Scumbag that killed Clea Rose bailed for rehab

Normal people don’t steal cars, drive like lunatics, try to out-run the police, and run over pedestrians. People who do these things are CRIMINALS.

how can anyone try to defend this man who stole a car, stole it! from someone who probably liked their car, was paying it off, came out to the car park and it was gone… and then he used it to create mayhem and ended up killling a young person.

This is not what normal people do and it’s indefensible. People who try to defend the person and the things he did are condoning what he did.

Normal people find this kind of stuff weird and incomprehensible.

And honestly – in the end it was an entirely predictable accident that was HIS fault.

And people do not just move on from violent deaths in the family.

I suggest your friend try to move on by giving up drinking, and not driving.

You didn’t read the coronial report did you….. Police weren’t in a high speed pursuit of that vehicle. The police vehicle had only just turned around when the offending vehicle went barrelling into the interchange.

In the own words of the the boy driving the vehicle, he saw the police patches on the shirts as he drove PAST the unmarked police vehicle and he drove off of his own accord, at high speed into the interchange. Police did not initiate a pursuit of that vehicle and did not cause that horiffic accident. The police vehicle was some distance behind the offending vehicle, that far behind that they did not see the accident and when they did drive into the interchange was doing so at far lessor speed.

Get your facts right first before going off on a rant about it being a “huge high speed police chase”.

Do yourself a favour and read the coronial report.

I think you should all give this boy and his family a break. When the incident happened do you think a young teenage boy like him self would have thought of the consequences like such because not many boys that age would? They obviously didn’t realize what the dangers were. You may be thinking if he never stole the car clea wouldn’t have died. But then think if the police didn’t make a huge high speed police chase they wouldn’t have been speeding and hit the innocent. You could go on for years arguing over this incident but in the end it was all an accident, nobodies fault. It’s just a tragedy that cannot be erased. He cannot go back and change what was done and you people have to stop judging him for what he did. If you stopped and took the time to think about it and then got to know this boy you would realize deep down he’s a good kid who just unfortunately made a mistake that’s irreversible. I say get over it yes it was sad about clea and very unfortunate. But life does go on and this boy does deserve another chance and most of all a break. If it was someone you were close to, you’d give them another chance without thinking about it. It’s the fact you go off the media and judge someone you hardly know. It’s not completely fair. And I’m sure Clea’s life was taken for a reason obviously god new it was time and he needed her. This is life and this is how it goes and you can’t get all caught up over something like this for this long. Everybody makes mistakes in life EVERYONE, some are worse then others but you all do. If you continue arguing over this whole incident obviously you didn’t really take in what I’ve said. Think about it. There’s someone out there your close too, I can guarantee that hasn’t always done everything the ‘right’ way and still you stick by them. So stop going against other people just because you don’t know them that well. I say R.I.P Clea. And good luck to the boy for the future I hope everyone gives you a break and lets you move on in life with peace. Its time to stop all this. Let everyone move on.

Bungle said :

I think blaming the parents for kids behaviour is a bit of a cop out as well. It sometimes might come into it but not in every situation. and I don’t know the kid or family in this situation so who knows if it’s the mum’s fault.

I think a child’s peers are more influential than parents…

Sorry for the double post….but this quote above is on the button, peers are a VERY big influence.

Alyce,

Some people here can be somewhat forceful in their opinions here, so take them with a grain of salt.

If you and the other siblings have turned out fine. That is fantasic and a credit to yourselves. I am a believer that there can a “bad egg” in the bunch (I see it all the time) Alot of the time, parent or parents are a big reason for the way a child/youth has turned out whether that be from the home life/environment or the lack of discipline. I do also believe that there are instances that a parent has done everthing they LAWFULLY can but one of their offspring has gone astray, more likely from the peer group they are hanging with. (parents cannot be with their kids 24/7, nor can they imprison them either) This may be the case for your families situation, I don’t know. In saying this, a parent will always bear some % of blame regardless of the situation.

