posted on October 20, 2003 10:02:02 AM new
I appreciate you making that clear, fenix.
Looks like maybe the 'fear' of the family's revenge might be working to deter some, even though here we argue that facing the 'threat' of the death penalty doesn't act as a deterance.
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I know one case that really touched my heart was the woman who's son had been molested. She brought a gun into court to 'take her justice'. And she shot him. Ellie was her name I believe.
Another case was the same thing. A father shot the guy that molested his son in the head, as the molester was being taken into court.
And, of course, they both had to face a jury themselves.
Anyway...I know my first thought was that's not the way our system works. But boy I should could feel, and understand, their rage and want for revenge.
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posted on October 20, 2003 11:35:03 PM new
I couldn’t find a link but.
As recently as about a month an Aboriginal Australian Male (consistent with certain Aboriginal Traditional laws) was speared through both eyes for the rape of a woman.
I don’t know the details, but Australian Law does recognise and accept ‘some’ traditional laws, permitting Aboriginal communities to dispense justice in their own way and will even take ‘traditional’ consideration when judging Aboriginals in our national courts.
I have ‘heard of’ cases where a person that has digressed against a tribal ‘elder’ (not all old people are judged ‘elders’ it must be earned) has been forced to stand a distance from the ‘offended’ party who then proceed to throw spears at the offending person’s legs.
Good Luck! If you can dodge a spear from a man that has been throwing them at sparrows since the age of 3.
I have heard that ‘traditionally’ there are cases in which the family of the ‘criminal’ can also be held to answer for the actions of the perpetrator of the crime.
This forces responsibility on the family too.
In our National court system now, there are instances (eg. murder and rape)where criminals may be forces to listen too address by the victims of crime or their families.
This is said to be proving to be an increased deterrent to repeat crimes.
But obviously ‘shame’ will not work on all people.
I think the 'heavy hand' of 'jailhouse justice' may be serving our children well!
