Howdy Humble Readers...
I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Things around the hobbit hole are not too bad. Winter is making what is hopefully it's final death throes. Yes, it's snowing again. I just can't help but hope that this will be the last round of the white stuff until next Christmas.
Anywho, I don't normally watch much television news, but I do read a lot from different websites throughout the day. Local, world, entertainment, odd stuff... I read it all (or most of it anyway... some of the economic news is a bit over my head). And recently there have been two stories that, when looked at together, make me angry, sad, and fearful.
The first story is about the actor, Jamie Waylett, who played Victor Crabbe in most of the Harry Potter movies. It turns out that he was involved in the rioting that happened in London last summer. He was caught on tape sharing a bottle of champagne that had been looted from a vandalized grocery store, and also carrying around a bottle filled with 'petrol with a rag for a wick'. Although he was cleared of any charges in relation to the fire-bomb (which apparently he had no intention of throwing... hmmmm), he was convicted of 'violent disorder' and 'handling stolen goods'.
For his crimes, Waylett was sentenced to serve two years in prison.
The second story is about Graham James, a former junior hockey coach who has been convicted of sexually assaulting former Calgary Flames star Theo Fleury and others during the 1980s and 90s. He was in a position of power and authority over those who should have been able to trust him, and he took advantage of that. His actions sent those boys down a road that no one should have to walk. Fleury and his cousin Todd Holt, another of James' victims, both turned to drugs and alcohol to help deal with the memories of their abuse.
For his crimes, James was sentenced to serve two years in prison.
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? Yes, I know that these court cases were handled in different countries... but really? The same sentence for rioting and sexual assault on a minor?
I am completely flabbergasted.
Wow, that is crazy. Some things in this world are so skewiff.
ReplyDeleteThat's nuts... Seriously, "violent disorder" and "handling stolen goods" should get a fine and maybe like a month in prison tops. It's ridiculous! Did he actually set anything on fire? Did he hurt anyone at all? That's soooo stupid!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the sentence for Waylett seems excessive, but what bothers me most is that someone who sexually assaulted minors is only getting two years. I never thought that participating in a riot and sexual assault were close in terms of ramifications.
DeleteI am actually surprised that the sexual assault was treated so lightly, perhaps its just my political climate, but that seems like a very light punishment!
ReplyDeletePrecisely! These boys (now grown men) have had to deal with the repercussions of what was done to them for years and years. It's affected them, their families, and their careers. To give their assailant two years seems incredibly wrong. To me anyway.
DeleteThat has WTF written all over it!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mrs. Spock...a definite WTF moment.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about Graham James I was upset. Sentences for sex crimes are never long enough.
ReplyDeleteWhat also makes me sad is that I can hear about a sentence for a violent crime in the US (usually manslaughter/murder), and I can figure out that they will probably only serve half or a third of that time.
The legal systems both here and in the US are a mess (I don't know enough about the UK or Europe to lump them in with that).
Hi Mrs. Gamgee. I'm here as one of the A to Z challenge co-hosts, and when I saw a blog mentioning Hobbits in the title, I had to come follow. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteAs far as your post goes, that's just crazy. I hadn't heard of either case, but criminal justice is often far from just.