If you where a juror on this case....

[robtex]

CNN reports:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/13/texas.beating.ap/index.html

In the article 4 guys punch a disabled man, load him in a truck and dump him on a mound of fireants semi conscious. They got convicted are going to get 30 days in county jail plus probation. The term of probation is not listed. In this case there is no doubt to their guilt as far as I can see. What do you feel is an appropiate sentence and why?

Oh as a footnote, on a 30 day sentence if they do weekends and behave they will likey serve 10-15 of those days probably closer to 10. How it works in texas, is you check in at county for 24 hours at a time, or mulitples thereof, and check out till next time. So for instance if you get 30 days and you get two for one on a weekend you go in friday at 7.pm. (or some other evening time) and you get out at sunday 7pm till the next weekend on time slot you reserve. (dont laugh i am not making this up). If you do 48 hours and they are weekends you get 2 for one or 96 hours of credit. aka 4 days. At the end of 1/2 your time you are eligable for release if behavior was observed to be good. In laymens terms 30 days in jail (very different from prision) they might do roughly 10 days real time.

So knowing that what do you think of this verdict based on facts presented in the article?

 

[Majikthise]

This a blatant case of racial bigotry and assault ,and you can add to that the fact that Johnson was also taken advantage of because of his mental state.I find this sentence convoluted and full of legal double speak.These are adults fully responsible for their actions who commited these crimes, not youngsters, and they should be sentenced to the full extent of the law.Peer pressure my foot!These individuals need an extensive battery of racial sensitivity training classes and maybe a "behind the woodshed " session of how do you like it.They will just blow this off and learn to be more careful about covering their tracks in the future.

 

[michel]

Sadly, I am naive enough to think that this sort of racist abuse was a thing of the past. I find the sentences passed to be wholy inappropriate - I am not sure what sentence ought to have been passed. One way to look at it is that the 4 guys were guilty of grievious bodily harm, if not attempted manslaughter (if such a crime exists) - I think not attempted murder.

 

[Melody]

So knowing that what do you think of this verdict based on facts presented in the article?

I think it's typical good 'ol boy justice and sorry to see that it's still alive and kicking.

I think they should've received at least a year's jail time....and I'm being lenient.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

Is this the democracy we are so proud of? This is a most ridiculous example of "justice in America." I said something in another thread about a chain only being as strong as it's weakest link. Well this is a perfect example of the weak links we have in our judicial system.

We can only rest assured that what comes around goes around, and by the law of Karma, God will give back that which was sown.

 

[robtex]

I would start by saying I don't see how the district attorney Lee, came to the conclusion that only one punch resulted in a near death experience and to qoute the article, " can't walk without help or speak clearly". I get the idea the group beat the tar out of him with many strikes. I also, from the article, get the idea it was premediatated. Premediation usually garners heavier sentences in the courts as opposed to crimes of passion.

In Texas the least heavly felony is a state jail felony than it goes from 3rd to first. I am glad that they did not knock it down to a misdeameanor. I don't know what the terms of their probation are but I am hoping they got 300-400 hours each and 10 years of probation but I get the idea from the jail time they probably got a lot lighter probation term.

I understand why the defense attorneys would opt for jury trials, which is their right, under the law, but even with the small amount of info in the article the wickness of the crimes come through. I do realize we have a jail overcrowding problem in Texas but I would have like to seen them get 2-5 anyway which would have put them in for a year minumum considering good behavior.

While the boys records may have been clear before this incident their is obviously a predator lurking in all of them to have gone through that length to carry out their "fun" for the night. I hope the community supervisons in that county keeps really close tabs on them espcially monitoring their "partying habits" via drug and alcohol testing.