Summer riots arsonist jailed for 11½ years

Tyron · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:26

A long sentence that the tax payer will pay for.

Vulcan · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:26

scorza said:
However, if someone commits arson to the same scale outside the context of a riot, why should they receive a shorter sentence?

What makes you think he would get a lesser sentence if it was committed outside of the riots?

Tyron said:
A long sentence that the tax payer will pay for.

And your point is?

Strife212 · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:33

They clearly do, it's impossible for them not to. If everyone was in prison, there wouldn't be any crime would there?

Efour · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:36

Not surprised by the responses here but i think that is a ludicrously long sentence made to prove a point.

Translate it to other crimes and we will need to build 100s of more prisons.

Snograt · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:37

He looted Iceland?

Ahleckz · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:40

Moses said:
Well, they don't .

I know that! It's fruitless comparing a society like ours to a Scandinavian country where rehabilitation and short sentences seems to work better. We are just different, and I firmly believe that we have a criminal underclass nowadays that no matter how we punish or treat them they will continue to commit crime and create further people of the same ilk.

Not to mention, we release people who are still deemed to be a danger to society. :rolleyes:

martinbeaver · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:46

Efour2 said:
Translate it to other crimes and we will need to build 100s of more prisons.

count me in for a specific tax for the building of those prisons. Am happy to contribute.

stuman · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:47

Ahleckz said:
I know that! It's fruitless comparing a society like ours to a Scandinavian country where rehabilitation and short sentences seems to work better. We are just different, and I firmly believe that we have a criminal underclass nowadays that no matter how we punish or treat them they will continue to commit crime and create further people of the same ilk.

Not to mention, we release people who are still deemed to be a danger to society.

indeed, this is probably the truth. and the only way to deal with it would be to throw them out.

imagine you had to earn your right to live in a first world country. commit enough crime and show no willing to change then your kicked out. passport voided off and dumped somewhere remote.

Nevakonaza · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:49

Gilly said:
I do think it is a harsh sentence if it was solely for arson.

Killers get less.

I don't,Sentances are too lenient these days.

RDM · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:50

scorza said:
For once, I fully agree with this sentence passed by the courts. However, if someone commits arson to the same scale outside the context of a riot, why should they receive a shorter sentence?

RomanNose said:
It's not justice when someone could do the exact same crime but at a different time and get a lesser sentence.

Isn't the fact that it occurred during a riot an aggravating factor? So the sentence would have been increased somewhat due to that?

Not sure if there is a problem with aggravating factors, seems to make sense.

buchtis · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:52

Castiel said:
Don't like the time, don't do the crime.

C-Dog just Nuked the thread with this beastly analogy!

RomanNose · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:54

RDM said:
Isn't the fact that it occurred during a riot an aggravating factor? So the sentence would have been increased somewhat due to that?

Not sure if there is a problem with aggravating factors, seems to make sense.

I would have thought it would make the sentence less as it was more a spur of the moment crime.

Gilly · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:57

drunkenmaster said:
Murderers, do, people who have killed, don't always.

Well, thanks for agreeing with me.

Narj · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:57

stuman said:
imagine you had to earn your right to live in a first world country. commit enough crime and show no willing to change then your kicked out. passport voided off and dumped somewhere remote.

Aye, Australia, for example.

RDM · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:57

RomanNose said:
I would have thought it would make the sentence less as it was more a spur of the moment crime.

No, it is considered an aggravating factor rather than a mitigating factor. Presumably because it contributes to a wider level of lawlessness.

Pixel · 11 Apr 2012 at 13:58

I suspect the sentence is so long because they're making an example of him.

Glad he's locked up though, he won't be able to ruin any more lives for a while, and hopefully when he gets out he'll finally be old enough to realise what a **** he was (although I doubt it.)

RomanNose · 11 Apr 2012 at 14:00

RDM said:
No, it is considered an aggravating factor rather than a mitigating factor. Presumably because it contributes to a wider level of lawlessness.

I see. Can't it be seen in both ways though?

scorza · 11 Apr 2012 at 14:00

RDM said:
Isn't the fact that it occurred during a riot an aggravating factor? So the sentence would have been increased somewhat due to that?

Not sure if there is a problem with aggravating factors, seems to make sense.

I'm sure that's what the legal establishment will tell you is the reason for the difference in sentences, I just don't agree with aggravating factors for crimes. Mitigating factors I don't have any problem with in principle, but where there are none I think two crimes should receive the same sentence.

RDM · 11 Apr 2012 at 14:02

RomanNose said:
I see. Can't it be seen in both ways though?

Nope, as far as I am aware riot is only ever an aggravating factor. I don't really thi we should be letting people off because they "got caught up in the moment". If you choose to take part in a riot then you should expect harsh sentences as you are effectively contributing to a wider scale of lawlessness.

RDM · 11 Apr 2012 at 14:05

scorza said:
I'm sure that's what the legal establishment will tell you is the reason for the difference in sentences, I just don't agree with aggravating factors for crimes. Mitigating factors I don't have any problem with in principle, but where there are none I think two crimes should receive the same sentence.

We are going to have to agree to disagree there I am afraid. I feel that bot mitigating and aggravating circumstances should exist. I have no issue with circumstances surrounding a crime increasing the sentence for it.