I wouldn't be a copper in WA for anything.

marki · #1 14-03-2009, 04:54 PM

Somethings going very wrong with the law courts in WA. On the front cover of todays West is a story of a serious assault on a young officer which has left him paralysed on one side of his body. He was headbutted from behind whilst trying to stop a fight at one of the local pubs. The courts have cleared the three men attacking the officer of any wrong doing meaning the officer involved will only see justice if he sues the pants of these thugs. They even had video footage of the assault leaving no doubt which makes it even worse. Many West aussies are not happy.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=129997

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=129979

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=129987

Yesterday 24 policemen quit in disgust. I really don't blame them.

Ciao Mark

pgc hunter · #2 14-03-2009, 05:41 PM

Sounds like the "Justice system" found anywhere here in Australia. Note the quotations.

PCH (Paul) · #3 14-03-2009, 10:32 PM

Yeh, me neither Mark. These boys appear to have been really badly let down it would seem.

And yet, what was it that convinced the majority of the jury members that this was the correct outcome? Do they now know key issues about this case that we don't get shown on the news. Something must have caused them to form the not guilty opinion!

And let's be honest, - there's something of a trial by media going on here. And I well remember how right we all were in the Azaria Chamberlain fiasco back in the 70's.

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this though.

Just my thoughts.

garyp · #4 14-03-2009, 10:35 PM

what an upside down world we live in.

Criminals are the "victims" these days.

I hear they are designing new prisons with underfloor heating now while the rest of us shiver through the winter.

PCH (Paul) · #5 14-03-2009, 10:47 PM

Well Garyp,

in Aus and NZ we are all literally upside down. So does that mean the justice system here is the right way up after all ?

Just a thought

marki · #6 14-03-2009, 10:57 PM

I agree about the trial by media in this one paper town but no matter what the circumstances a policeman doing his duty should be supported by the courts. Imagine if they just start standing back and do nothing. That second incident last night didn't help either. I read in the local rag that shire councils were no longer willing to pursue graffiti hoons through the criminal courts but would now consider civil action in which they can sue the sods for damages. Sign of the times I guess

.

Ciao Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCH

Yeh, me neither Mark. These boys appear to have been really badly let down it would seem.

And yet, what was it that convinced the majority of the jury members that this was the correct outcome? Do they now know key issues about this case that we don't get shown on the news. Something must have caused them to form the not guilty opinion!

And let's be honest, - there's something of a trial by media going on here. And I well remember how right we all were in the Azaria Chamberlain fiasco back in the 70's.

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this though.

Just my thoughts.

scarper (Mart) · #7 15-03-2009, 12:19 AM

I am ashamed to be living in Perth this is just disgusting.

Analog6 (Odille) · #8 15-03-2009, 06:32 AM

The legal system in criminal cases has always seemed to me to be screwy.

If you rob a bank or defraud a company you are more likely to get a long jail term than for rape, assault, paedophilia or murder, Something wrong when that happens.

I have the greatest admiration for all our emergency services people, police, fire and ambos. I would not do their job for quids, and I agree they need all our support. Imagine what the civil 'climate' would be like without them!

To my eye, the courts rarely give them the backup they need and deserve to enforce the law, the low and inappropriate sentencing being a case in point. The case outlined here is an glaring example. A cop trying to do his job in the best way he knows how is brutally and unjustifiably attacked by drunken louts and permanenelt injured, and they get OFF! Give me a break.

And one of the other cops gave CPR to one of these hoons and saved his life during the incident. Lord knows what the judge was thinking, if he was thinking at all.

There was a recent one in NSW where a man climbed into a window and sexually assaulted a 5 yr old girl and at the recent trial the sentence was 2 years suspended sentence! Now I realise we get a very slanted view from the media, but if they are going to release the crime and sentrnce data, they need to tell us WHY/HOW any judge came up with what seems like such a patently unjust sentence.

I don't know the answer to this very vexing and long standing problem, but something needs to be done to standardise the criminal justice system a bit more.

TrevorW · #9 15-03-2009, 09:41 AM

It costs us $100000 a year to keep a prisoner in gaol. I could live in a five star hotel for a year for a lot less.