The problem is the “mistake” he made was not a “little” one. It is the “ultimate” mistake that a person can make, it took someones life. In committing this kind of mistake, there will always be heavy critisism, that is un-avoidable. I could say without hesitation that if I had of committed this “mistake” my life/behaviour would have changed the very second Clea was hit. I think that is the big sticking point for other people here, is the fact that he seems to still be getting in trouble, which may indicate that this “mistake” has not been learnt from?

I can’t say I’ll ever make a ‘mistake’ as big as deliberately driving through a bus interchange at a million miles an hour without due regard for the people who walk in there……..and then kill someone.

You have no idea as to what it takes to be a parent because you aren’t one

I think blaming the parents for kids behaviour is a bit of a cop out as well. It sometimes might come into it but not in every situation. and I don’t know the kid or family in this situation so who knows if it’s the mum’s fault.

I think a child’s peers are more influential than parents…

wateva i have tried to explain to you but you are not worthy of my time next time you make a mistake make sure you blame it on your mum due to “bad parrenting” i turned out fine and so did the rest of my siblings you can say what you want. when has he EVER asked for your sympathy you just have nothing better to do than WRECK a family …
oh so what was my mother suppossed to do quit her job and go to school everyday with him to MAKE sure he came home you obvehisly have NO idea what it is like to be a parent. you know when you loose something and you cant find it? thats wat it was like for my mum we looked for him but people just lied so now tell me how was she supposed to stop him from doing what he was doing?

alyce, at the end of the day his mother is a part of all this, whether you like it or not. As his legal guardian, and he was a minor at the time, she too shares some of the responsibility. So you can say ‘she has lived with SOOO much’ and other bollocks like that but it’s really a COP OUT to irresponsible parenting.

The point of the matter is: this idiot killed someone by being a tool behind the wheel and now wants our sympathy? Bugger off.

The Police don’t exist to keep one individual in line Alyce. Lets lay blame fairly and squarely where it lies. Any attempts by you to try and sway the broader public through anonymous postings won’t help. You are in a what they call in the classics a ‘no win’ position.

Don’t bother with how tough someone’s life is/was, how hard it is/was for everyone in your family and how someone else should have done something about it. Tonight the Rose family has an empty seat at the family dinner table. That wasn’t you or your family’s fault, but lets remember who’s fault it was. You trying to mitigate it is useless

just because one person in our family went off the tracks doesnt mean that we are all criminals. Clea had her life taken from her, her mother and father had a daughter and (possably) grand children taken from them, her sister had her sister and neices and nephews (possably) taken from her and her fiance had a wife taken from him, now thats the worst that it could ever get, but you need to understand that it was a MISTAKE its not like he tried to hit her. And whats this that i probably condone his behaviour? why does his behaviour have something to do with me its not like i was in the back seat yelling “DRIVE, DRIVE”. Our family tried to help him as much as we could but the only times we ever got to see him was on his birthday, christmas or jail. Dont try to bring my mother in this she is probably more of a parent then any of you will ever be she has lived with SOOO much in her life time leave her out of it.

Probably part of their ‘family values’ (cough) Special G.

And yes, it was amusing that she thought no one on here would have had any dealings with the offender….

el – It’s all part of the rehab process – give him a licence so then there is one less offence he will commit when stealing his next car.

Resounding silence from miss Alyce – probably because she condones the behaviour. To her credit her first post was fairly well written. They went rapidly downhill from there.

Canberra is a small place, everyone knows everyone else.

el, if the right people cared, he wouldn’t be on the streets at all, let alone be able to apply for a licence.

Am I the only one concerned that this sh!t-bag is legally able to go for his licence just a couple of years after this event?

Surely a fully licenced driver would’ve copped a driving ban of several years had they been the reckless party in the Clea Rose incident?

They also always defend their rellies as having ‘accidentally’ caused the problem.

They don’t seem to make a distinction between – a real accident (eg – someone fainting into the path of a car), and a very predictable accident – eg – running a red light, or speeding through a pedestrian mall.

