If you're arguing about the severity of the sentence itself, well I'd certainly disagree with you. The bloke made a shocking mistake and needed to be punished for it, but definitely NOT for life.
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[Albion] Luke McCormick back at Plymouth
- Thread starter pornomagboy
- Start date
albion534
Well-known member
he killled 2 kids, out in what, 4 years is ok for you?
Where did I say that? I said that life WASN'T ok for me.
You can't go banging up people for life for every dreadful mistake that happens.
albion534
Well-known member
no, you cant, but when your plastered, and smash into a car killing 2 children, he should get a lot more than what he recieved, he didnt set out to kill 2 kids, but he set out knowing he was over the limit
If he is rehabilitated and will not offend again then I would not have an issue with this personally. How you demonstrate these two points I'm not sure though.
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
But then what would you suggest is an acceptable amount of time to sit in jail for killing 2 kids?
I certainly can't quantify it or put a set amount of time on it, which makes saying what is "too little" or "enough" very very difficult.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he served "enough" time, I just find it difficult to come to a conclusion of what is enough. I suppose I have this issue with most acts of sentencing.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Maybe its the victims parents opinion that should count more than anyone else's
I find myself agreeing here. The reason drink-driving laws exist is because of road accidents. If you are over the limit and drive you know this is against the law and it is very clear cut, unlike say being tired. You also know there is a chance you might hurt someone. If you drive whilst drunk I have little sympathy if you cause an accident whatever the circumstances.
I agree, 4 years is probably too short. My own moral compass leads me to think about 7 years would have been about right. But it's worth bearing in mind, that half this board have probably somehow transgressed behind the wheel to some extent at some point in their lives, maybe more - significantly over the alchohol limit (perhaps despite not realising), driving without insurance, driving 20mph faster than the speed limit, texting or taking a call whilst behind the wheel. I bet you the number is high, and certainly higher than people who would care to admit.
Without trying to sound too much like a wooly liberal, what good would it do to bang an otherwise normal and contributary member of society to a lifetime behind bars for what was a (terrible) mistake? His life is also ruined as it is - if that was me, I know I'd struggle to live with myself.
I think it should be objective and devoid of emotion. So no I do not agree.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Seems a fair bit of emotion in some of the comments on here
On what? On whether the offence is too lenient or whether he should be allowed to play football?
As HT says, the law needs to be set without being clouded by emotion.
I agree. Which is why sentencing should be kept the way it is. Whilst the UK is not perfect I think it is almost as good as it can be and part of this reason is that politics and public opinion are generally kept at bay.
Do we know what the victims have said? I cannot be bothered to trawl a load of what will no doubt be tabloid newspaper websites.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,230
People may think he should have received a stiffer sentence than 7 years (fair enough), but that's what he got. I don't imagine for one moment he isn't haunted by it, or wish he could turn the clock back and make that decision not to have driven that night. It's a cross he'll have to bear forever.
My point earlier was more that we don't pay any attention to what most other rehabilitated criminals do with their lives on release, so why should McCormick be treated any differently? It's not his fault that his profession happens to be something (a) fun and (b) in the public eye. Accountants go back to work when they get out of prison for such offences, so do childminders, chefs, McDonald's managers, kids party magicians, tree surgeons, candlestick-makers and so on.
Are people suggesting the legal system should come up with a list of only the least fun jobs that convicted drink drivers are permitted to do? That they could only take up jobs as binmen and bricklayers and toilet cleaners (no offence to anyone who does that)?
My point earlier was more that we don't pay any attention to what most other rehabilitated criminals do with their lives on release, so why should McCormick be treated any differently? It's not his fault that his profession happens to be something (a) fun and (b) in the public eye. Accountants go back to work when they get out of prison for such offences, so do childminders, chefs, McDonald's managers, kids party magicians, tree surgeons, candlestick-makers and so on.
Are people suggesting the legal system should come up with a list of only the least fun jobs that convicted drink drivers are permitted to do? That they could only take up jobs as binmen and bricklayers and toilet cleaners (no offence to anyone who does that)?
albion534
Well-known member
That was my point, im not saying if he wasnt plastered, 4 years is ok, but the fact he drove home drunk, thats my issue.
i have to admit, i have never driven over the limit, the most i have ever consumed is 4 weak shandys over a night, 3/4 lemonade in the glass, and i dont tend to go out if i have work the next day, as, although im only 24, i fooking hate hangovers and usually have to drive vans at work, and dont want to get caught, otherwise ill lose my license
I guess this depends on the nature of the crime? Not that he is a magician, I cannot see for example Jimmy Tarbuck getting a gig at Butlins again.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
This is what i was referring to.....i'm not suggesting they should have the final say...but whilst we all have our opinions it would seem theres is the one that i would like to hear (apols if i didnt make myself clear).
I wonder how far he planned to drive? So many people think "it's only a mile or two, I'll be OK", not realising that 90% of journeys are for this sort of distance anyway.
Indeed 30 years ago this was very normal thinking. Back in the 90s, most drink drivers were middle aged people who grew up learning to drive in a different time where the roads were half empty and didn't think anything of it.
And good for you staying within the law - but you'd be an idiot not to if your livelihood depended on your driving license!
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,230
Needless to say, they find everything very difficult to deal with, I should imagine not least because every time Luke McCormick makes a move, one of the tabloid newspapers rings them up to establish just how devastated they are. I remember after he was released, he was photographed sitting in a pub garden with a small beer, and the Sun (I think) was straight on the phone to the Peak parents to prod them for a cheap quote.
Horrible.