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Title: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: tikay on December 29, 2015, 01:49:09 PM In Walton on the Naze, an 86 year old woman was shot dead yesterday. Her husband has been charged with murder. This is all the evidence you have. They had been married to each other all their adult lives. They moved to the seaside 18 months ago, to live the retirement dream - a seaside bungalow. She developed severe dementia 12 months ago, & he moved her into a £25,000 per year private care home, which was where the alleged Murder took place. He visited her at the Care Home twice per week, every week, & "stayed over" one night each time. He spent all Christmas staying at the Care Home with her. He is alleged to have said "she has suffered enough". Assume the Jury has found him "Guilty" - they have little choice. As a Judge, your sentence is?......... Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: RED-DOG on December 29, 2015, 01:59:22 PM In this particular case, assuming he is of a similar age I would sentence him to life in prison. I'm sure he wouldn't mind and it would be a deterrent to others.
Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: Graham C on December 29, 2015, 02:03:11 PM Strange that he shot her, wouldn't a pillow over the head have been a better option and less likely to get caught?
If it were me, going on the story as above and providing he's not got form and there's no motive other than "she's suffered enough", probably a suspended sentence. Seems little point in costing the tax payer thousands to lock him up if he's not going to commit again. Maybe.......there's a reason I'd never want to be a judge! Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: tikay on December 29, 2015, 02:13:03 PM Strange that he shot her, wouldn't a pillow over the head have been a better option and less likely to get caught? If it were me, going on the story as above and providing he's not got form and there's no motive other than "she's suffered enough", probably a suspended sentence. Seems little point in costing the tax payer thousands to lock him up if he's not going to commit again. Maybe.......there's a reason I'd never want to be a judge! Not easy, is it? Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: RED-DOG on December 29, 2015, 02:15:14 PM Pillow over the face doesn't work btw, I've tried it on Mrs Red.
Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: tikay on December 29, 2015, 02:18:55 PM Pillow over the face doesn't work btw, I've tried it on Mrs Red. Yes, but that was just to stop her talking. 3 pillows & a bolster would not be enough. Do you remember "bolsters"? Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: Doobs on December 29, 2015, 02:20:30 PM Where is the evidence that she was suffering?
Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: tikay on December 29, 2015, 02:22:46 PM Where is the evidence that she was suffering? We don't really have any, but the question is a hypothetical one. ASSUME she was suffering from severe dementia. That's where I'm coming from. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: Ironside on December 29, 2015, 02:29:50 PM If he is charged and found guilty of murder there is only one possible sentence and that is life, how many years that life sentence is for is open to the judge to decide.
But life in a prison is often described as better than in an old folks home, hellmof a lot cheaper. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: RED-DOG on December 29, 2015, 02:30:04 PM Pillow over the face doesn't work btw, I've tried it on Mrs Red. Yes, but that was just to stop her talking. 3 pillows & a bolster would not be enough. Do you remember "bolsters"? Yes I remember bolsters but I never knew what they were for. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: Graham C on December 29, 2015, 02:47:08 PM Pillow over the face doesn't work btw, I've tried it on Mrs Red. Learning something new every day. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: tikay on December 29, 2015, 02:51:47 PM Pillow over the face doesn't work btw, I've tried it on Mrs Red. Yes, but that was just to stop her talking. 3 pillows & a bolster would not be enough. Do you remember "bolsters"? Yes I remember bolsters but I never knew what they were for. I was hoping you knew, I certainly don't. Wiki was not much help, but it did add an amusing bolster fact; In the United States, "body pillows" resemble bolsters and are designed to be hugged when sleeping. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolster Now, back to our alleged murderer. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: tikay on December 29, 2015, 03:02:43 PM If he is charged and found guilty of murder there is only one possible sentence and that is life, how many years that life sentence is for is open to the judge to decide. But life in a prison is often described as better than in an old folks home, hellmof a lot cheaper. Well yes - that is the question. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: RED-DOG on December 29, 2015, 03:08:26 PM 86+ yo man. 5yrs, 10yrs, life... All the same imo.
Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: cish n fhips on December 29, 2015, 03:28:26 PM I don't quite understand why he never pulled the trigger on himself afterwards.
Surley if he acted out of love then this is would make more sense. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: DungBeetle on December 29, 2015, 03:55:00 PM At his age you left wing pinkos won't be able to waffle on about the benefits of rehabilitation so I reckon Judge Dung will go for the electric chair.
Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: rinswun on December 29, 2015, 05:38:59 PM I would imagine he'll plead not guilty to murder but offer a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Tough to sentence without all the facts but, on the face of it, there are parallels to the case linked below - albeit a much more clearly defined wish to die on behalf of the victim in that case, and a much more violent cause of death in this. Seems possible that a suspended sentence could be handed down, and that would probably be my decision if no prior convictions.
https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/r-v-gazeley-2.pdf (https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/r-v-gazeley-2.pdf) Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: Simon Galloway on December 29, 2015, 05:42:47 PM Strange that he shot her, wouldn't a pillow over the head have been a better option and less likely to get caught? He got to release her from her suffering and achieve a 50 year ambition at the same time. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: neeko on December 29, 2015, 05:48:16 PM Does he get bail till the trial?
It will be a year at least. Juries don't have to find him guilty, life expectancy is 5.4 years at that age. As a judge I would manipulate the system so I could set him free. Title: Re: You are the Judge. What sentence are you giving? Post by: teddybloat on December 29, 2015, 06:40:03 PM If I was a judge with complete freedom, I'd do away with the notion of punishment altogether. Is the man a danger to society or himself? If yes then prison or hospital. If no then counselling.
The idea of punishment fuels the cycle of crime. Send fewer people to prison. Have small local prisons within communities. Have a rehabilitative and harm reduction focused sentencing. Do away with punitive sentencing. Invest money time and care towards criminals. I doubt this man should be anywhere near a prison. He likely needs support, not incarceration. |