why is british justice so weak

dave3974: THE FIASCO THAT IS BRITISH JUSTICE HAS LET DOWN THE WORLD . A criminal that has made millions and killed scores of people by selling bomb detecting equipment that does not work around the world has recieved a paltry 10 year sentence , with remission and the licencing system he could be out in less than 5 years -crime and murder do pay in the uk.
LONDON (Reuters) - A British businessman was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Thursday after a judge described him as having "blood on his hands" for selling fake bomb detectors to Iraq and other countries and endangering lives for profit.

James McCormick, 56, was convicted of fraud last week for selling equipment based on a $20 (13 pounds) novelty machine for finding lost golf balls.

McCormick made more than $40 million from sales in Iraq alone, British police say. His customers also included the United Nations.

Judge Richard Hone said at London's Old Bailey court that McCormick had blood on his hands and used a callous confidence trick likely to have contributed to the death of innocent people.

Succinct Verbosity: So weak that the British legal system was adopted by most of the developed world. Lol.

Succinct Verbosity: One third of the world's population (approximately 2.3 billion people) live in common law jurisdictions or in systems mixed with civil law. Particularly common law is in England where it originated in the Middle Ages,[5] and in countries that trace their legal heritage to England as former colonies of the British Empire, including India,[6] the United States, Pakistan,[7] Nigeria, Bangladesh, Canada (with the exception of Quebec, which uses a mix of civil law in areas of provincial jurisdiction and common law in areas of federal jurisdiction), Malaysia, Ghana, Australia,[8] Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma, Ireland, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Cyprus, Barbados,[9] South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Namibia, Botswana, Guyana and Israel.

Yeah, what a failure.

dave3974: THE FAILURE IS IN THE APLLICATION OF THE LAW , DO YOU REALY THINK THAT THE PENALTY ABOVE REFELECTS THE CRIME OR NATURAL JUSTICE , WHAT A FIASCO

chronology: Interesting Thread Dave. The Law, or the way Judges apply sentences, will always raise strong feelings among some folks. The main difference between English Law and Napoleonic Law is that English 'Common Law' is more flexible. Their Honours the Judges can always look to previous decisions by other Judges when applying sentences or deciding if procedures were followed correctly in a arrest etc. This works well in cases such as O.J.Simpson, but may appear 'weak' in other cases. Mr Simpson would probably still be in prison from the incident in L.A. if Napoleonic Law was used in his trial, but American and English Courts would have their doubts about whether he was 'guilty' enough under their system to be held in prison. Another high profile Hollywood case was Winnona Ryder, during her trial she was found to be using medication prescriptions at the time of her shoplifting incident which appeared to effect her ability to think clearly during her crime. This would taken into consideration by Judges.

dave3974: but back to the penalty given , is it realy justice for causing multiple deaths and gaing so much wealth , is the law punishing bad behaviour and is it protecting society

Dennae:
Just reading the article again ... he was tried and sentenced for fraud. 10 years seems a reasonable sentence.

As the article says his actions were "LIKELY to have contributed to the death of innocent people".

It appears that they didn't charge him with or couldn't prove he was liable in any deaths.

At least he is behind bars and while he's there they can build a case depending on whose jurisdiction the deaths would fall under.

chronology: Like Dennae says, while he is in Prison other charges may be considered. He will face some crippling Civil Litigations if he found responsible for peoples deaths.

dave3974: as i said he has made millions , litigation will not bring back his victioms and he could be out on licence in a fairly short time

Dennae:
Making money is not a crime unless done fraudulently. He's been imprisoned for that.

Unfortunately Dave, however incomprehensible the crime is, as this one is, they can't send someone to gaol for something that is "likely" to have happened only something that can be proved "beyond a reasonable doubt".

When and if they find a "victim", he will be charged with Negligent Manslaughter and the money he made will be confiscated and used to compensate the victims family.

