‘At least 24 years’ isn’t enough

[ArcaneWireless]

If he gets out after 24 years he will around the same age she was. It doesn’t feel like justice.

RIP quine.

Jill Barclay

This will never make sense to me. Never.

People make a conscious choice to work or volunteer inside prisons knowing the risks. It seems you prioritise your own safety above the general public.

If criminals are easier to manage outside of prison what exactly is the point of prison then?

I have goosebumps.
You can do that and only get 24 years? Is that all womens lives are worth? What a horrible way to die. Is there going to be a protest about this? Anything I can sign to petition a re sentencing?
Personally I feel a medieval death sentence is a more suitable consequence. But he should never know freedom again.

You are being a bit silly now @MaterDei

I also exist as a woman outside the prison FFS. All the time now because I no longer volunteer or work there any more.

And do you think we do it for shits and giggles? No, we do it to try to prevent reoffending. I am more concerned with offending than most people rather than less. I don't just post outraged reckons on social media when there's a high profile case. I actually try to reduce recidivism through my work.

It was an utterly sickening crime. But we can't base law on the worst possible cases. We have to have a whole vision of justice, safety and crime. It's important to prevent the vast majority of the crimes which never make the papers.

I'd rather the vast swathes of men who never see a court after committing rape were dealt with than this arsehole gets another ten years.

I'd rather the vast swathes of men who never see a court after committing rape were dealt with

you could try holding this view whilst also maintaining the view that violent rapist murderers should serve an entire life sentence.

Perhaps being the victim of a violent rape in my own home (which was broken into) has made this topic an emotive one for me. I truly thought he would kill me. I'll try and be less silly moving forwards.

I hope the only way he leaves prison is in a wooden box.

I'm very sorry that happened @MaterDei

The most horrifying murder, this happened locally to me and I was shocked it was not more heavily reported on outwith NE Scotland. Terrifying.

He will be 48, not 58.

Whole life terms make prisons more dangerous? Errrm. So letting these psychopaths out makes streets more dangerous surely?!!!

I was also shocked at the lack of reporting of this both Scotland and UK-wide and, to be honest, even locally but assumed that it was perhaps to do with the legal restrictions around reporting on upcoming cases and appreciated that nobody would want to jeopardise due legal process.

I'm really hoping though that after today's developments there will be a robust debate and reflection and hopefully some action. It has shaken the community to the core. Every woman I've spoken to about this here has said the same - it could have been any of us. I know that pub, I know that road, the well-tended community garden. I drive along there every day. I sat in my car for a good long while today after reading the awful details of poor Jill's absolutely horrific ordeal and suffering, it is impossible to process.

How do I explain this to my kids before school tomorrow (because it will be discussed in the playground)? I can't even reassure them in the usual manner that awful things happen but we're probably safe here because we clearly aren't.

The best I can think of the sentencing is that giving that type of sentence does not mean that parole will ever actually be given, it simply strings out a lifetime of incarceration.

And maybe in 24 years we'll have begun to value women's lives more and there will be absolutely no danger that any parole board will see fit to take that risk with any other woman's life.

Rest in peace, quine.

I am not in favour of capital punishment for a number of reasons but if we were really letting people like this out early because we can’t manage them in prison that would be a pretty strong argument in favour of its reintroduction.

Firstly I want to say that I hadn't heard of this and it is so disturbing. He even looks fucked up.

Secondly, I'm interested in the discussion around sentencing. Is there any published evidence for shorter terms and actual rehabilitation as you describe @MrsTerryPratchett?

I'm not British, but I don't understand how this isn't a whole life sentence, or at the very least a 35 year minimum.

12 year sentence for a ten year campaign of violence against women, children and animals - including two rapes and an attempted murder. I just don't get it.

https://news.sky.com/story/rapist-jailed-for-decade-long-campaign-of-violence-against-women-children-and-animals-12888452

He pled guilty so he likely got reduced time for that but still I agree it should have been much longer or life.

I am not in favour of capital punishment for a number of reasons but if we were really letting people like this out early because we can’t manage them in prison that would be a pretty strong argument in favour of its reintroduction.

This has crossed my mind also. It's the logical solution.

And to reiterate, he will be 48 when he is potentially released, not 58. He's have years at prime strength out in the outside.

I also don't understand why there is pretty much radio silence around this, normally there would be a post on one of the main boards but it's just tumbleweed.

It was on the news on the radio station that I listen to, but I was infuriated because each time they read out the news story they kept saying that he had only "met" his victim that night. When he actually didn't "meet" her at all, he followed her on her way home from the pub and attacked her. It was just lazy journalism but it was just so grating.

It's not obvious in the BBC article but there is a link to the sentencing remarks by the judge, https://judiciary.scot/home/sentences-judgments/sentences-and-opinions/2023/05/24/hma-v-rhys-bennett

The sentence is explained in more detail. The starting point was 29 years, and that was reduced down to 24 years due to the guilty plea and his age being under 25.

I was infuriated because each time they read out the news story they kept saying that he had only "met" his victim that night

That is infuriating. It allows people (women) to feel safer and distance themselves from the crime by subconsciously thinking that her actions played a part in what happened, instead of the terrifying reality that it was totally random.

The age component of the sentencing has utterly enraged me also. Like the guy who didn't even get jail time for raping a 13 year old.
I can understand some leniency towards a very young man for something reckless and foolish that ended badly, say a (first!) driving offense or a drunken brawl that got out of hand. That's a person that can likely be fully rehabilitated, grow up a bit and be a productive member of society.

But this? This was monstrous. His age has no relevance.

On a point of fact, the chances of a released murderer murdering anybody else are actually rather low. And the minimum tariff could well be shorter than what he actually serves.

RIP quine.

I tried to read the story to my DM yesterday but couldn’t I was too upset. She hadn’t heard about this sentencing as not local, I was shocked both at the time and now about the lack of national reporting.

That poor woman could be any of us, she was just walking home.

I hope he rots.

On a point of fact, the chances of a released murderer murdering anybody else are actually rather low

Perhaps, but sex offenders are notorious recidivists.

Taken from Gov.uk website "Proven reoffending statistics: January to March 2021"
Published 26 January 2023

So over a 18 month period following release from prison the recent stats demonstrate that there is a proven reoffending rate of between 23.1%-31.8%.

Key word here is proven. The actual reoffending rate is likely much higher because of course criminals don't always get caught and furthermore the stats are looking at the immediate 18 month period following release. What are the figures longer term I wonder?! Criminals may well be wary about committing another crime so soon after release when they know they may be observed closer perhaps...

I do believe strongly that people who support the idea that violent/sexual/murderous criminals can be successfully rehabilitated are a at best naive. I'm certain if something happened to their own loved ones at the hands of a 'rehabilitated' criminal this belief would swiftly change. I don't wish that on anybody of course!

And why was this not in the media more at the time? It was truly barbaric and people marched in the streets of Aberdeen? I'm in Scotland and follow news closely but dont remember seeing anything of this. Why did this not make it to UK media in a bigger way? Horrific