Angry about lenient sentence for murder of elderly man in park

I completely agree, it must be horrific for the family and it was an awful crime which is completely unjustified. I am not saying it is okay because he was old, I am saying I don’t think it was worse because he was old than it would have been if he was young. I don’t think I would feel worse if an elderly family member was murdered than I would if a young family member was, personally if I was ever presented with the awful choice between an 80-year-old relative and a 20-year-old relative being killed I would go for the elderly one as I’d feel
they had fewer years left, but clearly others on here see the elderly as more vulnerable and so would prefer a younger person had been killed. I guess there is no right or wrong because murder is always wrong and it is completely inexcusable for anybody to be murdered regardless of age, I was just expressing that personally I don’t think an old person’s life is worth more because they’re vulnerable and was presenting the argument that you could look at it based on years left instead of vulnerability and get a different answer.

Completely agree - we all know that life ends at some point but to be murdered for no good reason (if theres ever a good reason sorry - but I can't think of another way to phrase it) is something else completely. Especially when they had done nothing wrong and it was just 'random' - like those kids who were chased with the machetes and brutally murdered - mistaken identity - FFS - as if that excuses them. The two boys who have been imprisoned for 15+18years were inevitably involved with a lot older group who got them involved somehow - they probably thought it was cool to hang around with the older lot - but the 45yo who was inevitabley 'in charge' has had 38years. Let him rot - a bit of rope is required there tbh.

ETA - add the link for anyone who was interested
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3lxle15qvo

Clearly racially motivated but, whatever the motive, the sentence is too short for callous, violent murder.

These two horrors had 15 and 18years and they are 'only' 15 and 16yo. Shocking - mistaken identity for the dead teenagers - I have children of similar ages at 15 and 16yo - it is horrifying.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3lxle15qvo

I’d be so depressed and traumatised if I knew my mum or Dad died in such a way.

Well they're not going to "Jail" at all are they.

Losing someone to illness or accident is hard enough to contend with.
But murder is a whole different ball game.The man suffered at the hands of those little savages and no matter what age he was he needn't have died in such circumstances.
Lots of us grew up in dysfunctional circumstances but don't go on to murder.

@MintChocCat You can ask for a sentencing review here.

Not a bad age to go?

wtf am I reading… you don’t get to make that judgement, and also it IS a bad WAY to go!!!

No they didn't. Animals don't behave nor act like that. I hate it when criminals are compared to animals.

Absolutely disgusting that it’s not been classed as racism 😡 They are old enough to understand it is racist and wrong!

Well they didn’t see anywhere near 80 so I expect if alive they’d agree it’s not a bad age to go…

But hardly a good way to go, is it? Dying in terror and agony, knowing only hatred in your last moments in the world.

You know what, I think I might submit a request for review! No idea how mind you.

My mum is 80. She is still active, travels, reads, looks after her cat, plays a musical instrument, is loved by her grandkids, siblings and neighbours, and even volunteers.

She has plenty to give, as did Mr Kohli.Not a bad age to go? No one else gets to make that judgement.

I join you in your hope that these scum live next to you or your family and are best mates with your kids.

I've lost loved ones who also didn't make it anywhere near 80.

It was heartbreaking seeing cancer slowly take them; but I cannot imagine the vast magnitude by which that would have increased if they'd died because somebody who hated them for a neutral personal characteristic randomly assumed that their hatred gave them the right to bludgeon them to death.

@BoredZelda He used the word as a descriptor rather as a term of hate.

It's not a descriptor. Just like the N-word isn't a descriptor for black people.

It seems the judge felt the boy didn’t understand the magnitude of using that word. Whether that is right or wrong ...

It is wrong. And I would be surprised if any 14 year old doesn't understand what the word means, or doesn't understand that kicking and punching a defenseless, vulnerable elderly gentleman could lead to his death.

Racist slur as a "descriptor instead of hate".
Will remember that next time DS is called a P*.

Yes, you are correct.

…they are old enough to be sentenced as children who kill. Which they were.

If anyone here thinks the sentence is wrong, they can submit a request for review.

I don’t think it is contradictory at all. He is saying that despite the alleged use of a racial slur, there is no other evidence of the boy holding racist views despite further investigation. He used the word as a descriptor rather as a term of hate. It seems the judge felt the boy didn’t understand the magnitude of using that word. Whether that is right or wrong, I have no idea but I have to assume the judge has more evidence at his disposal in order to make that decision. I find it hard to believe the boy isn’t racist, but that doesn’t mean this particular crime has enough evidence to give rise to a charge of a hate crime. The litmus test is, would they have attacked him if he was white. Given the apparent history of them having dealt with him before, I think they would have.

@Rispa42

I clearly said it wasn’t an excuse. But I can see why it’d be more likely to happen.

Whereas the poor man was robbed of his life. If they are old enough to kill...

We don’t jail children for life and nor should we. And yes, I’d say the same if this had been a family member.

Hopefully that never happens.
Our country is bad enough as it is.
I'm hoping they gain sod all in Scottish election next year.