Five Teenages Attack Fellow Tram Passengers, And Walk Free From Court.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2317645/Teenagers-walk-free-court-frenzied-attack-tram-passengers-New-Addington-Croydon.html

How is it possible for these young thugs to walk free, and since their three victims were Afghans why wasn't it also classes a racist attack?

/// Detective Constable Ostin Elkins, from British Transport Police, said: 'This was a callous, brutal and ultimately cowardly attack and we welcome the sentences handed down. ///

"We welcome the sentences handed down" surely he has to be joking?

[sp1814]

"and since their three victims were Afghans why wasn't it also classes a racist attack?"

Because it wasn't a racially motivated attack. Their race was incidental to the attack.

[ummmm]

It was a mistaken revenge attack. Nothing to do with race.

[ChuckFickens]

"The court heard how they attacked the men because they wrongly believed they had earlier attacked their friend."

Where is the racial aspect in that precisely?

[anneasquith]

they should have been sent to prison. for punishment/rehabilitation .

[jim360]

But despite the teenagers all pleading guilty to violent disorder after the attack ... they were spared jail at Croydon Crown Court this week.

I wonder if perhaps it was "because of" their pleading guilty. Typically guilty pleas can lead to a reduction of sentence. I'm still slightly surprised by the decision not to send them to jail, though.

[anotheoldgit]

ChuckFickens

"The court heard how they attacked the men because they wrongly believed they had earlier attacked their friend."

/// Where is the racial aspect in that precisely? ///

It all depends on whether or not the persons who had actually attacked their friend were also Afghans, and they were on the look out for Afghans, who knows?

Why just focus on that part of my thread? I was only asking the question, nothing more sinister.

[mikey4444]

Perhaps people may have suspected your post to have an ulterior motive as some of these people are foreigners ? Would you have brought the subject up in the first place if all 5 were white and Anglo-Saxon ?

[jake-the-peg]

Well I note that they were part of a wider gang and the Mail doesn't seem to have pointed out specific actions that have been attributed to the individuals.

There are rules of 'joint enterprise' but the Mail may be talking up the violence of the attack

They title it extreme violence yet nobody seems to have needed hospital treatment - someone got first aid at the scene.

Ah actually the Mail is deliberately being misleading - one of the group was gaoled for violent disorder

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/10388216.Man_jailed_for_brutal_tram_attack_on_Afghans_in_New_Addington/

Typical Mail!

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

/// Would you have brought the subject up in the first place if all 5 were white and Anglo-Saxon ? ///

Although they seem to be orange looking, I believed they were white, have you any evidence that they are not, or are you just being your usual troublemaking self?

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// Ah actually the Mail is deliberately being misleading - one of the group was gaoled for violent disorder ///

The Mail was not deliberately being misleading, they said Five Teenagers escaped jail, the sixth person who was in fact jailed was a man not a teenager.

Incidentally your guardian link was dated 9:40am Tuesday 30th April 2013, before any other sentences were carried out.

[sp1814]

AOG

You asked two questions in your post. You got five responses, three of which addressed the second question, and two the first.

Seems reasonable.

[LazyGun]

On the facts as reported, the sentences do seem very lenient.

And again, as reported, there seems little evidence to suppose there was an expressly racist element to the attack.

I think it sends out the wrong message. Run riot as a gang, tool up and beat innocents, damage property - and essentially walk free? Does not seem proportionate at all...

[Zeuhl]

Well the Police involved and the Court are satisfied

Perhaps they aren't as well-informed, insightful, civic-minded or as honest as the Daily Mail reporters?

[Svejk]

Looks to me like you're going to be attacked, AOG, regardless of the story you post.
I don't know how or why you put up with it.
Bet they'd all miss you if you 'flounced'. ;)

[Zeuhl]

svek

I don't see how aog has been 'attacked' here

Posts that are incorrect, dishonest, misleading or just plain stupid are always liable to be criticised

And quite right too

Are you suggesting svek that aog has a higher than average number of posts in one or more of those categories?

[anotheoldgit]

Svejk

/// Looks to me like you're going to be attacked, AOG, regardless of the story you post.
I don't know how or why you put up with it.
Bet they'd all miss you if you 'flounced'. ;) ///

Thank you for highlighting what is obvious to any reasonable person, but seems to fly under the radar of others. The usual suspects move in packs and will pick on certain ABers that dare to oppose them, so much so that some have been know to be frightened away from this site. It is these usual suspects that are spoiling this site by their childish antics.

I 'put up with it' because to a certain extent it makes me feel superior to those who seem to get their kicks out of just being confrontational no matter what I post on, seems they are not skilled enough to put forward a sensible argument.

I also will not allow the likes of them to drive me from this site, especially when I know that I must be getting the success that obviously I am, otherwise they wouldn't get so twisted and angry.

[ummmm]

I have always said that AOG is good for this site, regardless if I disagree with him.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// You asked two questions in your post. You got five responses, three of which addressed the second question, and two the first. ///

/// Seems reasonable. ///

And where did I say it wasn't, what is your point?

If you were referring to the answer I gave Chuckfickens, then that was only referring specifically to his answer and no one else's

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// I have always said that AOG is good for this site, regardless if I disagree with him. ///

Thank you ummmm, It wouldn't have it any other way, this site wouldn't be enjoyable if everyone agreed with everyone else, but there just isn't any place for nasty accusations or insults.

[jim360]

In this case it's difficult not to feel that those involved have been "underpunished". Again I think it must be the case that the guilty plea has helped them recieve a lighter sentence, or perhaps there's some genuine remorse. Either way I am surprised at the judge's decision and by the police's reaction.