On this case it appears that the police invoked retaliation from the offenders when an officer used unnecessary force as detailed in video evidence.

I do not condone assault on police but if like USA they resort to brutality to restrain an offender then they suffer the consequences.

The laws are too blame here. Laws and prisons should reflect the contempt we have for people who behave badly in society but there are always cases of extenuated circumstances.

marki · #10 15-03-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

It costs us $100000 a year to keep a prisoner in gaol. I could live in a five star hotel for a year for a lot less.

On this case it appears that the police invoked retaliation from the offenders when an officer used unnecessary force as detailed in video evidence.

But what price do we put on human life Trev??? My fear is that the police will just stop doing their job and then where will we be?. I have not seen it written any where that these three men were willing to go quietly with the police and if that evidence is shown then I would certainly change my mind in that the police action was over the top. There are so many brawls occuring at this pub now that it has become a weekly event. Families attend for nights out and sooner or later a child will be hurt, then what? From my perspective if it costs $100000 a year to keep a thug off the street its cheap and money well spent compared to the possible consequences. The police in this state are being let down so frequently by the criminal justice system that they themselves are considering civil action against thugs rather then leaving it to the courts.

Ciao Mark

PCH (Paul) · #11 15-03-2009, 01:00 PM

Well, the CPS is not known in the trade as the "Criminal Protection Service" for nothing !

TrevorW · #12 15-03-2009, 01:03 PM

Mark I agree but what we don't want to see is a repeat of what happens in USA, what we need are stronger laws and punishment thats a deterrance not seen as a holiday camp.

marki · #13 15-03-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Mark I agree but what we don't want to see is a repeat of what happens in USA, what we need are stronger laws and punishment thats a deterrance not seen as a holiday camp.

Agree Trev. I think the root of all of this problem is the limp wristed approach taken by judges in this state concerning attacks on police officers as well as citizens. People carrying out these attacks know there is little to be frightend of so they keep doing it in greater numbers. The poor coppers are getting assaulted every day and after a while will tend to react in an over the top manner in an effort protect themselves. I know I would. The same thing is happening in schools where teachers will not break up a fight for fear of legal action against them. Many teachers are also being assaulted by students each year as I am sure you are aware. A collegue of mine was punched in the face by a student when he was working at one of the more challenging public schools in the eastern districts of Perth. The kid was high on amphetamines but did not even recieve a suspension. My mate left the public system as you would expect but it is this type of thing that encourages kids to take their behaviours into adult life, there are no consequences. It appears we are on a steep slippery slope to kaos unless the parliment gets it's act together and passes mandatory sentences for aggravated assault.

Ciao Mark

hilb · #14 15-03-2009, 01:41 PM

It is indeed an appalling and shocking outcome. It has generated huge amounts of discussion across the web and the majority weighs heavily in favour of a guilty verdict. It begs the question who the hell were these jurors and how could they possibly have come to their decision to let these thugs go free? This business of the coppers using "unnescessary" force is a load of rubbish. If the police show up to break up a fight, you stop fighting, that simple. If the cops have to wade in and beat the crap out of you, then bad luck.

They always say, if you are innocent opt for a bench trial, if you're guilty choose the jury trial, you are bound to get away with it.

marki · #15 15-03-2009, 01:54 PM

The latest news on this case is that the constable who has been disabled cannot even take action in a civil court as the case has been tried in the criminal courts and the defendants found not guilty

. This is in the face of video evidence showing the guy running up behind the officer and head butting him. Why would you bother with the criminal justice system. Better just to sue the pants off the @#$%^&*.

marki · #16 15-03-2009, 11:27 PM

And another one. This time paralysed from the waist down. That makes 3 attacks this weekend alone

.

pgc hunter · #17 16-03-2009, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Mark I agree but what we don't want to see is a repeat of what happens in USA, what we need are stronger laws and punishment thats a deterrance not seen as a holiday camp.

I agree. The "justice system" here is absolute rubbish and a complete joke. Infact, it's a surprise they don't take the criminals to "prison" (read: hotel room) in a limo. Very ironic that the country which once had the world's toughest penal colonies now gives criminals the kid glove treatment.

Law and order is one thing the USA have gotten right.