Do you think women get off light when it comes to the justice system?

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 07:31PM #1

A woman who stabbed her brother got a suspended sentence today.

She killed him at a party that she brought a steak knife to, as she said she knew her brother would cause trouble and needed some "protection".

Her family said they didn't want her imprisoned and I have sympathy but I have seen men get locked up for just carrying knives!

Director of Public Prosecution told the judge he would not appeal a suspended sentence.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0217/brennanm.html

Do you think woman get off with far lighter sentences than men for committing the same crimes?

WeeBushy · 17-02-2010 07:32PM

Very hard to say without knowing the ins and outs of the case imo.

Absurdum · 17-02-2010 07:36PM

WeeBushy wrote: »

Very hard to say without knowing the ins and outs of the case imo.

killing is killing, regardless

she got off very lightly imo

minidazzler · 17-02-2010 07:37PM

Everyone gets off fairly light in our justice system relative to what would happen in the US, or other countries where they take these things seriously.

She took a knife out with her in case he caused trouble so she could stab him.....is that not actually Murder in the first?

I don't know the ins and outs but that is no time for killing someone!

stovelid · 17-02-2010 07:37PM

Warning

The brother had a heroin habit.

Some posters may proffer initial expressions of outrage at his death that they may later deeply regret and ninja-edit to carry statements of callous glee.

minidazzler · 17-02-2010 07:39PM

Absurdum wrote: »

killing is killing, regardless

she got off very lightly imo

Yeah, killing is killing.

There is a difference between Murder and Manslaughter though. It's not as black and white as killing is killing, not killing isn't. You have to look at intent and motive in these things, not just the act.

WeeBushy · 17-02-2010 07:39PM

Absurdum wrote: »

killing is killing, regardless

she got off very lightly imo

Well it was manslaughter, so without knowing if she felt she was defending herself, for example, its hard to say whether the sentence was right.

I find hard to tell whether it was just or not from 6 paragraphs of journalism.

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 07:40PM

WeeBushy wrote: »

Very hard to say without knowing the ins and outs of the case imo.

Granted and I do have sympathy as he had being violent towards her before.

However, people get imprisoned just for carrying knives.

She was not found guilty on a count of temporary insanity, which - if was the case I could far better understand the sentence.

Can't see a guy getting off with killing his brother for instance, even if he was violent to him on occasions. Especially if he took a steak knife to a party with him.

Latchy · 17-02-2010 07:40PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

She killed him at a party that she brought a steak knife to, as she said she knew her brother would cause trouble and needed some "protection".

If any person is going armed to a party to protect themselfs , chances are they will probably use that wepon so that is one party she should have avoided at all costs

D.R cowboy · 17-02-2010 07:41PM

If his Barrister was Sh*t hot, well then their was little anyone could do really

WeeBushy · 17-02-2010 07:43PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Granted and I do have sympathy as he had being violent towards her before.

However, people get imprisoned just for carrying knives.

She was not found guilty on a count of temporary insanity, which - if was the case I could far better understand the sentence.

Can't see a guy getting off with killing his brother for instance, even if he was violent to him on occasions. Especially if he took a steak knife to a party with him.

I don't think its fair to turn this case into a sex thing. If what happened was the exact same, bar changing their sexes around, I'm sure the outcome would have been the same.

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 07:44PM

WeeBushy wrote: »

I don't think its fair to turn this case into a sex thing. If what happened was the exact same, bar changing their sexes around, I'm sure the outcome would have been the same.

That's my point.

I don't.

Jazzy · 17-02-2010 07:47PM

justice for some, lemonade for others

R0ot · 17-02-2010 08:08PM

Should have used a butter knife.

Teutorix · 17-02-2010 08:09PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Man Murders Sister With Steak Knife - Gets Supended Sentence!!
Would that sentence shock you??

Well, a woman who stabbed her brother got a suspended sentence today.

This thread confuses me

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 08:11PM

Teutorix wrote: »

This thread confuses me

Don't think it did.

"Would that sentence shock you".

Not .. "Did that sentence shock you".

qwert2 · 17-02-2010 08:11PM

Definitely when it comes to the media

Teutorix · 17-02-2010 08:14PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Don't think it did.

"Would that sentence shock you".

Not .. "Did that sentence shock you".

I think ill go back to lurking

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 17-02-2010 08:16PM

Again, most of us here probably haven't seen all of the facts or sat through the trial

No doubt she killed him, which is obviously a very serious matter, but I would imagine that there was a hell of a lot of evidence as to the mitigating circumstances that would cause the judge to suspend the sentence

Provocation is a very strong defence and not to be thought of in the everyday meaning of the word. Its generally used after long periods of abuse where the perpetrator is literally at the end of their tether and snaps. Of course this must be proved to an extremely high standard and by all accounts, the deceased was very abusive to bot her and his girlfriend, both physically and mentally.

I'm not saying whether the sentence was too soft or not, I don't know enough about the case but just saying that these are huge factors to consider, along with the accuseds previous good character and likelihood of re-offending. One slight offence and she is to serve out that sentence...

