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AIBU?

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think that only 3 and a half years for this is beyond belief

94 replies

SherbetVodka · 21/03/2013 18:36

I just read this news article [WARNING FROM MNHQ: upsetting content] and cannot BELIEVE that the evil little shit that did this has only got 3 1/2 years. Some people get more than this for ABH for fucks sake Shock

Even if it was genuinely manslaughter as opposed to murder, surely he could serve a few more years for what was clearly a sadistic, disgusting crime. He will probably not even have to serve the whole of his sentence and the message he and people like him will have got from the courts is that you can terrorise and torture someone with learning disabilities, even kill them and you'll only have to do a couple of years inside at most :(

I just can't believe this. It's such a sad story, the poor young man who was killed had autism and a speech impediment and had already been forced to move home because of bullying and was very vulnerable by the sound of it. All he wanted to do was celebrate his birthday like any other 18 year old. He was doing no harm to anyone. How can people be this cruel?

OP posts:
Mrsrobertduvall · 21/03/2013 18:39

Words fail me.
Can I suggest you maybe get MN to add a warning ..graphic content...to the title. It may upset those with children like Stephen.

Original poster
SherbetVodka · 21/03/2013 18:42

You're right. I will.

OP posts:
StuffezLaBouche · 21/03/2013 18:45

I sometimes genuinely wonder what you have to do to get a lengthy prison term in this country. Taking an innocent person's life certainly doesn't guarantee it.

Silvertop · 21/03/2013 18:49

I feel outraged by the sentence and cannot fathom why the judge would describe the bullying the young man suffered at his party, having crude messages written on him etc, as horseplay! I feel completely lost for words.

bulletwithbutterflywings · 21/03/2013 18:54

I shouldn't have read that :( Poor boy. I'm so hopelessly angry now - he deserves life in prison at least.

BeerTricksPotter · 21/03/2013 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuburbanRhonda · 21/03/2013 19:12

I feel sick and heartbroken at what happened to this poor young man.

Whorulestheroost · 21/03/2013 19:18

God I agree with you all I'm speechless - poor poor boy Sad

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 21/03/2013 19:21

Not even going to open the link because I know it will upset and anger me too much, based on what I gather from the posts here. I can guess though. Person with disability killed horribly but it doesn't matter as much as it would do if it was a Normal Person, so the judge let them off lightly.

Terrifies me. It's things like this that make me feel like I will NEVER let the world loose on my children (both autistic). I want to protect them for ever.

Original poster
SherbetVodka · 21/03/2013 19:35

Yes, ImTooHecsy that does appear to be what's happened here. Of course there's no proof that the shockingly light sentence was because the victim had ASD but its hard not to think that when you read it.

I don't blame you for feeling that way about your children, I'd be the same. I can't imagine what this poor boy's parents must be going through.

OP posts:
Talkinpeace · 21/03/2013 19:41

A slightly more measured report of the same story - by the paper local to where they both lived.
www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/jail-for-south-yorkshire-man-over-fire-death-1-5518928
Jordan has a life sentence : everybody in his home town knows he's a homophobic idiot.

Buddhagirl · 21/03/2013 19:55

He will be out in a year and a half.

Wonder if he knew it would set him alight and kill him when he did it.

GlitterySkulls · 21/03/2013 20:01

this is shocking... that poor young man... no-one turned up to his birthday party, so he went out & invited people back. Sad

& then that little bastard turns up & humiliates him, before murdering him- and gets a poxy 3 1/2 years?

really? is that all a life is worth?

Original poster
SherbetVodka · 21/03/2013 20:14

Jordan has a life sentence : everybody in his home town knows he's a homophobic idiot.

He still has a life though. One that's only going to be put on hold for a year and a half before he can carry on with it Hmm

OP posts:
Softlysoftly · 21/03/2013 20:14

The thing is with aspergers he will have "played along" with his bullying, not totally understood they were actually being horrible.

The judge seems to think it's manslaughter as he wasnt protesting at his treatment, total disregard for his mental difference.

God that's just so sad on his birthday after noone who actually cared for him turned up :(

bulletwithbutterflywings · 21/03/2013 20:16

Sorry talkinpeace but that is utter bullshit.He can move 20miles down the road and go on living his life without people knowing what he did.

HollyBerryBush · 21/03/2013 20:17

What happened to those who 'egged him on' ?

pumpkinsweetie · 21/03/2013 20:20

The sentences in this country very rarely fit the crime and i think it is utterly disgusting that someone can do such evil and pretty much get away with it. If you take a life or torture somebody then life behind bars should be the result if not worse.

Original poster
SherbetVodka · 21/03/2013 20:21

The thing is with aspergers he will have "played along" with his bullying, not totally understood they were actually being horrible.

If that was the case then I really hope he never realised the intent was malicious even when they set him alight, if that's at all possible.

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 21/03/2013 20:24

Jordan has a life sentence : everybody in his home town knows he's a homophobic idiot

What?? Oh Im sure that will really affect him.

That judge is an idiot, horseplay?

Yes, as Steven had autism, he would have thought they were his friends.

Im sickened by this.

Maggie111 · 21/03/2013 20:32

My heart is breaking reading that story. 3.5 years is disgusting.

BarredfromhavingStella · 21/03/2013 21:03

I read this story earlier & felt absolute rage towards this fucking cunt of a parasite Angry what a big man he must be...
My heart broke for his poor victim.

AmberLeaf · 21/03/2013 21:20

I keep reading it.

It breaks my heart that Steven was so desperate for some friends to celebrate his birthday with him, that he went out and brought back those bastards and went along with their so called 'horseplay'

This sort of thing is why society has to change and neurotypical people need to do more to accommodate people with autism, not the other way round.

Those bastards that murdered Steven, are the children who now call my autistic son 'weird', but in 10 years time.

This sort of thing is why schools/parents should come down very hard on children who tease other children with disabilities, it is just not acceptable. except it is and that is why so many people with disabilities are abused on a regular basis.

Catchingmockingbirds · 21/03/2013 21:40

A warning would have been nice!

I read about this story just after it happened, and just after my son was dx with AS too. It still makes me tear up reading about it. 3 1/2 years isn't enough.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 21/03/2013 21:57

Hello

We've added a warning to the OP now, at SherbetVodka's request.

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