tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post5974276264117808109..comments2024-03-05T17:09:37.012+00:00Comments on Bill's Comment Page: Scotland sends a convicted murderer home "to die"Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10393265755614039206noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-68214257990065587792009-08-22T21:15:56.528+01:002009-08-22T21:15:56.528+01:00Hello James
In many criminal cases the evidence i...Hello James<br /><br />In many criminal cases the evidence is circumstantial and is open to question.<br /><br />I do not presume to know what the outcome of the trial might have been had the trial taken place before a jury, rather than before a panel of judges - I think because of the special circumstances of the trial having to take place on specially-designated 'Scottish soil' (courtesy of the Dutch government) in the Netherlands, rather in Scotland itself. However, that was the mechanism that was laboriously agreed with the Libyan authorities before they agreed to exradite Mr al-Megrahi to Scottish custody and trial under Scots Law.<br /><br />I wrote my view of the circumstances you alluded to in the second paragraph of my article. It is a fact that al-Megrahi withdrew his most recent appeal (previous appeals had proved unsuccessful), apparently because of his terminal illness. It is a horrible situation, I totally agree.<br /><br />Are all convicted criminals who are unfortunate enough to contract a terminal illness to be released from incareceration to 'die with their families'? That seems to be the implication of your view as I recall it in the Ronnie Biggs case. Should all very elderly convicts, even if not terminally ill, be released late in life? Why should the fact of a convict having contracted a dreadful disease give them special privileges which criminals who have also committed heinous crimes, but who will in the normal course of events expect to die in prison?<br /><br />None of these questions is easy. Perhaps we should consider some form of release for all elderly and infirm convicts who could in all probability not do anyone any harm in the future?<br /><br />Pending such a general change I don't see why people like al-Megrahi and Biggs should be treated differently than any other convict.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10393265755614039206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-76597329678033059552009-08-22T19:55:06.914+01:002009-08-22T19:55:06.914+01:00What do you say to the contention, Bill, not put b...What do you say to the contention, Bill, not put by me, incidentally but by my guest blogger, that the bomber may have had a miscarriage of justice?James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-57191608180775104902009-08-21T23:46:42.095+01:002009-08-21T23:46:42.095+01:00Just watched some skynews Bill. They are getting v...Just watched some skynews Bill. They are getting very excited about 'Son of Gadaffi' and some comment he seems to have made about the release being part of a trade deal. Skillful spin into an already febrile environment?Graisghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238279516517079956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-45404550120578896272009-08-21T22:26:38.070+01:002009-08-21T22:26:38.070+01:00Hi Graisg
Oh, I'm sure you're correct, no...Hi Graisg<br /><br />Oh, I'm sure you're correct, no-one should ever underestimate Salmond; he's a clever man and an astute politician. MacAskill on the other hand - well probably I'll keep my counsel on that as I already indicated my sentiments in my article. It will be victory in the SP on Monday, almost certainly, for them - if 'victory' in such a situation is entirely savoury.<br /><br />However, I think any Scottish minister, or the First Minister, trying to arrange an official visit to Washington and wanting top-level meetings will probably be given a rather brutal brush-off for a while. I didn't like the American attempt to interfere in our justice system either, even though I disagree strongly with the decision made, but it was our's to make. But I think it inevitable that the Americans will extract some kind of 'veangeance' in due course.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10393265755614039206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-14498102484543943282009-08-21T22:09:29.585+01:002009-08-21T22:09:29.585+01:00This will all have a small sequel in the Scottish ...This will all have a small sequel in the Scottish Parliament on Monday. I predict the opposition will make a mess of it, the First Minister is simply too smart for the lot of them. <br />Attack the SNP if you like but look how the media are showing pictures of Blair and Brown, smiling and shaking hands with Gadaffi!Graisghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238279516517079956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-70233357746231708582009-08-21T14:28:42.238+01:002009-08-21T14:28:42.238+01:00The most disgraceful part of his disgraceful prefo...The most disgraceful part of his disgraceful preformance over the past few weeks was, when asked if he sympathized with American opposition, he said summat along the lines of "we have different values".