I know it can outrage peoples sensabilities, but imagine it was something that happened in your family, would that change your outlook?

And as for women get lighter sentences, definitely and easier time.
And thats right across the spectrum, most obviously in sexual offences where if two 15 year olds have sex, the boy is a criminal the girl is not.
With regards to incest, a womans max penalty is 7 years, a mans is life

We're still a long way off equality...

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 08:20PM

Teutorix wrote: »

I think ill go back to lurking

Don't do that

I was trying to compare what someone's reaction would be to hearing a brother had steak knifed his sister to a sister doing the same to her brother.

It was a social experiment of sorts, all be it an unsuccessful one.

IvySlayer · 17-02-2010 08:21PM

The law is sexist. Women have more rights when it comes to children. This woman should've been punished. A 5 year suspended sentence is a joke.

If it was a man, I'd have no doubt there would've been a violent backlash.

Teutorix · 17-02-2010 08:27PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Don't do that

I was trying to compare what someone's reaction would be to hearing a brother had steak knifed his sister to a sister doing the same to her brother.

It was a social experiment of sorts, all be it an unsuccessful one.

oh right, i saw the title and was immediately confused because i knew about the woman getting sentenced for stabbing her brother but not about a similar case with a male offender.

alwaysadub · 17-02-2010 08:57PM

I actually didn't hear about this case.but in general,yeah i do think women's sentences are generally more leanient(sp) than a man's.

Hank_Jones · 17-02-2010 09:03PM

The justice system really is beyond a joke at this stage.
Regardless of the position that she was in, she still took another persons life.
To get a suspended sentence is outrageous.
I would have given her 5 years minimum.
Doesn't matter if he was a junkie, he was still a person.
Who is to say that he wouldn't have cleaned himself up and gone on to cure cancer?

Dont be at yourself · 17-02-2010 09:16PM

Here's what Jack Straw has to say:

Jack Straw says punish women 'in the community'

Mr Straw said the female prison population was falling
Vulnerable female offenders should be punished in the community rather than being sent to prison, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8393965.stm

What a depressing world we live in.

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 09:24PM

Hank_Jones wrote: »

The justice system really is beyond a joke at this stage.
Regardless of the position that she was in, she still took another persons life.
To get a suspended sentence is outrageous.
I would have given her 5 years minimum.
Doesn't matter if he was a junkie, he was still a person.
Who is to say that he wouldn't have cleaned himself up and gone on to cure cancer?

The way I see it is, if he came over to her house and she flipped out and stabbed him with a steak knife as all the past years of torment just built up in her and they pleaded temporary insanity, I could accept that.

Suspended sentence make sure she's seen as an outpatient at a counseling service or something.

However, to deliberately bring a steak knife to somewhere you know your brother is, that you don't have to be, is not excusable.

streings · 17-02-2010 09:42PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

That's my point.

I don't.

Why do you think its because she's a woman, and not any other random fact about her, like she's 19 or from kilkenny?

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 09:47PM

streings wrote: »

Why do you think its because she's a woman, and not any other random fact about her, like she's 19 or from kilkenny?

If a man went to party and killed his brother with a steak knife that he deliberately brought with him, he would get a hell of lot more than just a suspended sentence.

How do I know?

Because I read the newspapers.

Just carrying knives for protection is against the law, let alone killing someone.

streings · 17-02-2010 10:00PM

OutlawPete wrote: »

If a man went to party and killed his brother with a steak knife that he deliberately brought with him, he would get a hell of lot more than just a suspended sentence.

How do I know?

Because I read the newspapers.

Just carrying knives for protection is against the law, let alone killing someone.

Unless you can find a case where a man did that, his whole family appealed for him not to be sent to jail, and the Director of Public Prosecution told the judge he would not appeal a suspended sentence i believe you have no basis for your argument. And theyre only the bits I know of. The judge presumably had other reasons for giving out that sentence.

OutlawPete · 17-02-2010 10:26PM

streings wrote: »

Unless you can find a case where a man did that, his whole family appealed for him not to be sent to jail, and the Director of Public Prosecution told the judge he would not appeal a suspended sentence i believe you have no basis for your argument.

Look, you can believe whatever it is you wish to believe. Asking me to find an exact same case or my point is moot, is a kop out.

The only case that came close was when a guy got found to have a mental disorder which is why I said if she was found to have snapped, I'd understand it.

It simply would never happen and if it did, the whine line's phones would be hopping off the wall as they'd want the man bastard locked up for knifing his sister.

streings wrote: »

The judge presumably had other reasons for giving out that sentence.

The brother did not follow her, she is the one who brought a steak knife to a party in full knowledge that her brother was a bit of a nut job.

Liam Byrne · 17-02-2010 10:27PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Yeah, killing is killing.

There is a difference between Murder and Manslaughter though.

Murder involves planning and intent.

You could argue that bringing a steak knife with her indicates intent.

Do you think women get off light when it comes to the justice system?

Do you think woman get off light when it comes to the justice system? 105 votes

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