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Original poster

Boy who shot sister jailed for 2 years - mother jailed for 3

39 replies

WendyWeber · 31/10/2007 15:14

Because it was her fault the gun was there

I suppose it's making an example of her to others who might be in a similar position but where does it leave her younger children?

OP posts:
paolosgirl · 31/10/2007 15:16

I feel very sorry for all concerned - this is a tragic case, but with my hard face on, I wonder if she should have thought about her kids and the possible consequences before she bought the gun into the house?

Original poster
WendyWeber · 31/10/2007 15:18

Of course she should

(Although she had it buried in the garden, but told the son it was there before going away for the day - he was 16 at the time and the scenario painted by the barrister is spot on I think)

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Blandmum · 31/10/2007 15:18

Sh was hiding the gun for a criminal. When the dreadful incident happened she buried the gun in the garden. She left the gun where her kids could play with it.

Not exactly winning all the 'Best Mum' prizes is she? I realise that we all have out faults and shortcommings, but that is quite a clutch of fuck ups

franke · 31/10/2007 15:18

Agree it is tragic, but with my liberal hat on, I do wonder what is to be gained by jailing the boy - the judge already said he'd given himself a life sentence.

Original poster
WendyWeber · 31/10/2007 15:19

Oh it was the judge, not the barrister.

"Inevitably, given his age, Kasha retrieved the gun. Inevitably, he started playing with it, it makes him feel a man."

OP posts:
pooka · 31/10/2007 15:22

It is tragic. But I don't understand why she told her son about the buried gun. Why on earth would you do that? Why on earth would you allow a loaded gun to be brought into your house in the first place?

paolosgirl · 31/10/2007 15:22

I suppose the act of holding a gun to his sister, as an adult, regardless of whether he meant it to go off or not warrants some kind of sentence. I think I also read somewhere that he'd been in trouble before, so I suppose there had to be some punishment - but I completely agree with you re already giving himself a life sentence.

paolosgirl · 31/10/2007 15:23

Sorry - not an adult as still 16.

BigGitDad · 31/10/2007 15:25

He was sentenced becauase a crime had been committed. I agree it is a tragic story but we have rules and laws in this society and if you break them you can expect to be punished.

spokette · 31/10/2007 15:28

I don't see what is gained by jailing the boy. He is full of remorse, it was a tragic accident and he will bear the pain of it for the rest of his life. Jailing him with offenders who will no doubt show him the ropes does nothing to help rehabilitate him.

A tragic case and the responsibility lies firmly with feckless, idiotic mother who got what she deserved.

franke · 31/10/2007 15:31

Yeah, I understand all that about laws and stuff BGD but I still don't see what good jailing him is going to achieve. Time to reflect on his misdemeanour? Setting an example to others who might also consider holding a gun to their sister's head? I just don't think in this instance jail is going to achieve anything, waste of money and waste of a life that could potentially be put on a different, more positive track.

PeachyFleshCrawlingWithBugs · 31/10/2007 15:33

I think 2 years is reasonable for the boy- he needs to serve some time under our laws which he was old wnough to understand, but the true criminal was his Mother- a gun! And she told him? What on earth else was going to happen? 3 years seems too light!

My thoughts are with the other children, but presumably they are safer without her!

It may be that servindg the sentence gives the boy some time to feel as if has done some form of 'penance' if that makes sense? may even give im a way to move forwards.

It also sends out an important message re gun crime: yes the kids who wield guns have to be stopped ASAP, but the biggest criminal is usually the one who provided that gun in the first place. Instead of demonising teenagers, we as a society need to look further into what's really happening.

spokette · 31/10/2007 15:41

Peachy, yes. Lets start with governments that invade countries illegally to start wars - the soldiers use guns don't they?

What message does that send out to young people?

The solution to your problems is force, preferably with a gun in your hand.

Blandmum · 31/10/2007 15:49

What did he think would happen when he pulled the trigger? Did he just thing there would be a flag saying 'bang' pop out? He was 16 not 6 ffs.

He would know what a gun would do.

It is healthy that he is full of remorse, but he also should face the full consequences of his actions. and part of that, as well as living with his loss, is serving some time

PeachyFleshCrawlingWithBugs · 31/10/2007 15:51

Perhpas that is a part of it- but equally I think the criminals (drug gangs etc) that provide the weaponry are often related to terrorism and suchlike so there could be many different aspects to that argument I guess. I'm a great beleiver in looking at the whole of how we are addressing this as a society- kids weren't suddenly born 16 yeras ago with a need to carry knives (and although I am anti the war in iraq in many ways, war existed long before the problem). Access to violent games, TV, agressive music etc- everything that is cool seems to to say guns are great (or knives), whereas everything that is boring (school, police, parents) seems to say no!- we need tot hink about how our society changed so relatively rapidly.

BigGitDad · 31/10/2007 15:53

I agree with Martian, 'he should face the consequences of his actions'

TheMadScaryHouse · 31/10/2007 15:56

I find this story so sad on lots of levels. WTF was she doing with a loaded gun? way did it have rounds in it? why tell your 16 year old where it is? 3 years is not long enough for the mother in my opinion, she not only lost one child, she took away the childhood of her other.

Did he know it was loaded?, why dig it up?

It just seems like a story from another country. So SAD

maggotandjerry · 31/10/2007 16:09

Could understand a lenient sentence on the son for reasons others have give below but no excuse for the mother imho.

spokette · 31/10/2007 16:10

The young man should face the consequences of his actions and should be punished but I don't think jailing him will serve any purpose unless they provide him with the support to turn his life around which I seriously doubt will happen.

The media glorify the antics of the Kray Twins who were murderers. How many young children are playing computer games that involve killing the enemy? How many TV programmes are there that glibly portray bullying, fighting, death and destruction?

Actions speak louder than words and there is a lot of hyprocrisy around this issue.

Original poster
WendyWeber · 31/10/2007 16:12
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PeachyFleshCrawlingWithBugs · 31/10/2007 16:15

How did he know how to pull back the cylinder? perhaps I am naive or even a little stupid but I wouldn't have a clue!

Original poster
WendyWeber · 31/10/2007 16:21

Mmmm, I wondered that too, Peachy - he must have had some experience with guns before I suppose, but not enough to be aware of what he was risking.

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Original poster
WendyWeber · 31/10/2007 16:23

Although his barrister said he hadn't:

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PeachyFleshCrawlingWithBugs · 31/10/2007 16:26

That doesn't quite add up does it?

SenoraGruesomeCatastrophe · 31/10/2007 16:27

oh the poor boy. what will sending him to prison acheive exactly? I agree that he should be punished, but don't see why it had to be a custodial sentence.

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