<br /><br />That alone should be enough to call for his resignation. The reason Americans were against this was that they lost *hundreds* of friends and relatives. But, it wasn't an aeroplane load of human beings blown-up at 31,000 feet - many regaining consciousness during the fall - it was just Americans.<br /><br />Subrosa, maybe this was a hot potato passed by Blair, but that's the bummer about political responsibility which the pygmies in the SNP Administration seem to think they can separate from influence.<br /><br />There was no requirement to release al-Megrahi. He lost his right to die with his family when he was convicted of murdering 270 people. He received compassion when he was not executed. He received compassion when he was not tortured or thrown into a rat-infested cell, as happened with those HIV doctors/nurses in Libya. He received compassion when he received medical care. He received compassion when his family was allowed to visit.<br /><br />As if I could not detest the petty-minded bigotry which the Snuppies tap into, and their appropriation of the Saltire, I was repulsed by the sight of its being flown at the hero's welcome he received in Tripoli.<br /><br />Funnily, Macaskill doesn't think he should <a href="http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/7089/Family_s_fury_over_MacAskill__snub_.html" rel="nofollow">meet</a> with the family of Kevin McLeod, almost certainly murdered in 1997 at Wick and which the Police botched in their investigation.<br /><br />A few years back, a previously respected buisnessman it the Highlands received a diagnosis of rapid-onset terminal cancer and went on a spree, molesting local kids in street. Perhaps Macaskill would have argued for a non-custodial sentance.<br /><br />He's a failed politican and a failed human being. He should resign.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-67049089141792891292009-08-21T09:40:15.426+01:002009-08-21T09:40:15.426+01:00It must be nice to be a really controversial crimi...It must be nice to be a really controversial criminal. You get all these special perks. But if you just happen to be a lowly drug dealer or thief, then nobody cares if you rot in prison. <br /><br />It makes a mockery of our justice system. One rule for one, the "visible" criminals, and one rule for another, the mediocre criminal. <br /><br />The only way someone should get out of prison is through serving their time, the probation system or by a judicial review (i.e. a successful appeal proving their innocence). If we are to release them on compassionate grounds then our prisons are pretty pointless. <br /><br />And you know my feelings on the SNP. ;)Jae Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17816403017115766947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-16840254298534538152009-08-21T08:14:23.174+01:002009-08-21T08:14:23.174+01:00Hi Subrosa
Oh Bill, why did you have to resort to...Hi Subrosa<br /><br /><i>Oh Bill, why did you have to resort to slagging off the SNP?</i><br /><br />Why? Because it resonates with my view of this sad (for Scotland) episode. I may not be an <i>SNP</i> supporter, but I like our Scottish Saltire and it pains me to see it being used in a triumphalist state-sponsored rally in Libya for a criminal who has been released on 'compassionate' grounds. Anyone could have foreseen this happening.<br /><br />I do not agree with the whole concept of releasing a criminal purely on grounds of 'compassion'. My view in the Biggs case was precisely the same.<br /><br />Having listened to both Mr MacAskill yesterday and Mr Salmond today (on the radio) I will say this, though: it was a very difficult decision and would have been unpopular in some quarters whatever choice had been made. This is clear. It really all boiled down to whom one wished to upset and whose views one wished to favour.<br /><br />The only grounds, and overwhelmingly strong grounds they would have been, for releasing him should have been if Megrahi had won an appeal against his conviction, a route which had already been tried on his behalf and failed.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10393265755614039206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3428477.post-21100453535588647202009-08-21T01:42:51.392+01:002009-08-21T01:42:51.392+01:00Oh Bill, why did you have to resort to slagging of...Oh Bill, why did you have to resort to slagging off the SNP? If it had been a tory or libdem government in Holyrood they would have said exactly the same.<br /><br />The whole business is the result of Blair signing the PTA.<br /><br />You didn't mention MacAskill behaving like the Rev Jolly on a good day - so I will!subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.com