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Too heavy-handed?

Discussion in 'Alley of Lingering Sighs' started by Cúchulainn, Dec 10, 2004.

  1. Cúchulainn Gems: 28/31
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    Remove all ads!
    "The court heard that members of Horne's unit fired on a rubbish truck they suspected of laying roadside bombs.

    However, inside the lorry was a crew of teenage boys hoping to make some extra money on a night shift."

    10 years maximum in prison WTF?

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4085579.stm
     
    Cúchulainn, Dec 10, 2004
    #1
  2. Aldeth the Foppish Idiot

    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot Armed with My Mallet O' Thinking Veteran

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    I didn't understand that either. The charge against him is 1st degree (i.e. premeditated) murder. How is that a maximum 10 year sentence? Unless of course they are taking into consideration that the teenager's wounds were as grevious as the unit contends. Those involved in the incident defend the actions as a mercy killing.
     
    Aldeth the Foppish Idiot, Dec 10, 2004
    #2

  3. Hugo Gems: 15/31
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    What I don't understand - you send soldiers into a war zone, under immense stress, but when they actually *kill* someone, there's an outrage!
    Silly people, in wars, people die. Innocents too, not just beastly demonic, anti-democratic, humanity-hating, baby-eating terrorists, but people like you or me, just born elsewhere.

    And IIRC, the charge was not premeditated, but that might be me. And the boy seemed to be, bluntly put, dead meat, anyhow.
    Indeed, I'd rather be shot dead then spend a couple of minutes/hours more, writhing in agony, before dying anyhow.

    Just my $0.02
    :borg:
     
    Hugo, Dec 10, 2004
    #3
  4. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    The article lists "unpremeditated" murder -- that sounds like manslaughter. Ten years is about right for that charge by US standards.

    Mercy killing is still murder -- that soldier should consider himself lucky for only a ten year max sentence. I would hope the leader of the unit is also put on trial for firing upon unarmed civilians.
     
    T2Bruno, Dec 10, 2004
    #4
  5. Saber

    Saber A revolution without dancing is not worth having! Veteran

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    I semi-agree with Hugo,

    It's war, if a soldier kills a thousand enemies hes a hero, but if he kills one innocent person he's a murderer...

    On the other hand,

    Since it wasn't during a battle, i guess he should go to jail... but for longer than 10 years. And unless the person who is being shot asks to be shot, how is it a mercy killing? Well, i guess that could be looked at as assited suicide...
     
    Saber, Dec 10, 2004
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  6. Cúchulainn Gems: 28/31
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    An update on BBC shows that he got 3 years.

    Lets not also forget that the bin van should not have been targeted/attacked anyway. Just bacause Arnie can shoot first and ask questions later does not mean it applies to real life.
     
    Cúchulainn, Dec 14, 2004
    #6
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