In article , Cynic
writes
>>> Just because a crime *can* result in a prison sentence, that does not
>>> mean that it has to do so in every case.
>>
>>No, but there is an argument that it should do for some offences.
>
>You are talking about mandatory minimum sentences. A concept that I
>have always opposed because of the fact that every crime carries a
>different degree of culpability, and even a crime that is usually very
>serious can be carried out in circumstances where little or no
>punishment is merited.
>
>What happens is that the judges bend the law so as to alter the crime in
>order to avoid having to give the mandatory sentence.
>
>You may recall the elderly couple where the woman had a painful terminal
>disease. The husband entered into a suicide pact with her, first
>killing her and then attempting suicide - but he failed and lived.
>
>It was clearly murder - but do you believe he deserved the mandatory
>life sentence?
But surely a 20 year old should know it's not on to groom and attempt to
screw an 11 year old, the only extenuating circumstances I can see in
this case as an ordinary citizen and not a legal type is that he was a
bit backward.
This theory is for me negated by the reported facts thet he tried to
keep the meetings secret, he is a pervert, the judge is an imbecile.
Mike
--
Michael Swift We do not regard Englishmen as foreigners.
Kirkheaton We look on them only as rather mad Norwegians.
Yorkshire Halvard Lange |