is hanging to good for these b******ds

[VINNY100_2]

Mary-Ann Leneghan, 16, was stabbed to death in Prospect Park, Reading, Berks, in the early hours of Saturday.

Her 18-year-old friend is seriously ill after being subjected to a violent sexual ordeal by up to six men.

This has left me stunned and Angry and feeling very sad for their poor familys,I dont know if these are the right words to express my feelings.But i just feel hadred for the scum who did this.But right now I would quite happliy pull the lever that would hang those who are guilty.your thoughts please!!

[Lillabet]

Yes it is too good. I oppose the death penalty. Which in Philtaz's terms probably makes me a looney leftie.

The possibility of mistakes does exist and judicial murder is too high a price to pay. Also as someone who isn't convinced that there is a heaven and hell then if I want the people who did this to be sure of suffering then they need to be kept alive. Prison is not a holiday camp - especially for those who are classed as sex offenders, which I believe these men will be.

As a side note I find the comments like 'what were the girls doing there anyhow' quite disturbing. Surely NO MATTER WHAT someone does they do not in any way contribute towards such a fate. These questions are akin to talking about the length of a rape victim's skirt. It doesn't matter how provocative a behaviour might seem to someone it doesn't provide even a molecule of excuse or justification for violence. The blame is 100% with those who carried out these horrific acts and with no-one else.

[smudge]

I do understand what you mean Philtaz - but you shouldn't be afraid to voice you own opinions!

If these monsters are found 100% guilty (& that shouldn't be too difficult with the modern technology of today), why should they be allowed to swan around in prison enjoying the benefits of breathing, etc., when their victims no longer can.

They should be given either a lethal injection, be hanged by the neck, or made to sit comfortably in an electric chair until they are dead.

[VINNY100_2]

 Absolutely SMUDGE!!

[ck1]

quite right Lillabet, whatever they were doing I cant see how hearing the 'other side of the story' could justify putting a knife through their necks and shooting them, as there were 8 people involved I would suspect it will be difficult to prove who pulled the trigger or used the knife meaning more lenient sentences will be given due to lack of evidence, but then I have very little faith in the whole justice system

[kags]

The people that did this are indeed a menace to society, they are however somebody's relatives, friends, loved ones, and I wonder if you would all be so quick to say hang 'em high of one of your loved ones commited a crime. Capital punishment doesn't prevent crimes being  commited, and it really isn't very imaginative is it? It is exactly this type of knee-jerk reaction that is every reason why the death penalty must never be brought back. If that makes me a loony leftie, I am proud to be one.  

[Dark Angel]

I agree that these men are trash and should be locked up and the keys thrown away. However, I too oppose the death penalty.

[ck1]

Exactly right smudge!!

[Dark Angel]

agree with Ducati. They should be in solitary confinement so they can suffer - no access to TV, books, not see loved ones, no conjugal visits, given hard labour all day. Fed just enough to suit the Geneva Convention, allowed no luxuries except the basics - sanitation and showers, kept in a cell not a room.  

[Dom Tuk]

sadly, the reality is that when in the police cells for questioning if they ask for water at a certain temperature the detention officer has to jump and do as he wishes or else he will loose his job thanks to the loony lefties who have put all these safeguards in place. the detainee can spit at the custody sergeant and sneer at him and very little will be done. And god forbid if these murderers were less than 18 years old. they will be wagging their fingers and the socail services will be bending over backwards to accomodate their vile wishes.

[netibiza]

yes yes yes Lillabet - my sentiments exactly - which is what I tried to imply in my earlier posting.

[smudge]

Well said Dom - you've expressed exactly what my two nephews who work in the Met have said!

Unfortunately, these days, the police & custody officers are constantly treading on egg shells, in the fear of being reprimanded for doing what they were 'trained' to do.

[jno]

The reason people are well treated when in the police cells for questioning is that they aren't necessarily guilty. You or I could be picked up for questioning about anything if we happened to be in the wrong place. Like to lose all your liberties if that happened?

I called myself a loony leftie. I'm not. I want the law to be carried out meticulously. You're tried by your peers. You're innocent until proved guilty. No presumption that because you've been arrested you must be guilty. No punishment until after the trial. These are the ancient liberties of Englishmen, built up over centuries. That makes me extremely conservative indeed.

[netibiza]

Yes jno we all want the law to be fair but once whoever did this  is proven to be guilty beyond all doubt - then what in your opinion should be the punishment?? That is what we are on about. 

