[fluff]

Let's hope the response to this is the start of a much needed advance:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7136269.stm

At least hunting aborigines is no longer legal.

 

[$tinkle]

not trying to be a smaht-ass, but isn't there some sort of board of tribal elders to whom appeal can be sought? looks like the judge may be in the clear, if this part is true

Judge Bradley later defended her sentencing, telling The Australian that the sentences were "appropriate" because they were the penalties sought by the prosecution.

 

[fluff]

not trying to be a smaht-ass, but isn't there some sort of board of tribal elders to whom appeal can be sought? looks like the judge may be in the clear, if this part is true

Perhaps this is the issue:

The offenders came from some of the most powerful and prominent Aboriginal families in Cape York, while the victim's family had a lower status, The Australian reported.

 

[valve bouncer]

I don't know if it's relevant in this case but sentencing of Aborigines in Australia often takes into account the tribal punishment the offenders can suffer. It's legally a grey area but courts do give it de-facto recognition in some cases.

 

[LordOpie]

not trying to be a smaht-ass, but isn't there some sort of board of tribal elders to whom appeal can be sought? looks like the judge may be in the clear, if this part is true

I don't know how it works over there, but a judge here can change the sentence to whatever he thinks is appropriate and has the responsibility to do so.

I know this first hand from a murder trial I sat on.

 

[$tinkle]

I know this first hand from a murder trial I sat on.

you sat in on the sentencing phase? i take it you weren't a juror. yikes.

 

[LordOpie]

you sat in on the sentencing phase? i take it you weren't a juror. yikes.

I was a juror and the district attorney kept the juror updated as it was one of the most upsetting case to not receive press in South Florida history. Ok, I exaggerate, but very difficult for the jury.

A high school student with good grades was murdered by two African-American kids (first degree hinted at) because he was Haitian-American. He was a good kid that was left to die over twenty minutes from two stab wounds to his lungs.

His mother was shattered.

I'll never serve on another jury. I'm done.