It is noteable that the various characters who come on here to defend the criminal behaviour of their friends/relatives write with great anger towards everyone and everything…. except their criminal friend/relative. They usually write incoherently, swearing a lot, using text-speak, and attacking rather than arguing.

This just goes to reinforce the usual view of the home life and associations of people who become criminals young, of living in an envionment where anti-social behaviour is the norm, antipathy to normal society is fostered, and future criminals are trained and supported.

alyce – while I respect your wilingness to defend a family member I think you are fighting a battle here you can’t win. He has never taken any responsibility for his actions. Bragging and going out getting drunk are indicators that he hasn’t learnt from what should have been the most sobering experience of his pathetic life.

Mum was at home worrying? Ok, I’ll buy that, but it is obvious to me that he has never had effective parental control exerted over him in his short life – why is she or any of the family starting to lose sleep over him now? Is the concern for him or the community? Do you, as I do, expect him to make another massive mistake again? You wanted Police to hunt him down? Sorry but I can’t believe that for a minute.

“i suppose no one in the news or the paper heard about the time someone in our family went to the police station and told them that he needed to be found BEFORE he killed someone and said they would keep an eye out for him?”

Who is raising him your family or the Police? It probably wasn’t mentioned by the media as it doesn’t sound very credible.

There is a drug rehab in canberra where some clients go many times a year … just before court, just before interstate trip (Christmas?) or when they have nowhere to stay. Motivation varies, but to actually ‘get off drugs’ – well not many. Court appointed clients … what an absolute waste of everyone’s time.

The kid that killed Clea … man, something like that would TURN you to drugs, so he has a hard road [no pun] in front of him. He will also have a very very small circle of people to acquaint with when he gets out. Now, I do not think, somehow, that they will be the best influence on him. But like I have said before, if a person’s value system is that others have no value, well…

Like that darling who killed the old lady in front of Woden Cop Shop … “The silly old fuck shouldnt have got in the way” was the quote. Then at least 3 breaches of bail for drug use? I remember my heart missing a beat when I saw the pic of that crash in CT – the baby seat in her car hanging out the back window… how [more] horriblel it all could have been. A value system that does not even allow you to secure a baby seat. Hope. ??? Motivation??? How do you rehab a life’s f***d-up value system.?

alyce, you know what? I had a f&*ked childhood but I sure as hell didn’t piss it away down the bottom of a bottle nor did I steal cars or kill people. Give me a bucket FFS.

There are other alternatives to choosing that path and no amount of ‘poor me’ is going to cut it. Many children with f*&ked childhoods go on to become productive members of society, not idiots who run people down.

It’s called being responsible for your actions.

His mother can be sitting at home whilst he did that and say ‘poor me’. She is the adult and the parent in that relationship and it is obvious that that relationship blurred a long time ago. She had the responsibility to ensure her child’s safety and the safety of the community by seeking more than custodial assistance beforehand.

There are groups out there for support and it’s called being proactive.

@alyce – I am always amazed at the surprise and outrage friends of scumbags(when they are caught) react with – what you need to understand is that your friend / brother will only lose his scumbag status should he use the rest of his time to really make up for harming other people – ie discover a cure for cancer, save millions of starving children, – until then he will be the scumbag that killed Clea Rose (cause thats what he did) – over to him.

Talk it up little sister, there are plenty of people who post on the site who know exactly who he is. There were rumours coming out of “the holiday camp formerly known as juvy” that he was using killing Clea for bragging rights and showed no remorse at all. The Police have nothing to do with his choices so you can’t go blaming them for his actions or for “f***ing your family.”

As for DMD – there you go making assumtions about what I do and what I’ve been exposed to simply because I have no pity for these people who I view as the stains on the underpants of society. Choices are what makes us different from animals. Crooks make the choice to live the way they do and commit crimes, take drugs etc… When they die or bust themselves up beyond recognition it is one less sh*tbag to make a victim of my family and friends. We all know you have a limp wristed hug the whales poor little victims of society view of these people. What made you the bleeding heart softy that you are?

and for your info, I do have a credit card, and I like using it. I even got an Ipod with rewards points.

