To feel sorry for (and think the punishment is too long) for the 18 year old who threw the fire extinguisher in the protests

[LaurieFairyonthetreeEatsCake]

2 years, 8 months in jail

here

That's a looooong time. Is the reasoning supposed to be that it's a deterrent?

There are people with asbo's who cause no end of trouble and don't get sentences like this.

Its not long enough.

Would you be saying the same if his weapon had killed someone.

At 18 years of age, and supposedly an intelligent youth, he knew that his actions had the potential to kill BEFORE he threw it.

YANBU

But he could easily have killed somebody? It was a stupid, reckless thing to do and it was pure chance that it didn't end in tragedy.

I actually agree with you.

In the early August 2010, I was the victim of a crime. I won't go into details, but comparing the punishment for the evil fuckers that were involved in my case, this is a total joke. I don't know what I think as an isolated case, but in relative terms, I'm sitting here fucking seething at the comparison in punishment.

This country's "justice" system is broken.

In what way do you feel sorry for him?

I do think the sentance is too long for what he done but it would have been a lot longer had he killed or injured someone.

But, I certainly dont feel sorry for him, it's his own fault.

I don't feel sorry for him.

He won't serve more than 1 year 4 months. He threw a heavy object from the top of a tall building onto people massed below. The fact that no-one was seriously hurt or killed was pure luck.

YANBU

yeah but he didn't kill anyone and 6 months would have sent out the same message to anyone.

He tried to stick up for his rights and future and it is a further insult that they will do this to him.

Sorry yabu he deserves it,he should of thought of his actions as it could of been a different story,especially if he had killed someone.

I have to say I was suprised that he got so long - although don't really see the Judge had any choice given the high profile nature of the case.

Interesting all the media comments regarding what "could have happened". Obviously he could have killed someone but he didn't and I'm not sure I am comfortable with the idea of sentencing on the basis of what might have happened.

He behaved incredibly stupidly, but 16mths in a YOI (which is minimum he will serve) will absolutely wreck any chance he had of leading a productive life.

It was an incredibly stupid act, and could easily have killed people. It wasn't an accident, it was a deliberate act.

Maybe the argument should be that the punishment for ASBO type behaviour should be greater, not that the jail time here should be less?

I think it's spot on.
"the teenager, who threw the metal fire extinguisher from a seventh-floor rooftop as hundreds of people gathered below"

And let's not forget he threw it at police officers which is never going to get you sympathy in the courts.

I don't think that the sentence really reflects that he did give himself up, and that he didn't hurt anyone.

I've seen drink drivers who have killed people get less.

I feel sorry for him because he's 18, because he admitted it immediately, because he pled guilty, because he had a clean record, because he seems contrite for what he has done, because he has fucked up his life really early on.

Mostly because of his age and immaturity - 18 is not fully cooked and it's really sad to make a foolish mistake like this so young.

Would you feel like this if he had been an 18 year old chav throwing a concrete block at slow moving traffic on a motorway?

YABVVVU

He could have killed someone, presumably this is what he was intending to do. He should have got much longer. If he had got a lighter sentence, what message would it send to other people who might be involved in similar activities in the future?

He is a grown adult, so needs to take responsibilty for his actions.

I've seen drink drivers who have killed people get less.

Spot on, Ladymuck.

I should step away from this thread now.

"He tried to stick up for his rights and future and it is a further insult that they will do this to him"
Just because you are at a protest doesn't mean he can do whatever the fuck he likes and claim it is part of him sticking up for his rights. He threw a potentially deadly missile at police officers.

I've absolutely no sympathy for him. He chose to throw the fire extinguisher,and from a great height,knowing that it could maim or kill someone.

There are others way of sticking up for your rights and beliefs, I understand that throwing a fire extinguisher of a roof into the crowd is not one of them?.

frgr - fair enough you are comparing this punishment with the outcome of your case, so in relative terms, I see where you're coming from.

Laurie - Are you being serious? It was a stupid, reckless and DANGEROUS thing to do. Looking at it as a stand alone case, YES they deserved the sentence they got! As previous posters have said, they could have killed someone! Why would anyone with reasonable intelligence decide to throw such an object, from such a height? Oh yeah, to cause serious damage. The intent was there to cause serious harm.

skyswept
He tried to stick up for his rights and future and it is a further insult that they will do this to him

Are you on drugs? Seriously? He could have killed someone how is being a cunt stickign up for his rights?????

frgr whatever happened to you if the person responsible wasn't given a decent sentance that is disgusting but you can't really say therfore everyone else should get less of a sentance. That won't undo what happened to you or the injustice of that person not paying for their crime.

Oh and Op YABVVVVU

And yes some drink drivers get less,which isn't right,but that's a reason to increase their sentences,not a reason to lessen his.

He didn't kill anyone though did he?

How about we sentence everyone on the basis of what "could have happened", instead of what actually happened. Doesn't really make sense does it?!

I feel sorry for his mother not him....he knew what he was doing and there is a photo of him looking down over the edge of the building looking at the hundreds of police officers before he dropped the extinguisher.

He could have easily killed or seriously injured one of those police officers - would you have felt sorry for him then.

Unfortunately 30 seconds of madness has probably ruined his life (well at least for the next couple of years) as well as his mothers.