29 August 2013

Northbourne murderers plead guilty

| johnboy
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The ABC has the news that the two Northbourne flats denizens who killed Liang Zhao as he tried to walk home in 2011 have plead guilty:

Two men have pleaded guilty in the ACT Supreme Court over the 2011 murder of Liang Zhao, 27, on Northbourne Avenue in Canberra.

Taylor Lewis Schmitt, 22, and a 19 year old man who can not be named were to face trial over the matter next week.

Mr Zhao’s body was found outside the Northbourne Flats in Braddon after he suffered severe head injuries.

Police say he was ferociously attacked while walking home from the Jolimont Centre after arriving on an interstate bus.

His wallet containing $21 and a mobile phone were taken.

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Lookout Smithers11:04 pm 30 Aug 13

IrishPete said :

Lookout Smithers said :

bundah said :

So they have pleaded guilty to his brutal heinous unnecessary murder maybe hoping for some leniency? Stuff ’em, lock ’em up and thrown away the key never to walk in the community again!!

Pleading guilty entitles any defendant to leniency as per the purpose of sentencing ect. It also indicates a level of remorse. We would assume you meant to say that all murders are unnecessary Bundah you big brainiac. I want to remind you that by entering a plea of guilty, we, the community, are saved having to fund the cost of a trial and are therefore at a benefit for it.

Pleading guilty after two years, and just a few days before the trial won’t get them much discount, and if the judge gives them a life sentence, there won’t be any discount anyway.

It makes me wonder why they would plead guilty so late. Dodgy backroom deal with the DPP perhaps? DPP isn’t going to ask for Life?

I believe any loss of life should result in a life sentence; not necessarily life in prison, but life on parole with the constant risk of returning to prison if you don’t stay squeaky clean. Probably the same for serious child abuse and other sexual offences, which ruin lives.

IP

Any sentence, discounted or otherwise is individually determined by the Judge. I believe loss of life doesn’t currently exist in the crimes act by that definition. I also believe every case of serious crime is different and should be treated according to the facts. Prison hasn’t made crime vanish, nor is there evidence to suggest that criminal acts are deterred by the use of it. There has to be punishment, no question. As to how we as a people could prevent criminally minded behaviour from occurring is a hard one to answer.

Lookout Smithers said :

bundah said :

So they have pleaded guilty to his brutal heinous unnecessary murder maybe hoping for some leniency? Stuff ’em, lock ’em up and thrown away the key never to walk in the community again!!

Pleading guilty entitles any defendant to leniency as per the purpose of sentencing ect. It also indicates a level of remorse. We would assume you meant to say that all murders are unnecessary Bundah you big brainiac. I want to remind you that by entering a plea of guilty, we, the community, are saved having to fund the cost of a trial and are therefore at a benefit for it.

Pleading guilty after two years, and just a few days before the trial won’t get them much discount, and if the judge gives them a life sentence, there won’t be any discount anyway.

It makes me wonder why they would plead guilty so late. Dodgy backroom deal with the DPP perhaps? DPP isn’t going to ask for Life?

I believe any loss of life should result in a life sentence; not necessarily life in prison, but life on parole with the constant risk of returning to prison if you don’t stay squeaky clean. Probably the same for serious child abuse and other sexual offences, which ruin lives.

IP

Lookout Smithers6:22 pm 30 Aug 13

bundah said :

So they have pleaded guilty to his brutal heinous unnecessary murder maybe hoping for some leniency? Stuff ’em, lock ’em up and thrown away the key never to walk in the community again!!

Pleading guilty entitles any defendant to leniency as per the purpose of sentencing ect. It also indicates a level of remorse. We would assume you meant to say that all murders are unnecessary Bundah you big brainiac. I want to remind you that by entering a plea of guilty, we, the community, are saved having to fund the cost of a trial and are therefore at a benefit for it.

Jivrashia said :

Well, I for one am surprised, and relieved, that they didn’t try the man-slaughter plea based on, say, their underprivileged life.
Or even worse, the “we were bored.” argument that some numpties in Oklahoma are trying to pull.

Was Liang a Chinese national? If so would it be worth considering having the Chinese government do the honours, like an eye for an eye?

There should have been questions asked of the parents as to the environment they provided for their offspring, with particular emphasis on any expression therein of race-based hatred.

Well, I for one am surprised, and relieved, that they didn’t try the man-slaughter plea based on, say, their underprivileged life.
Or even worse, the “we were bored.” argument that some numpties in Oklahoma are trying to pull.

Was Liang a Chinese national? If so would it be worth considering having the Chinese government do the honours, like an eye for an eye?

or maybe the evidence against them is so overwhelmingly obvious they don’t possibly have a choice…?

Same as the mongrel Justin monfries did. Not because he was remorseful, but because he was totally and utterly busted at the scene.

So they have pleaded guilty to his brutal heinous unnecessary murder maybe hoping for some leniency? Stuff ’em, lock ’em up and thrown away the key never to walk in the community again!!

I seriously hope the 19yo gets a reasonable sentence. Getting away with murder because you’re one year away from turning 18 would be BS.

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