This is a really horribly upsetting case, and the news stories are upsetting so content warning on the link.
What is the absolute final insult right now is the fact he's got a lighter sentence because he's 23.
https://news.sky.com/story/jill-barclay-man-23-who-raped-mum-of-two-in-aberdeen-and-burned-her-alive-given-lesser-sentence-due-to-young-age-12888501
'Jailing Bennett for life, Lord Arthurson said: "I have determined on the particular facts of this case that the notional headline punishment part of that sentence should sit at a period of 29 years.
"Taking into account, as I require to, the circumstances of your early plea and the engaged guidelines for the sentencing of offenders under 25, and approaching these discounting elements on an in cumulo basis, I fix the actual punishment part of your life sentence at a period of 24 years.'
Scotland, and the Scottish government: fuck you to hell.
Feminism: Sex & gender discussions
Man who raped, murdered woman given lighter sentence due to his age - distressing story
ArabeIIaScott · 24/05/2023 19:19
Jill Barclay: Man, 23, who raped mother-of-two in Aberdeen and burned her alive given lighter sentence due to young age
Jill Barclay, 47, was attacked by Rhys Bennett while walking home after a night out in Aberdeen last September. Judge Lord Arthurson told the murderer he would have been facing at least 29 years behind bars had it not been for his age and early guilty...
https://news.sky.com/story/jill-barclay-man-23-who-raped-mum-of-two-in-aberdeen-and-burned-her-alive-given-lesser-sentence-due-to-young-age-12888501
ResisterRex · 24/05/2023 19:39
This must be the Scotland where, if you're under 25 and commit murder, you're deemed too young to be treated like an adult. But where if you're wanting to socially or medically transition and you're under 25, you're magically an adult.
These?
www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/media/2171/sentencing-young-people-guideline-for-publication.pdf
"In assessing culpability, the court should have regard to the intellectual and emotional maturity of the young person at the time the offence was committed. Research shows that young people are not fully developed and may not have attained full maturity. As a result they:
are generally less able to exercise good judgement when making decisions;
are more vulnerable to negative influences such as peer pressure and exploitative
relationships;
may be less able to think about what could happen as a result of their actions, including the impact on any victim and others affected by those actions; and
may take more risks."
FKATondelayo · 24/05/2023 19:52
This is horrible. Horrible. Why does Scotland seem to produce so many of these evil men? Why does the Scottish system seem to take their side?
Why are we not rioting in the streets about this? This should be front page news. Her poor family, her poor kids.
Every day another terrible story about a woman who dies at the hands of a violent man...it's unbearable.
ResisterRex · 24/05/2023 19:39
This must be the Scotland where, if you're under 25 and commit murder, you're deemed too young to be treated like an adult. But where if you're wanting to socially or medically transition and you're under 25, you're magically an adult.
These?
www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/media/2171/sentencing-young-people-guideline-for-publication.pdf
"In assessing culpability, the court should have regard to the intellectual and emotional maturity of the young person at the time the offence was committed. Research shows that young people are not fully developed and may not have attained full maturity. As a result they:
are generally less able to exercise good judgement when making decisions;
are more vulnerable to negative influences such as peer pressure and exploitative
relationships;
may be less able to think about what could happen as a result of their actions, including the impact on any victim and others affected by those actions; and
may take more risks."
ArabeIIaScott · 24/05/2023 20:18
Small comfort, but there were, I believe, protests and marches in Aberdeen after it happened.
What absolutely gutted me though, was that two separate witnesses, at least, heard it happen, and did nothing.
If you hear a woman screaming, at the very least, call the fucking police.
FKATondelayo · 24/05/2023 19:52
This is horrible. Horrible. Why does Scotland seem to produce so many of these evil men? Why does the Scottish system seem to take their side?
Why are we not rioting in the streets about this? This should be front page news. Her poor family, her poor kids.
Every day another terrible story about a woman who dies at the hands of a violent man...it's unbearable.
MovinGroovinBarbie · 24/05/2023 20:23
Only three replies before somebody manages to shoehorn the trans debate in there. 🙄
ResisterRex · 24/05/2023 19:39
This must be the Scotland where, if you're under 25 and commit murder, you're deemed too young to be treated like an adult. But where if you're wanting to socially or medically transition and you're under 25, you're magically an adult.
These?
www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/media/2171/sentencing-young-people-guideline-for-publication.pdf
"In assessing culpability, the court should have regard to the intellectual and emotional maturity of the young person at the time the offence was committed. Research shows that young people are not fully developed and may not have attained full maturity. As a result they:
are generally less able to exercise good judgement when making decisions;
are more vulnerable to negative influences such as peer pressure and exploitative
relationships;
may be less able to think about what could happen as a result of their actions, including the impact on any victim and others affected by those actions; and
may take more risks."
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.