By having its evidence tested by competent defence counsel.

[andym1603]

nothing stopping you applying for this information, but don't just ask one question. Even better if you have a pet journo that can apply it will probably be answered in more detail if at all.

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-r...

[otolith]

La Liga said:

Either way, they don't exist to facilitate revenge. More of this 'civilised society stuff'.

They couldn’t anyway - revenge is personal. We are supposed to forsake personal revenge in return for society’s justice.

I am genuinely surprised at how infrequently that trade is refused. I guess after a long sentence the victim’s loved ones are usually too old and wise and have made their peace with the past.

[Taylor James]

otolith said:

La Liga said:

Either way, they don't exist to facilitate revenge. More of this 'civilised society stuff'.

They couldn’t anyway - revenge is personal. We are supposed to forsake personal revenge in return for society’s justice.

I am genuinely surprised at how infrequently that trade is refused. I guess after a long sentence the victim’s loved ones are usually too old and wise and have made their peace with the past.

I think it just shows that most people are civilised and accept the trade. Then there's having the means. Kill or seriously injure a proper criminal and see how often that gets forgotten or left to the justice system.