“we spent nights with him in juvy just wathing him cry”

Was he crying for Clea whose life was ended far too short? or crying for himself and the loss of liberty he is now experiencing?

“If Police had hunted him like a dog they would have shot him on the side of the road instead of taking any sort of actions to save his worthless piece of crap arse”………….sound familiar?
if the police HAD of hunted him down like a dog it wouldnt have happened

no it hasnt he is going to get a liscence and NOT steal cars, u really think that he would have killed clea on purpose we spent nights with him in juvy just wathing him cry,there is no excuse for what he did but you dont know the slightest thing about him or our family.

And it really annoys me when people say that we werent there for him.
oh and while he was out DRINKING my mother was sitting at home worring about him..
i suppose no one in the news or the paper heard about the time someone in our family went to the police station and told them that he needed to be found BEFORE he killed someone and said they would keep an eye out for him?

HaS this awful experience of killing someone made him give up driving for the rest of his life? I know I would never drive again if I had done it.

f*** off rabble u know what i am his family and u dont know the f***n s*** that we went through u werent there for ALL the court times for the restorative justice. the police force is what is f***ed my family tried as hard as they could to try and help him but he was either too naughty or not naughty enough dont wright s*** u have NO idea about.

The ‘heart ache and pain it has also brought him and his family’ was only because he got caught.

Again.

Oh that makes it OK, he was only underage drinking, not taking drugs, I apologise…NOT. Where were the parents while this person was underage drinking? Made a mistake all right. He ran over and killed a girl.
What do 17 year old boys do when they are bored? I dunno, maybe play video games, sport, internet, watch TV/DVD, ride a bike or try working or going to school. That is the most pathetic excuse, and that is all it is, an excuse, not a reason, for someone going off the rails. There is so much to do in the world it is just not funny. He did the crime and he paid the time – Clea paid with her life for a crime that she didn’t commit.

um…excuse me but i am very close to the “scumbag that killed clea rose” and all the people talking crap about him need to realise that he made a mistake and it was a really big one but cleas family found it in there heart to give him a chance. you just assume that he is this that and the other but in true facts he is one of the nicest people that you could ever meet. well yeah he got out and started DRINKING not any other drugs, but what does a 17 year old want to do in his spare time. he did the crime and he paid the time i know thats not going to stop the heart ache for every that knew and was brought joy by clea and its not going to bring her life back but you cant just assume that boy is total scum when u dont even know him all that you have seen is the news and the paper but you dont see the heart ache and pain it has also brought him and his family.

I hear what you are saying, and I hope it works, but I also hope that other lives aren’t destroyed in the process.

I’m not going to bother, Special G. It’s people like you who are stuck in their gilded, credit-card funded cages who have no f*king clue about other people’s lives that severely sh*t me off. No-one is impressed by your bravado, go jack off over Rambo or something.

Spideydog, you’re a bit more reasonable and articulate I think. I was actually addressing your response to that quote and what I’m saying is, yes, there is a chance he won’t be rehabilitated. However, I think his parent (s?) are at least making a proactive approach to address his situation (You may recall, it was his mother who turned him in for his addiction). There is a decent chance, I think, that the combined factor of this kid’s actions seeing him in deep sh*t every time he goes near drugs and his mother’s apparent concern for his situation will actually see him cleaning up and moving to an environment where it will be more difficult to have a relapse (looking at getting him working in a farm or trade is a good idea, spideydog).

If it doesn’t however, well, he’s just going back in the clink anyway.

“as I understand it, his last offense was more self-harm than harming others in the community “

My point was in relation to your above quote.

But yes, removing dependence, theory wise, would help stop motivation. However in drug addiction, they will never give it up unless they REALLY REALLY want to. A court telling someone they must, could be good motivation, but inside, do they really want to give up? The other problem is if they do succeed in getting off the drugs, they go back to the same environment/friends and get sucked back into drugs again. Maybe they need to have a “drug intervention” then sent off to the other side of the country for a couple of years to a farm or something and learn a trade, to wean them off the drugs and also the environment ???

