"Child Killer" to get 30K from aeging pensioner...

[chrisjb]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/sick-killers-32000-pay-day/story-e6frf7kx-1225995120764

Woman takes man to court, man wins, woman has to pay man's legal fees. Is this realy all that absurd?

[Eriny]

I don't think it's right to make a pensioner pay for the legal fees, but that story is fairly sensationalist, you're right.

[chrisjb]

I figgure that it shouldn't matter if she's a pensioner or not. She took the man to court and lost and if she felt that she would be unable to cover the costs she should have seeked out legal aid or some other funding. It shouldn't matter at all that the man killed children or that he's rich, he should be treated like a human being still. And it should be remembered that for the time being at least he is not guilty of murdering the woman's daughter (which I think is more than implied in the article)

[Russ]

It's in the HS, of course it's sensationalist and soapbox/tabloid style.

I don't see much in the course of events that convinces me she shouldn't be held responsible for the fees.

[Cianyx]

Urgh, the Opposition's attempts to meddle with the court's affairs sicken me. Hey guys, let's legally rob people we don't like.

"I think the government has got to set a precedent," he said.

Lol. Someone obviously flunked high school legal studies

Crime Victims' Support Association spokesman Noel McNamara said all Percy's money should be confiscated and redistributed to crime victims, but failing that, he should be forced to pay his own bills.

"I think it should be garnisheed from his superannuation," he said.

"A couple of years in the navy and you've got $300,000, it is just amazing.

"I certainly think the money should come out from him and failing that, if they can't get the money out (of him) the government should pick it (the bill for legal fees) up.

"I just think the government has to make an ex-gratia payment which they can do from time to time and help Jean out.

Who the fuck are these people?

Edit: The people commenting on the article are even more disgusting. Why is she even paying? Isn't murder a crime enforced by the state?

[Spreadbury]

This makes me mad.

[Duck]

Why is she even paying? Isn't murder a crime enforced by the state?

I'm assuming (because actually telling the story would ruin the Herald Sun's good story so they ommitted it) that she then launched a civil action. Happens regularly following a criminal trial (obviously only one involving a victim.)

[Cianyx]

She should get a new lawyer

[Bonifacio]

It shouldn't matter at all that the man killed children

You're going to have a tough time arguing this to a lot of people.

[Russ]

She should get a new lawyer

Yeah this, somehow I can't help but feel that her lawyers either didn't advise her properly or she didn't think she'd be in this situation.

The people commenting on the article are even more disgusting. by the state?

They had a double page spread in the HS yesterday of letters to the editor just on this issue and it actually made me despair for the future of the country

[Spreadbury]

It shouldn't matter at all that the man killed children

You're going to have a tough time arguing this to a lot of people.

I agree with chrisjb, but people are too susceptible to emotion and it's outrageous. If someone gets a suspended sentence it's automatically too light a penalty. The way some of these people think we may as well just invoke the death penalty for every crime.

[Russ]

To be fair, a lot of suspended sentences are a disgrace

[chrisjb]

To be fair, a lot of suspended sentences are a disgrace

I tend to disagree with that. Firstly, having a suspended sentence hanging over your head is a very good incentive to not commit any other crimes, Secondly if everyone who got suspended sentences was forced to serve their full sentence in a gaol then they'd be bursting at the seams (they just about are already). Also, with suspended sentences institutionalisation is not a problem.

One more thing on that topic... Anyone know if the vic libs are still planing to scrap suspended sentences? They've gone a bit quiet on the issue.