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Child Item

Hinds found guilty of murder

Snickers Man

Richard Hinds has been found guilty by a court in Japan of the murder of Irish student Nicola Furlong.

The 19 year old American musician and another American man brought two Irish students, 21 year old Nicola Furlong and an unnamed friend back to their hotel after meeting them in a bar following a rap concert. On the way there in a taxi cab, the two men were recorded in conversation anticipating having sex with the two comatose girls.

CCTV footage in the hotel showed that the girls were so incapacitated they had to be placed in wheelchairs to be taken by elevator to the men's hotel room.

In the course of the evening, Nicola Furlong died in Mr Hinds' room. The court heard forensic evidence that she had been strangled. The prosecution alleged that the most likely explanation was that Mr Hinds was trying, unsuccessfully according to forensic evidence, to have sex with a comatose Ms Furlong and that when she woke up and started to struggle, he strangled her.

Hinds claimed that Ms Furlong demanded "rough sex", a part of which was her insisting that he put his hands on her neck. His defence claimed that a combination of drink and drugs had caused the woman's death.

Last week, Hinds' friend was found guilty of sexual assault on Furlong's friend and, in a separate incident, another woman.

In his ruling, the judge denounced Hinds for his lack of remorse and his attempts to blacken Furlong's reputation.
Hinds has been sentenced to a minimum of five years in jail.

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Snickers Man

Griffin1988 wrote: »

Just reading a piece on the Fox Memphis website. The spin they have put on it is sickening -

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/18733020/memphis-musician-arrested-in-japan

The above was written a few months back, but the below is the most recent with the same spin. Seriously, this Les Smith should be locked up with Hinds.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/21475873/memphis-musicians-trial-begins-in-japan

Unbelievable.

Think you need to calm down. It didn't condone, defend, or attempt to deny his actions. It gave a cold description of the available facts and speculated on the outcome. Didn't give him much chance, TBH.

Grand Moff Tarkin

old hippy wrote: »

So much bloodlust and old testament style vengeance calls here. And a few calling for him to be raped? Nice.

I wouldn't wish the Yakuza on anyone. I suppose you're aware that many Yakuza's leanings are anti-foreigner?

But I guess that would suit the thinly veiled racism here. Talk of monkeys and (c)rap music et al.

Disgusting crime and equally disgusting thread.

You must have no kids of your own.

spurious

Does 'minimum of five years' mean he couldn't do twenty?
Who decides when he gets out?

Kinski

spurious wrote: »

Does 'minimum of five years' mean he couldn't do twenty?
Who decides when he gets out?

Min. 5, max. 10. He was tried as a minor, and ten was the most he could get.

the_monkey

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Under 20 is considered a minor in Japan, which is disgraceful IMO.

The guy is obviously a sickening beast. The support he got in the States just shows how backward that country really is.

Indeed, but the problem is in the US the media will angle this so at the end it's not the rape+murder that's on trial here, rather an anti US issue (Amanda Knox comes to mind) or race issue.

Death and Taxes

zerks wrote: »

Nice to know he won't be given a nice new pair of €130 Nike Air Max when he goes inside unlike here.

Which of course doesn't happen. Why post bullshít like that?

Da Shins Kelly

That sentence is an insult, frankly. That said, having read a bit about it, I wouldn't want to spend any time in a Japanese prison. It's a very regimented and strict regime, seemingly. Apparently the labour is done in complete, supervised silence and you're not allowed to take your eyes off your work at any moment, speaking in general without permission seems to be forbidden in a lot of prisons, you're not permitted to speak in foreign languages unless there is a prison guard who can understand you, visitation rules are extremely strict (apparently some don't allow visitation at all), as is the sending and receiving of letters, the cells are not heated and you're not allowed to walk around the cell, and solitary confinement is widespread, where the rules are even more strict (sitting in the one position, staring straight ahead for up to 16 hours, apparently). It sounds like the height of boredom and loneliness. It may not be as physically dangerous as a prison in the US, but I think the mental torture is far worse. I could imagine coming out of there a complete nutcase, to be honest.

space_man

Snickers Man wrote: »

Think you need to calm down. It didn't condone, defend, or attempt to deny his actions. It gave a cold description of the available facts and speculated on the outcome. Didn't give him much chance, TBH.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XimOh2AYlL8/TGxQiglQz0I/AAAAAAAAFuY/1gLFL_RYxno/s1600/633785045117215125-FoxNews.jpg

Wattle

Surprised he was tried as a minor my information a few weeks back was that he would be tried as an adult. Deserved a full adult conviction in my view.

Dyr

Funny thing is that if he was tried in his home state he'd probably be doing some seriously hard time now and you'd have people here bleating about the inequality of the american judicial system.

Grayson

Chucky the tree wrote: »

This is despite the fact that the average sentence for murder over here is longer then 10 years?

Not for minors. That was my point. If he'd been considered a minor here, he wouldn't have gotten a sentence more than 10 years. Plus here, if he was found guilty, it probably would have been for manslaughter.

the_monkey

Another thing that was annoying in this case, he kept saying how he is so religious and therefore "A good person", even RTE commentating said his
family are an upstanding respectable family - they are Christians.

Why in 2013 is Religion associated with morality ?

Grayson

Digs wrote: »

Ah well that's ok then. Poor chap.

Utter nonsense. That poor girl was also drunk and was not fully in charge of her actions and look what happened to her. Rubbish excuse to use.

