110 year jail sentence for lookout

Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by mountainhare, Aug 6, 2007.

  1. mountainhare Banned Banned

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    http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/04/army.rape.slaying.ap/index.html

    So is it fair that the lookout in this crime received the harshest sentence? How much culpability does a lookout have in a crime?

    The man did not rape or murder anyone. If he had not functioned as a lookout, odds are that his comrades would have raped and killed the girl anyway.
     
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  3. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    I think the lookout (if he was aware of what was going on - whichh it seems he was) deserves the same punishment as those raping and killing.
    The part he played was no less integral than the rapist(s)/murder(s) and he is no less derranged and dangerous for wanting to be a part of it.
     
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  5. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    Now THAT'S a travesty.

    He will be up for parole after less than 10 percent of his time?
     
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  7. mountainhare Banned Banned

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    But he didn't rape anyone. He didn't murder anyone. Why should he receive the same punishment as those who did?
     
  8. one_raven God is a Chinese Whisper Valued Senior Member

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    because...
     
  9. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    From the article linked in the topic post:

    The sentence was part of a plea agreement attorneys for Pfc. Jesse Spielman had made with prosecutors.

    It set the number of years he could serve in prison, regardless of the jury's recommendation.

    The jury had recommended life with parole, a sentence under which he would have to wait longer for the possibility of parole. He will be eligible for parole after 10 years.
    (CNN.com)​

    The sentence is part of a plea deal designed to get him out of prison earlier than if he had received the standard sentence upon conviction after trial.
     
  10. mountainhare Banned Banned

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    It's still the most excessive punishment of the 4.

    Do you agree that the lookout is just as culpable (if not more so) than the actual perpetrators, Tiassa? Try to keep to a word limit when explaining why, I'm not in the mood for a lengthy diatribe.
     
  11. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    Depends on the lookout's knowledge. We had a case up here years ago where a kid thought they were just going down to harass a local business owner. His buddy whipped out a gun and shot the guy to death before emptying the till. Many were outraged because the 13 year-old black kid was charged as an adult with a murder he never set out to commit. I have sympathy for the accomplices when they're deceived.

    And I don't care what kind of freakin' mood you're in. Tell me how excessive it is when he's out in ten. Or, better yet, tell me how it matters, since the defendant agreed to the sentence. Perhaps the other sentences are simply too light? I certainly wouldn't reject that argument out of hand.
     
  12. mountainhare Banned Banned

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    He agreed to the sentence, hence it's fair? Innocent individuals have never taken plea bargains to avoid a harsher sentence at the hands of a fat ass judge?
     
  13. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    Take it up with his lawyer.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2007

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