>>And what exactly did the baby do to deserve the death penalty?<<

CJ,

Nothing. I did only say there was *some* justice in the situation.

Spinner,
I take your point.
I was looking at the practical consequences. Of going outside the systems that exist.

Don't get me wrong These deaths were a total waste of human life. But your solution would cause more problems than it would fix.

Reality dictates while some may feel that had the judge locked up the driver in the first case that would have solved the issue.
Both CJ and I doubt it statistic show that he is effectively correct jail will only move the problem. Chances are that same person will come out and act as a driver for more serious crimes...can you guarantee that he wouldn't have become a bigger menace in five years time.Check the relative recidivist and crime escalation rates they are frighteningly going the wrong way. So what next?

Can you guarantee that judges wouldn't simply waste more money by all becoming 'hanging' judges. Sure I would agree that something needs to be done but what? making judges more hash because they might make a mistake? Will it stop crime? there are a million practical issues to consider. Am I soft on crime? hardly! I lost a cousin and his girlfriend , I *saw* a hoon kill a friend of mine by nudging he car off the road up a telegraph pole ....he escaped on a technicality.

Hasbeen,
I feel for your boy and I wish him the best.

I don't know who you have been talking to, but both my dad and best mate on the Burma railway, made careers out of being in charge of jails.

Neither wanted to recreate changi or 'the railway' for anyone. True they had little time for the 'bad bastards' and could be harsh but they tried save the "mistakers". As dad said every one deserves a fair go.

I've talked about this before. Both my sons (17 16) were bashed and admitted to hospital one with serious injuries, after defending their (14)little sister and friend from being attacked by a bunch of thugs.

The only thing that stopped them being stabbed, was two army boys on leave that were passing by.

NB there were 30 witnesses (good solid citizens) no body helped or came forward.

BTW The attackers were all Anglo Saxon Aussies two were know to my eldest. these thugs got away with the serious assault, largely through the attending police officers "breach of discipline". They weren't interested in taking details etc because “fights like this don't usually go to court”.

By the time I got involved the thugs disappeared (leaving home in two case). 3 years later one was charged but because he was a minor (2 weeks shy of 18) at the time he got a slap on the wrist...

Meanwhile one of the others threatened my injured then 16 yo son at the train station coming home late at night on the train. The other one 26 ish with knife got away

Do I now hate Aussies, the police? Not a lot of point. Mind you those officers one still serving better not come to me for a reference.

Oh I forgot. One of the Soldier boys was....you guessed it a “Lebo” may his god bless him.

I think that Judges who speed should be jailed.