Has justice been carried out?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/38xhabk

Yet another pathetic example of British justice.

6 months suspended sentence for such an unnecessary savage attack as this.

Will the family of this poor chap be able to gain legal aid, so as to make a civil prosecution out of this, or will there be any chance of an appeal at such a soft sentence?

[Zeuhl]

The CPS can appeal of course. If they think it is likely to get anywhere.

We must recognise that the journalist will have omitted any facts or information that the Judge took into account but which obscure or deviate from the story they were predisposed to write which was "What Justice?"

And they use the hack's old favourite - the meaningless cliche e.g. the phrase 'head used as a football' could mean anything but has become a cliche to represent kicking something as hard as possible. In reality anyone who has their head kicked repeatedly as hard as possible will (and have in recent cases) suffer injuries much worse than Mr Oliver's.

However, it seems wrong that anyone, whatever the circumstances, can apply significant violence to another person and not receive a custodial sentence.
To use another cliche, I think there should be zero tolerance of violence above all else.
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[R1Geezer]

Bl00dy judge should be in jail, criminal!

[MickyMacgraw]

Truly disgusting, and the other day there was a story about a 100 year old having his walking stick kicked from underneath him and attacked. There should be special prisons for people like these where every luxury is taken away and they have to do hard labour as well as pay hefty compensation to the victims and familys involved.

[I.Don No]

oh come on............

you have to remember that this 19yr old probably didn't get sugar on his cornflakes when he was growing up.

[Zeuhl]

Micky

<the other day there was a story about a 100 year old>

bear in mind the key word there: story!
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[zzxxee]

appauling disgraceful im shocked !!!

[pusskin]

omg. how scary is that? What a scumbag ay he didnt go to prison --unbelievable

[MickyMacgraw]

Zeuhl I fail to see your point, are you saying that this piece of news was made up?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...hamptonshire-11620520

[Zeuhl]

micky

it's called journalism. Otherwise we'd just have the official court documents reproduced in the newspapers.

Someone takes a set of 'facts' and goes through a process of selective assembly, generalisation, deletion and assumption to create a story that will attract and engage readers/viewers/listeners and - in too many instances currently - create a story that will reinforce and propogate an overarching narrative that the media owner wants to put forward.
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[MickyMacgraw]

Understood. Unfortunately the news empire relies heavily on fabrication, stretching of the truth and elaborate exaggerations to sell sell sell and we as the public lap it up. maybe not as many would buy the papers if they were all too truthful and thus a little bland.

[Zeuhl]

Micky - agreed

I too enjoy the entertainment value of the daily comics.

I just get uneasy when they apply their creative skills to 'serious' news items when people are using them "to keep up with what is happening". I consider it a massive assumption that the media do that at all!

I know how easy it is to affect people's values, beliefs and behaviour by how something is structured. As you say, the media empires can exert a lot of influence.

OK I'll get off my soapbox now!
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[Everhelpful]

Zeuhl,If it ever happens,and I hope it doesn't, to you and the same sentence is passed,I will look forward to your comments then.

[jno]

the report doesn't give the court's reasoning for not sending the defendant to jail, so it's hard to say. The CPS might well think an appeal had some chance of success, but they will have access to a lot more of the details than appear in the Mail.

It also doesn't say what happened to the friends who filmed it.

[Zeuhl]

everhelpful

which part of

<However, it seems wrong that anyone, whatever the circumstances, can apply significant violence to another person and not receive a custodial sentence.
To use another cliche, I think there should be zero tolerance of violence above all else.>

do you have an issue with?
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[Zeuhl]

Everhelpful

Also ...

why do you imagine that in a question on jurisprudence, the views of someone directly affected, injured and emotionally involved would be more valid than someone who can be detatched, objective and rational?

Were you being silly or just simplistic?
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