With someone that has no intention of wanting to give up, they will smile and nod at the magistrate every time (“I’m trying so hard to give up, but I can’t…..) and keep going in the same vicious circle.

The kid who drove himself into a tree and crippled himself was a parasite on society just like the kid woh killed Clea Rose. Have fun wiping his arse for the rest of his life. If Police had hunted him like a dog they would have shot him on the side of the road instead of taking any sort of actions to save his worthless piece of crap arse.

Let him serve as a reminder to the rest of them.

Yes but the number of people who actually give up drugs via rehab is sadly quite small (well under 50%).

And some of these people are just crooks anyway. Giving up drugs won’t necessarily make them suddenly live a normal life.

But if they no longer had dependence on drugs, the motivation to do so is removed, right?

Unfortunately, drugs offences are not offences that just hurt themselves, they hurt the community in LOTS of different ways, ie, how do they finance those drugs ? They have probably burgled 3 houses to finance the drugs found in their possession.

I should add that the bail is conditional and dependent on him completing rehabilitation, so I don’t see this as him just being let out either.

I still think age needs to be taken into account and, as I understand it, his last offense was more self-harm than harming others in the community (drugs? If I’m wrong, correct me). If that is the case, I do not see why taking steps to address that self-harm is a more effective approach than simply locking him up. You know as well as I do that he won’t be in prison forever – and I’m bloody sure a good percentage of the people you deal with have already served sentences.

DMD, I agree that rehab does work for some, but not for others and after x amount of “chances” or rehab, it becomes quite clear that it’s not going to work for them. The fine line is when you make that judgment I guess. But if someone runs an innocent person over and then still decides to devote their life to crime without a moment’s thought, you have to wonder if rehab will ever work for them don’t you think?

He’s had enough chances is what I am saying. Still young yes but how much damage to innocent people’s lives are we willing to let them achieve before we give them a proper sentence and deterrent from living the life of crime that they do.

Proud Local, I’ve been touched by crime mate, don’t you worry. I just understand that the people who have committed crimes against myself, my friends and family (there’s been a few) are still people. Although probably a large percentage of criminals never reform no matter how many chances given, there’s still a decent few. I think that makes it worth it.

Please Kathreetani, if you are talking about the same person as has been mentioned, you are seriously non-independant and very much biased. I for one, know a LOT about him and what he he has done in a relatively short life time. The cliche “my son is a good boy” mentality is alive and well. I suspect you didn’t really know what he got up to half the time.

People not emotionally attached know all too well on what he was really like and the good residents of Canberra are much better off now. Sorry things did not work out better for you and him personally. In the end he chose his own destiny, blaming others is pathetic.

VanDam:

You need to get your info right if u are to speak about my 17 yr old son, I am the mother of the so called crippled boy. Who has a name, he wasn’t in any stolen car he owned his vechilce. He was hunted like an animal by currupt police so you get your fact right its idiots like you that get on here and write nothin you know the f*** about. Nothin thats right get a life of your own and stop stickin in others business. One day you could become a crippled and guess what you are one that deserves it…….so we can gossip about you. low life be careful what you write or you could be next on the list to be sued for false info you must think you are a hero. yeah right.

p.s he didnt run himself off the road, he was run off the road.

Rehab is so full of crims who have been sentenced there that normal people who want to go there can’t get a spot.

And the crims don’t really want to be there and don’t complete the program, and heaps of them just take off – I mean why wouldn’t you – the temptation would be huge – and there is nothing to stop them just walking out the door.

I cannot understand why there isn’t some kind of lock-up rehab, if so many judges want to give their accused ‘one more chance’ at rehab.

We arrested a guy who was found in someone’s backyard late at night “looking for pot” and some valuable equipment from the owners garage just happened to go missing at the same time (unknown co-offender).

