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Post by exiledwhite on Oct 6, 2008 17:24:57 GMT 1
This is a decent site where like-minded people tend to visit, so I wouldn't mind hearing peoples views on the ex Plymouth keepers sentence today of 7 years and 4 months in jail for the killing of 2 children for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.
For me the it's a little bit too short. I have no doubt that the man never went out with the intention of killing anyone but the fact remains he got in a car with alcohol in his system and then accidently ploughed into another car - is this muder? No not in my eyes but it certainly calls for more than a 7 year jail sentence.
Perhaps the fact he knew he had done wrong and pleaded guilty helped his case (and at least he didn't flee like that coward Hughes) but he could be out in 3 or 4 years time and that is just plain wrong.
The family must feel a little cheated today that he get gets away relatively easy and they still have to suffer a lifetime's worth of pain and loss.
At least 10-12 years for me...
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Post by scriptman on Oct 6, 2008 18:40:19 GMT 1
I would say the guy will suffer an emotional life sentence because of what he did anyway, but nowadays there seems to be little value on human life. At the end of the day no one forced him to drink alcohol or get into the car. He should be judged by the consequences of his actions and he was responsible for the loss of two lives. In my book he should be locked up for the rest of his life. If he was brandishing a gun under the influence of alcohol and a stray bullet hit someone, he would get life.....but a car in the wrong hands can do far more damage than a single bullet could.
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Post by wortleygirl on Oct 6, 2008 23:30:04 GMT 1
He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving. In 2003 the maximum sentence was increased from 10 years to 14 years. This link is to a page on BRAKE's website which explains the "guidelines" for sentencing. www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=675(I've put this link because the page was (IMO) too long to copy onto here.) I believe the judge/magistrate has not taken into account the aggravating factors which are listed on the page, but here are a some which apply to this case. The consumption of drugs or alcohol A prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of very bad drivingDriving when knowingly deprived of adequate sleep or restI cannot understand the reluctance of the judiciary to give out maximum or near maximum sentences in cases such as this, where apart from the deaths there is also serious injury. 7 years is nothing, specially when he could be out in 3 - 4 years.
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Post by roverdude on Oct 7, 2008 7:11:31 GMT 1
i agree wortley, facts that came out in court about his friends urging him not to drive/ to pull over etc have convinced me that he got off lightly. yeah ok he might suffer emotionally himself but tbh i dont care, my heart goes out to the parents who were on that day given a double life sentence
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Post by upthecolliers on Oct 7, 2008 20:17:54 GMT 1
I feel sick over this crime what makes me sick is that I just think about the two boys that died you see I am a farther and grandfather of 4 it must be terrible for the family if it was I that did what the Plymouth goal keeper had done I would not be able to live with it.
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Post by scriptman on Oct 8, 2008 7:06:29 GMT 1
I feel sick over this crime what makes me sick is that I just think about the two boys that died you see I am a farther and grandfather of 4 it must be terrible for the family if it was I that did what the Plymouth goal keeper had done I would not be able to live with it. Great post that matey. This board isn't very busy, but the ones who post are sound as a pound, and I think you've just summed it up for us all.
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