Reply to: 15 months FFS?

[OwlHoot]

I thought under the laws at the time it was the maximum sentence. We're in favour of retrospective laws now?

In English common law, a case is based on the law as it stood on the date the indictment was signed, not when the offence was supposedly committed (which isn't always known or provable).

In the past (and I mean centuries past) that principle has occasionally been misused to quickly sneak in retrospective laws to prosecute people for misdeeds which nobody had previously thought to make illegal, or felonious or treasonous etc where they hadn't formerly been.

But sentencing policy isn't tied up with the law in the same sense, but instead applies in the present for various categories of offences regardless of when these were committed.

[NickFitz]

I thought under the laws at the time it was the maximum sentence. We're in favour of retrospective laws now?

They didn't actually change the term of any of the sentences he received. Instead, they ordered that one of the 15 month terms which was originally to be served concurrently must instead be served consecutively. Clever, aren't they?

[mudskipper]

The sentence was reduced because of his age and frailty - presumably that's what they've now revoked.

Edit: quite right too - if he wants to be tried as a frail old man, it should be under today's laws (they reckoned he'd get 10 years).

[gingerjedi]

I thought under the laws at the time it was the maximum sentence. We're in favour of retrospective laws now?

That's what they were saying on R4 this morning.

So in theory if someone was convicted of killing a policeman in the 60's they could be hung today?

[minestrone]

I thought under the laws at the time it was the maximum sentence. We're in favour of retrospective laws now?

you nasty man

[d000hg]

I'm sure it was discussed on CUK last time this story was in the news. But that probably means it is made up.

[BrilloPad]

I thought under the laws at the time it was the maximum sentence. We're in favour of retrospective laws now?

Got a link for that? No mention of it in any of the press reports I have read.

[d000hg]

I thought under the laws at the time it was the maximum sentence. We're in favour of retrospective laws now?

[TheFaQQer]

Now 30 months

[Old Hack]

What upsets me the most, is that they put others through hell, shouting out, I am innocent of these vile and libellous accusations and cannot wait to clear my name in court, only to 'meekishly' plead guilty when they realise the CPS have done their job properly.

I hope the fat wankstain gets gang raped.

[socialworker]

Just heard on R4 the solicitor for the victims saying he thought the sentence was about right. According to the judge he got extra for the denial outside court when first charged but then some time off for the guilty plea - I can just imagine the conversation with his counsel. What a vile piece of work - assaulting a little girl he was reading bedtime stories to at her parents' house is just one of the items that sticks in the memory ( or the throat). Where are all those complaining about witch hunts now?

[eek]

You should get 15 months for that sloppy link.

I wonder if Viz based Roger Mellie The Man on Telly on him.

I'd be careful there as Roger is based on two people but mainly Mike Neville (an institution in the NE the way that Gordon Burns would be in Manchester or Nick Owen in Birmingham).

I will point out that off screen Mike Neville is nothing like Roger Mellie mainly because Roger hasn't aged over the years.

[OwlHoot]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2343061/Stuart-Hall-Former-BBC-star-jailed-15-months-sexually-abusing-girls-young-nine.html?ico=home^headlines

You should get 15 months for that sloppy link.

I wonder if Viz based Roger Mellie The Man on Telly on him.

[vetran]

yes too short :

Primary school teaching assistant sacked after her 18-year-old son was convicted of child sex offence wins £28,000 compensation | Mail Online

Her son was jailed for two-and-a-half years in May 2010 for an offence of grooming and sexual activity with a girl aged under 14.

[BoredBloke]

15 months does not seem very long at all - he'll be out in half of that. Football radio reports won't seem the same though!!