Anyway the point is that he is a drug addict aged in his 30’s but the magistrate sent him to a rehab centre to get clean which was his lawyers passionate request for strict bail conditions.

End result, the guy stayed there for one week and never showed again and has been out in society running free for the last 2 months unable to be found. He has a criminal history of around 135 various convictions.

I’m not so sure that Deadmandrinking is not Justice Higgins incognito! Seems to live in the same “everybody deserves a thousand chances to rehabilitation bubble. Probably lives in a very nice suburb and never really been touched by crime. Nice for some.

@Special G – I understand that alot of criminals do play that card, but in this case, it looks like the courts have done the right thing by setting requirements for this proposed solution to meet. If the offender does not put serious effort into the program, he will not be granted bail.

@Maelinar – You are a big troll.

Keep flapping like a flounder out of water WMD. Flap, flap, flap.

@Felix the Cat, I know it’s a cliche, but until you have your own kids, you will never understand. The bond that can exist between a parent and child cannot be felt by a non-parent, ever.

@ Felix -The parents are blaming the Police.

@DMD – you have latched onto this drug thing as he is now attending drug and alcohol rehab. Now drugs are the reason for his actions whereas they have never before been a motivating factor. Haven’t you realised that crooks use the rehab card to get themselves out of prison for a stint. Addiction seems to be the easiest throw away line used to get a reduction in sentence in the ACT.

This kid wouldn’t survive very well in adult gaol. Even hardened crims have dim views on his actions (they have kids who cross roads). Stealing cars, burglary, assaults gets you credit, killing innocents gets you a kick in the head.

Slightly, ever so slightly off topic I was at Woden Plaza at lunch time today and witnessed a youf maybe around 17? looking at bongs at the lottery joint pointing out to 2 much younger kids with him who looked about 10, definitely no older that 12, ‘look at that one wif a knife through the skull’.
WTF? What hope is there with dickheads like that looking after kids?

Actually, they were pushing for him to undergo rehabilitation during the trial, I’m pretty sure.

Deadmandrinking said :

Felix, I hope you don’t have kids. You don’t seem to understand how mistakes are made at those ages.

If they turned out like this guy then I definitely don’t want any!

I bet Clea Rose’s parents and any other friends and relatives she has are really sympathetic to his [i]mistakenly[/i] running her down and killing her and then driving off. I’m sure [i]you[/i] would understand about mistakes if it was your daughter that he ran down and killed.

A: Drugs affected his decisions, which led him to run down a woman with a car. Don’t get me wrong though, I know personally that it’s an element of personality that affects how people behave on drugs. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if in this kids case, that personality has been defined by the results of drug-addled decisions. Its a vicious cycle for some – that’s why people like this kid should really stay away from them. People like myself tend to sort themselves out and stick to the legal ones like alcohol. Drunk people never hurt nobody! 😉

B: He’s being bailed temporarily and will only receive permanent bail if he completes the program. To send him back to quamby, which is filled with inmates who have drug problems would only be hindering the rehabilitation process.

And, with the worrying ‘take it up the ass’ solution; I’m getting a bit nervous about some people’s ideas of ‘punishment’ on Riot-ACT. If you’re into that kind of thing (and please use CONSENTING ADULTS), there’s a place on the internet for you somewhere. It’s not here (I hope). What you do in your own home or the deepest darkest corners of your mind is fine, but I don’t want to hear about your gay-bondage-sado-masochist fantasies. Sorry.

Special G said :

Drugs don’t make anyone do dangerous things. Thats like blaming guns for killing people.

But the Devil has a lot to answer for!

metaphorically speaking of course

I didn’t think it necessary to bail people from Quamby, they almost seem to come and go as the please.

DMD, tap et al, let’s not forget that this man is a killer; he made a decision that ended the life of a young woman. Why should he be bailed and given this opportunity so soon after the incident. If they want him to attend “rehab” (I was under the impression that prisons /youth detention centres performed this function anyway) why can’t he stay inside and be transported to the rehab facility on an as needs basis.