One glance at this "mans" lack of remorse and the vile dialect between himself and his friend in the taxi not to mention how he spoke about her in court tells you all you need to know about him.

Yes, because i was saying what a wonderful bloke he was. And it's not like you'd take one line out of context, just to make yourself feel self righteous.

I was pointing out the difference between premeditation and manslaughter.

Although what he did was horrific, it probably wasn't premeditated. And legally that's the difference between manslaughter and murder.

Dyr

Bambi wrote: »

Funny thing is that if he was tried in his home state he'd probably be doing some seriously hard time now and you'd have people here bleating about the inequality of the american judicial system.

Actually he could have wound up on death row in his home state. The poor chap, so inhumane etc etc

Grayson

Grand Moff Tarkin wrote: »

You must have no kids of your own.

That old chestnut. I don't own any jews, am I allowed be outraged at the holocaust?

Death and Taxes

Grayson wrote: »

Not for minors. That was my point. If he'd been considered a minor here, he wouldn't have gotten a sentence more than 10 years. Plus here, if he was found guilty, it probably would have been for manslaughter.

He would have been detained at the governments pleasure for the murder, if convicted here.

RGDATA!

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Under 20 is considered a minor in Japan, which is disgraceful IMO.

The guy is obviously a sickening beast. The support he got in the States just shows how backward that country really is.

stupid thing to say

Death and Taxes

Grayson wrote: »

Yes, because i was saying what a wonderful bloke he was. And it's not like you'd take one line out of context, just to make yourself feel self righteous.

I was pointing out the difference between premeditation and manslaughter.

Although what he did was horrific, it probably wasn't premeditated. And legally that's the difference between manslaughter and murder.

Actually if the rape was planned then her death would be murder as it stemmed from the underlying criminal act.
You are over simplifying the legal distinction between murder and manslaughter.

space_man

Bambi wrote: »

Actually he could have wound up on death row in his home state. The poor chap, so inhumane etc etc

exactly my point made earlier.

space_man wrote: »

seems like the liberal loonie bleeding hearts have infected the Japanese justice/sentencing system also.

shockingly short sentence.

if he had been found guilty in america, min time served would have been 35 years (and we love to slate the Yanks).

American sentencing is spot on imo.

Jimoslimos

Just on the trial as a minor issue. If that is the case then surely he shouldn't have been granted a visa to enter the country without a legal guardian accompanying him - who in that case should also bear some responsibility.

Gregsor

Sad to see this brought back up and it had past through me like Jill Meagher's case when the dust settled waiting for these vermon to come to court but when it comes to hearing these guys defense and the the way they try to manipulate the stories it is sickening and the jail term in this case is sad but it is a guilty verdict,the poor family.

Lelantos

Grayson wrote: »

But he was probably out of it himself at the time. Drunk, maybe on coke. He would have been half in charge of his actions.

I'm not saying that it's not horrific. I'm just saying it's different to a Larry Murphy type thing. When he went upstairs with her he probably had no intention of killing her. Whereas Larry would have been plotting it all along.

And that's the difference between manslaughter and murder.

Yes and no. Over here he wouldn't be considered a minor. But if he was, he wouldn't have served more than 10 years. And even if he wasn't considered a minor, he probably would have been done for manslaughter, he might not have served more than 10 years.

He was found guilty of murder, not manslaughter, If a 19yo did the same crime here he would get 25 years to life most likely. And, there are plenty of cases of young killers here being given life sentences. 16yo boy commited murder in 1996 in my area, he was given life & is still inside.
At least the Furlong family are giving their true feelings on the case, even her sister hopes the next time she hears Hinds name is after he's topped himself, and I can't say I blame her one bit.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

hope he serves the 10.

woodoo

The liklihood is he will be out in 5 years. That is a shockingly weak sentence for a murder conviction, especially since he lied through his teeth and cast aspersions on Nicola Furlong's character. I would have expected more from Japan.

moon_man

im not sure he would have gotten a stiffer sentance here or even if he would been convicted of murder

its not remotley comparable to the recent murder cases involving women in wales and australia and facts do matter when it comes to a descision

Electric Sheep

biko wrote: »

Disgusting how someone can premeditate rape (yes, that's what it is when she's too drunk to say no) and then pretend she wanted rough sex after having squeezed the life from her body.
Unfortunately date rape seems to be prevalent still, sadly this one ended in murder too.

Except that's not what happened. Nicola was not raped, according to the evidence provided by the prosecution during the trial.

moon_man

woodoo wrote: »

The liklihood is he will be out in 5 years. That is a shockingly weak sentence for a murder conviction, especially since he lied through his teeth and cast aspersions on Nicola Furlong's character. I would have expected more from Japan.

casting aspersions is not something which influences the judges descision , it cannot be proven that all of his aspersions were false

space_man

moon_man wrote: »

im not sure he would have gotten a stiffer sentance here or even if he would been convicted of murder

its not remotley comparable to the recent murder cases involving women in wales and australia and facts do matter when it comes to a descision

this animal will kill again.

Death and Taxes

space_man wrote: »

this animal will kill again.

You don't actually know that, and the facts wouldn't support such a supposition.
That said he appears to be a very cold and self obsessed character, certainly got off lightly with the sentence.

moon_man

you could speculate about anyones future intentions , beit when it comes to murder or drink driving

something like 90% of murder trials in japan come out with a guilty verdict , sounds like a pretty draconian system to me