'He killed girlfriend due to emotional pain', court told

[PrincessBandit]

True - Arthur Allen Thomas wouldn't have wasted our money on Prison - or gotten that huge payout!

Mmmm, but are you really comparing the two cases that seriously? AAT had plenty of grounds for "beyond reasonable doubt"; Weatherston seems to lack this.

[ManDownUnder]

Mmmm, but are you really comparing the two cases that seriously? AAT had plenty of grounds for "beyond reasonable doubt"; Weatherston seems to lack this.

Fair question - and no - I'm not comparing cases, simply recognising we have the same judicial and trial system in place and while good - it's not perfect.

Inherant in that statement is the firm belief of one law for all. No exceptions, even extreme ones.

[Badjelly]

Mmmm, but are you really comparing the two cases that seriously? AAT had plenty of grounds for "beyond reasonable doubt"; Weatherston seems to lack this.

But if "shoot the fuck" had been the law when AAT was sentenced, he would never have got the benefit of any doubt.

All convictions are supposed to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, but, in hindsight, some of them clearly aren't.

[peasea]

True - Arthur Allen Thomas wouldn't have wasted our money on Prison - or gotten that huge payout!

I don't recall there being any witnesses to AAT's alleged actions. Sophie's mum was there, however, and Withered-dick has confessed.

[peasea]

But if "shoot the fuck" had been the law when AAT was sentenced, he would never have got the benefit of any doubt.

All convictions are supposed to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, but, in hindsight, some of them clearly aren't.

While some of them simply suffer from ineptitude or evidence planting/tampering.

[Badjelly]

This just caught my eye:

The Guilt of Clayton Weatherston | Jul 22, 2009 11:24

It was not surprising to learn from a One News poll that Clayton Weatherston has, in record time, become the most reviled man in New Zealand.

It was a little more surprising (albeit for only a moment) to hear he has asked Guinness World Records to note the accomplishment.

[vifferman]

A coupla things:
Regardless of whatever the jury decided, he's unlikely to go and kill another girlfriend.
Regardless of what the sentence is, he doesn't seem to have any guilt about what he's done, or to have even accepted responsibility. So... apart from keeping him off the streets (at great expense), what's the point? It's going to be neither appropriately punitive, nor effectively rehabilitative. He's taken away someone's life (70 years?) and will stay in Her Majesty's Hotel for maybe 12, with good behaviour? Does that measure up well? (oh right - I keep forgetting we have a legal system, so the scales of justice can't be expected to even approximate a level plane).

I suppose it's reasonable telly, although the pacing was a little slow, and there has not yet been any poetic justice or whatever to make for a satisfactory ending. Perhaps some scissors (216 pairs?) could be smuggled into whichever hotel he ends up in?

[MisterD]

Given his defence was that he's got a personality disorder that caused him to flip out under provocation (that would barely make the rest of us post nasty stuff on Facebook) and stab and deliberately mutilate Sophie, I'd say he was a stright up candidate for preventative detention...or am I missing something about the requirements for PD?

[Finn]

It was a little more surprising (albeit for only a moment) to hear he has asked Guinness World Records to note the accomplishment.[/INDENT]

I hope you realise that was a joke.

[Headbanger]

True - Arthur Allen Thomas wouldn't have wasted our money on Prison - or gotten that huge payout!

Great point.

Shooting them is clearly the way to go. That will stop the years of bitching about being locked up, and nag nag nag nag about not being guilty.And end all payouts.

Hell, I'm trying, But I cannot see a single negative to this course of action.So simple yet so effective.

[ManDownUnder]

Great point.

Shooting them is clearly the way to go. That will stop the years of bitching about being locked up, and nag nag nag nag about not being guilty.And end all payouts.

Hell, I'm trying, But I cannot see a single negative to this course of action.So simple yet so effective.

Innocent men... dead.... after due process was done... and no negatives?

[imdying]

Innocent men... dead.... after due process was done... and no negatives?

You know that he has admitted killing her, right?

[crazyhorse]

He was a fuckwit - glad with the result

[Headbanger]

Innocent men... dead.... after due process was done... and no negatives?

Only in that the defence lawyers aren't also shot when losing a case.

I also think they should consider shooting the prosecution and the police involded if an innocent person is convicted. But seeing as we can't bring the dead back to life, I say too fucking bad, Harden up.

And don't get me started on piss weak judges and that stupid bitch who wants to see an amnesty for prisoners.

chk chk boom.

[Shaun S]

he's unlikely to go and kill another girlfriend.

And you know this how?

He has justified what he has done in his own mind - and "it's ok, he had a reason to do what he did" in other words it's ok to take another persons life if the reasoning behind it is there. What guarantee do you have he wont come to that conclusion again?

I do agree with you re the 12 odd years in jail though – and that is why I also agree that someone who has admitted to committing such a violent crime should hang, be shot, be fried. Take your pick.