Why were these men free to kill (TRIGGER WARNING RAPE AND MURDER)

[Italiangreyhound]

This is a truly horrific story.

Why were these men free to kill (TRIGGER WARNING RAPE AND MURDER)

But if you want to avoid the horror or reading it, just know two murderers were released and murdered again.

Both murders men, at least two of their victims women. When will male violence be addressed?

How does this keep happening?

I wonder if the fact their first two victims were elderly means (as far as I know their first two victims). Is there some sort of bias in sentencing, or any other factor?

"Unwin had been released on licence in December 2012 having battered a pensioner to death during a break-in on Christmas Day 1998 in Houghton-le-Spring.

The fire he started to cover his tracks meant the victim could only be identified by his medical records.

McFall was released on licence in October 2010 after killing a pensioner with a hammer when she disturbed him breaking into her home in Carrickfergus in May 1996."

Anyway, I can't make sense of this, how was it decided that these men safe to go back into society?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-43896258

The eternal excuse... "not enough room in prisons".

It is grim isn't It? That poor woman.

My friend was murdered by a man with a history of extreme violence, in fact he’d already “served a life sentence” and been released before he killed her.

Even the trial and the media coverage tried to attribute blame to her, they spoke as if she wasn’t important, that she didn’t matter and as if she somehow brought it on herself. They described a “haphazard” lifestyle, they reduced her to a caricature of a woman in court and in the media, as if she was nothing.

He was then given grounds to appeal because his age and length of sentence meant it’s unlikely he’ll be released and apparently its “against his human rights”. Jesus wept.

At no point was it raised that it was against my friend’s human rights to be tortured, assaulted, murdered, dismembered and placed in various bins in his garden and left there for nearly 18 months. No, it was about him, and his human rights.

The appeals thankfully all failed, but were extremely traumatic for her family and friends, most of all her parents who will never be the same again because this bastard was released.

The justice system is fucked.

Smeddum, your poor friend that's appalling.

It’s ten years since she died, 8.5 since she was found and 7.5 since she was buried.

Hearing about his “rights” and his self pitying bullshit nearly broke me. Her dad is lost, he is a shell of the man he used to be. He can’t work, he can’t eat, he can’t sleep, he is barely functioning. He used to be a happy, cheery lovely man, full of the joys of life. And now he’s just waiting until he can go and be with her.

Her mum is outwardly coping but struggles daily to get up and live her life. It’s just so fucking unfair that his rights were considered paramount, when he actively chose to do what he did for his own gratification.

Smeddum that is so awful. I have no words.

Smeddum

Smeddum, that is truly horrible. It is such and injustice to the victim (and her family) when this occurs (time and time again it seems).

To address the OP, we see it over and over again, unfortunately. Perps, particularly with a repeated history of VAW, getting released, only to rape/murder again. In most of these cases, from the details of these crimes, they should all have been marked as 'never to be released'.

It is more unusual they get shorter sentences and released when they kill males, that is generally treated 'more seriously' by the 'justice' system.

Thank you all for your kindness

OP I completely agree with you. The system really is loaded in favour of the perpetrators and the victims aren’t given a voice. Mostly because the perpetrator removed their ability to speak by killing them.

I read this during the trial and it stuck with me, “murder is theft, the gravest theft of all, the theft of life, of time of years unfulfilled.”

I hate that the system favours those who commit unspeakable offences, and not the people who suffer because of them.

I hate that they get to 'endlessly' appeal the sentences, that they get them reduced, that they get released to go on to ruin more lives (the victim directly, the victims' family by extension).

But worst of all, how many victims, particularly women, are disparaged and defamed of character and accused of somehow 'bringing it upon themselves' or 'asking for it'. Jane Longhurst's murder, case in point.

The system really is loaded in favour of the perpetrators and the victims aren’t given a voice. Mostly because the perpetrator removed their ability to speak by killing them.

This!! The justice system's failure to hold serial offenders to account and keep them locked up for ever to me smacks of deliberate forgetting.
I read somewhere sometime that the justice system was never designed for individuals but to hold corporates and govts etc to account.

My own personal view is if the victim is a woman she still gets treated as lesser than - not to take away from any murder victims.

The report states that they did not act like humans, but they did didn't they. Man do this all the time, always have, this is what they do. Name the problem, don't say they were monsters when they were men.

I am so sorry for your loss smeddum

But worst of all, how many victims, particularly women, are disparaged and defamed of character and accused of somehow 'bringing it upon themselves' or 'asking for it'. Jane Longhurst's murder, case in point

Absolutely! It dehumanises the victim, subconsciously puts the idea that somehow she did something wrong, or was stupid. None of which is true, it’s deflecting from where the blame should be placed. On the murderer.

Name the problem, don't say they were monsters when they were men

This too! Ugh. Terms used in reporting are awful, sensationalist and deflecting from the truth.

@DamnDeDoubtanceIsSpartacus thank you

woman: smacks of deliberate forgetting
Oh I like that term! Very apt.

I just don't get (well I do, when viewed with the knowledge of living in a patriarchy), how these 'learned' individuals can read through the crimes, what was involved, and think that 'magically', 10-15 years in prison has miraculously changed a vicious, torturing psychopath into an 'upstanding citizen'. What level of brain disconnect do you need to have to let these monsters loose?

this is an article about my friend, but I’ve shared it because of the way they’ve written about her

The article isn’t complimentary about Sam, it’s talking about her as if she was flighty, a drinker and very forward.

None of which was true by the way.

What level of brain disconnect do you need to have to let these monsters loose?

I’ve often wondered this!

"Wheelie Bin Body Woman". FFS. So sorry Smeddum.

@Ereshkigal the Daily Record called her a “wheelie bin victim” in one article. I went into their Glasgow office and went batshit at the reporter! Not my finest hour but he fucking deserved it.

Sorry to derail OP, I completely agree with what you’re saying and I guess it’s a bit too close to home.

The article isn’t complimentary about Sam, it’s talking about her as if she was flighty, a drinker and very forward.

None of which was true by the way.

I entirely believe you. But even if it were, why do they imply it would it be in any way relevant to her murder by a violent man?

You're not derailing.

Smeddum, I am so sorry for your loss.
The press are disgusting with headlines like that, she was someone’s daughter, and I am glad you stood up for her at the Daily Record. They should be ashamed.

I entirely believe you. But even if it were, why do they imply it would it be in any way relevant to her murder by a violent man?

Exactly. I was so pissed off. They listed all these things about how she was friendly (implying over friendly), would talk to anyone, was too trusting (because she was a decent fucking person who didn’t judge people) and lived a haphazard and chaotic life.

It riled me because it all implied that she brought it on herself. And that’s bullshit. She was awesome, screamingly funny, hyper to the point where she’d do your box in, kind hearted, loving, scatty, impulsive, wonderfully imaginative and just a bloody brilliant woman.

But none of that sells papers, or makes people read a story.

It riled me because it all implied that she brought it on herself. And that’s bullshit. She was awesome, screamingly funny, hyper to the point where she’d do your box in, kind hearted, loving, scatty, impulsive, wonderfully imaginative and just a bloody brilliant woman.

What a lovely human tribute. You've brought tears to my eyes and I never knew your friend. She sounds wonderful.

RIP