An excellent analysis. The posturing by politicians, including some who should know better, as well as the manufactured outrage by media commentators needs to be balanced by some saner voices
Spot on again. Perhaps the stocks. Or the reintroduction of the death penalty for those who refuse to come to court. Which of course would give rise to a clamour for the death penalty for those seeking to dodge it by the artifice of attending their sentencing hearing.
It must, in all seriousness, be heart-rending for the victims and families when their "day in court" is diluted by non-attendance. But the solution is not yet more performance.
This is a difficult question. Whilst there is something a little queasy about politicians demanding that the newly convicted must, in addition to receiving a sentence, attend the closing, retributive act of the courtroom drama, it’s also the case that the public can attend the court, and the press can report proceedings, because justice “must be seen to be done”. I can see the case for making the convicted person face their victims as the sentence is announced. But I would fear the creep of wider, more sensationalist consequences. We now have limited broadcast of the court in some cases, strictly confined to the judge. But the clamour for more might become irresistible.
Yes, this is a testing question. Personally, I see no means to physically force someone to listen that is in the unlikely event that someone can be dragged or carried into court. Thinking of US courts I guess thats a possibility. If the stick doesn’t work what about the carrot? Minor improvements in cell conditions, eg a TV other slightly more pleasant options? Sounds sadly, rather like a pick list which doesn’t sound right either... sad, very sad to abhorrent in this particular case that the criminal having been convicted didn’t hear the victims appalling statements. Personally I deemed it respectful to listen on R4 to the statements to share their grief in a minor way
An excellent analysis. The posturing by politicians, including some who should know better, as well as the manufactured outrage by media commentators needs to be balanced by some saner voices
Spot on again. Perhaps the stocks. Or the reintroduction of the death penalty for those who refuse to come to court. Which of course would give rise to a clamour for the death penalty for those seeking to dodge it by the artifice of attending their sentencing hearing.
It must, in all seriousness, be heart-rending for the victims and families when their "day in court" is diluted by non-attendance. But the solution is not yet more performance.
This is a difficult question. Whilst there is something a little queasy about politicians demanding that the newly convicted must, in addition to receiving a sentence, attend the closing, retributive act of the courtroom drama, it’s also the case that the public can attend the court, and the press can report proceedings, because justice “must be seen to be done”. I can see the case for making the convicted person face their victims as the sentence is announced. But I would fear the creep of wider, more sensationalist consequences. We now have limited broadcast of the court in some cases, strictly confined to the judge. But the clamour for more might become irresistible.
Yes, this is a testing question. Personally, I see no means to physically force someone to listen that is in the unlikely event that someone can be dragged or carried into court. Thinking of US courts I guess thats a possibility. If the stick doesn’t work what about the carrot? Minor improvements in cell conditions, eg a TV other slightly more pleasant options? Sounds sadly, rather like a pick list which doesn’t sound right either... sad, very sad to abhorrent in this particular case that the criminal having been convicted didn’t hear the victims appalling statements. Personally I deemed it respectful to listen on R4 to the statements to share their grief in a minor way