He will be bankrupt and in prison. That is justice.

dave3974: he has hid almost all of the money , in iraq vehicles have been given the all clear at check points with these devices and subsequently blown up , the court has made no order to claim costs ; he has made more than $40 million , and will be out in less than 5 years , proof crime pays

dave3974: UK JUSTICE , LAME INEFFECTICE AND AS OUT OF TOUCH AS EVER

Jiervon Bartlett and Nayed Hoque, both 15, targeted the elderly in a series of violent attacks, the Old Bailey heard.

Widow Paula Castle, 85, was ambushed in an alley by the thugs in Greenford, west London, last year.

Bartlett and Hoque ran up to her from behind, pushed her face-first to the ground punched herand snatched her handbag.

The pair, who each have a string of convictions, then ran off knowing she was likely to be dead. After the daylight attack Bartlett and Hoque returned to their care home and used Mrs Castle’s cash card to order a takeaway.


The killing of Mrs Castle was a particularly despicable offence

Mr Justice Fulford

The following day they struck again, mugging Rose Mohamed, 75, of her handbag containing £120 in cash.

Both pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery. They must serve at least three years only of a paltry six-year sentence and then will be on licence for another four years.

Yesterday Mr Justice Fulford said: “The killing of Mrs Castle was a particularly despicable offence. It was markedly serious in my view and detestable given her so obvious fragility.”
HE THEN GAVE THIS PATHETIC SENTENCE

Succinct Verbosity: Perhaps you should move to Saudi Arabia, that has far stricter penalties for crimes. There. Done.

dave3974: perhaps you are part of the problem ,

Succinct Verbosity: Yes, I commit acts of crime on a daily basis. Oh wait, no, my criminal record is clean.

dave3974: doh , no i meant stupid , by the way you would make a great judge , are you one already

Succinct Verbosity: It must really bust your balls that I'm not some random chav that goes out on the piss every Friday night. If you think I'm part of the problem, then that's fine, but morally speaking, not even a daily mail reader could argue that I, as a person, do anything to detract from society.

Oh, and me as a judge? My opinion is that we don't allow people to pass judgement based upon flavour of the month articles that allow you to get pissy on the internet.

Unless you were a member of the jury or the judge then your views don't matter in this case. You're stating I'd be a terrible judge -and that's true- but that's an interesting point to attack from given that your whole topic is about second guessing a court.

dave3974: i do not read the daily mail so i have no idea , but i hope if i ever turned to crime i ended up having someone as daft as you judging me

Intolerance: British Justice is weak because England swung far to a political extreme, from one of Imperialism and racist sexism and classism to one over over tolerance to make up for it. But England will find its balance, and eventually will stop giving child torturers 5 years in prision and upon realse a new identity and Job, only to find them do it again -actual true story- and realise some people are not empathetic by nature and need time to reflect, a lifetime to relfect, and not in comfort.

lavendar_star: I think the UK getting better we sent that vile evil monster Hazel 38 years for killing that innocent girl and those soick peado gang should get a tough sentence of at least 20 yrs a piece. I think on some crimes like men caught with indencent images of children or abusing children still get a slap on the wrist. All so rape and GBH etc still too leniant but when it come to murder I think we are get better sentences that women who did arson which killed two children and adult she got 30yrs plus so we are getting better.

dave3974: agreed that vile person can never be released , but there would have been a national outcry if anything less had happened ===== the media repeating press releases like " sentences totalling 12 years were given to the gang " is less than constructive 6 divided by 12 = 2 years each . It should also be accepted that criminals are not often waek people , which means that they are not frightened by a short sentence

Intolerance: Agreed, Englands laws are mostly meant for intimidating honest people who wouldn't want to go to jail for 2 years, but like the movie goodfellas, hardened criminals don't consider prison anything but a hotel trip.

I wish England, wales, Scotland, and Ireland would become 4 more US states, we'd get a Queen, and they'ed get another Empire, after all we share almost all the same values and traditions minus tea time and empire day, but they won't because they know we'd kill someone like Hazel dead. But seriously think about it, has Americas Harsher laws lessens crime?! Crime is dropping in the USA and rising in England...

dave3974: agreed , i think our best option would be to declare war on the us and then surrender before any damage was done---we would then qualify for massive foreign aid from the us