[smudge]

Yes we do realise all that jno - but Dom & I are referring to Police Officers & Custody Officers being spat on, urinated on, kicked, punched & generally abused when being take into the cells.

They have to stand back & take it, in fear of being seen as retaliating, when indeed they are only trying to do the job they were trained to do - restrain them.

[Horst88]

Notice how the "origin" of the suspects has been dropped by the "news"-

Detectives hunting a gang who stabbed to death teenager Mary-Ann Leneghan arrested a man in London yesterday.
Six men took the 16-year-old and a friend from the car park of a Reading pub and subjected her to a five-hour attack.
They repeatedly assaulted Mary-Ann before killing her with a single stab wound to the neck. Her 18-year-old friend is recovering in hospital after being shot and stabbed.
Police raided three addresses in south London( ... )Scott Yule, 16, who was in most of Mary-Ann�s classes at Prospect College in Tilehurst, said: �I saw her the day before she was killed, with her mate and some boys. She looked miserable and sad.�
Just before 1.15pm yesterday Mary-Ann�s father Bertie Leneghan arrived at the scene of her murder to lay a wreath. Supported by friends and weeping he said: �My poor daughter, my poor darling daughter.�
A wreath laid earlier by her mother Susan Harris said: �Hope you are at peace my darling, love you and miss you.�
Police are seeking six men of mixed race, white (i.e. Wannabe) or African-Caribbean origin. Detectives say the girls were approached in the car park in Caroline Street between 10 and 11pm on Friday.
They were led to a maroon or burgundy four-door saloon and driven to the Abbey House Hotel in Connaught Road. The car would have been crowded, with the girls and up to six men inside.
The girls were found in Prospect Park at 5.30am on Saturday when Mary-Ann�s friend, believed to be called Melissa, flagged down a passer-by. Mary Ann�s father separated from her mother Susan nine years ago. Mary Ann had a sister Mandy, aged about 30, and a brother Sean, 24.
A close friend of the family, John McNulty, said Susan was �devastated�. � London Evening Standard

[Didwot]

This question raises two interesting issues as a pre requisite for the death penalty.
1. Seriousness of the offence
2. Certainty of Guilt.
It is very difficult to construct a meaningful list of offences in order of severity, and then draw a line as to where the death penalty is appropriate.
Please remember that many people who were "Certainly Guilty" have subsequently been found to be innocent; some after they had suffered thge death penalty.
If I was absolutrely certain (eg I saw them do it) that someone had commited an offence of the utmost severity (whatever that is) would I think it required the death penalty?
No. That reduces me to thier level.
I have been called a bleeding heart liberal on this site (do you think my SS tattoo is not for real?) but I believe civilized society has moved beyond mere retribution, and should strive for something higher.

[outaboutnowt]

Hang them they are evil if one of my family had done this evil act I would still say hang them.

[Horst88]

Foe the Lefties - forget it, I'm NOT INTERESTED - reminds me of the sickening torture and murder of Kriss Donald here in Glasgow - the authorities allowed the vermin out on bail and 2 of the three  British-As-You-And-Me suspects  fled back home to Pakistan.

[Horst88]

Didwot - you really got an SS tatoo? More of an SA man myself - love a good punch up - but where do you live? Love to meet up mate!!! (-:

[natalie_1982]

It is not just the Police who are mistreated.  A local lad of 19 was murdered by our local police for driving a "stolen" car that turned out to be his sister's, that he was insured on.  He got in the car (on CCTV) in fine form and didn't get out the other end - he was beaten to death.  The Police are not always the good guys done bad, and the criminals are not always bad guys treated like kings.  Incidents that have been mentioned also happen to teachers, paramedics, taxi drivers, cleaners, secretaries, medical staff, bakers, air hotess', street wardens, shop assistants, etc.

However, as netibiza points out, this is not what the Q is about.

I don't believe that murdering a murderer is going to prevent further crimes of this nature.  I agree that the people who committed this crime, or have any knowledge of it and are not disclosing it, are truly sick individuals.  However, what if that was a relative of yours that was present in the gang?  He may not have abused either of the girls but he was present?  To me, personally, that makes him as guilty, but would he be hanged for that?  Cases are far too complicated to be so cut and dried as to hang someone or not.

I think if it was possible to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that an indivual (or more) had committed the crime then it would be sufficient to lock them up, exactly as has been mentioned already, without any form of luxury whatsoever.