I do believe that the fact he has been in detention and has not rehabilitated is a sure sign that he is not fit for society.

I personally think he should be in an adult prison, sharing a cell with the biggest, hairiest sodomite they can find. He’ll learn one of lifes most valuable lessons: sometimes you just have to bend over and take it…

Drugs don’t make anyone do dangerous things. Thats like blaming guns for killing people.

You’re still not explaining to me why rehab shouldn’t be used. The kid does drugs, drugs make him do dangerous things. Sounds like the a-b-c solution really.

Actually the cops caused her death. So say the bleeding hearts.

tap this was not his first offence.

DMD, so we explain away his actions because he was drug-f&%ked?

Hell no. He MADE the decision to put the drugs into his system. He can get stuffed.

Mael is right, a group outta Utah run a great bootcamp, but he’ll have to pay for it himself. I’m sure as hell not going to.

tap, are you serious? If so, you take him in then 🙂

Nobody here knows that this kid will re offend. To say you do demonstrates nothing more than your own ignorance.

@Nyssa, his decisions were drug-addled. Why is rehab not a bad idea?

@Maelinar, go f-k yourself. You’re bringing up a bullsh-t comment from thread upon thread back that sounds equally bullsh-t now. All options HAVE NOT been exhausted – the kid hasn’t even started rehab yet (tomorrow he starts). I never said anywhere that I would open my doors personally for someone I didn’t know, get that into your thick head.

Felix, I hope you don’t have kids. You don’t seem to understand how mistakes are made at those ages.

CanberraResident said :

Felix the Cat – ask yourself this … if your kid was responsible for this incident, and your kid was on drugs, wouldn’t you want him or her to be given every opportunity for rehabilitation???

People are too quick to judge when they are not personally involved.

And no, I have nothing to do with this case.

I don’t have any kids but if I did I would disown them if they got into drugs and crime. At 16/17 you are old enough to make your own decisions – and also to live with them. People need to be taught to be responsible for themselves and not rely on a handout from family, govt everytime they get themselves in the shit. I’ve had to basically fend for myself since I left home at 19 and I didn’t get into drugs or crime because I knew what the consequences were.

and a number we can txt our votes to so we can choose who goes free and who gets sent back to the big house?

Re Bootcamp idea – and televised so we can watch them for our amusement.

Felix the Cat – ask yourself this … if your kid was responsible for this incident, and your kid was on drugs, wouldn’t you want him or her to be given every opportunity for rehabilitation???

People are too quick to judge when they are not personally involved.

And no, I have nothing to do with this case.

I agree the boot camp idea is excellent. Also a national service regiment along the lines of the French Foreign legion. They should have brought this up at the 2020 talk fest.

@WMD – Open your doors and let him in then. When all other options are exhausted, homestay is next on the list of wet bus ticket slaps I think.

Until society is ready to deal in a more judicious manner, dealing with the crime as well as the inherent problems at the same time, this guy and the thousands of others in Canberra just like him, will not change.

My solution is to send them inland, where there is no access to heroin, much less anything else other than the staples. Remove the ‘candy’ and you can begin to deal with the inherent problems in a more radical, and conclusive manner.

And lots of it.

Give him pure grade heroin.

I bet this isn’t the first time he’s had a go at rehab either.

And he’s probably only doing it to get a few days out of gaol, and will just disrupt the place for anyone who is there who is actually really trying to give up.

DMD, ah no. He’s already proven a lack of disrespect for human life and has done so again with disrespecting his own body.

FFS, when he becomes an adult (not long now), will the same do gooders whine when he, as an adult repeats his juvenile criminal behaviour?

When all other options are exhausted, Nyssa, then yes, prison’s about the only option. Everything else should be tried first, however.

And what if he fails to complete the program? Does he get a pat on the back and a ‘there, there it’s ok’?

At the end of the day, only he is responsible for his actions. If he chooses to complete the program and do well with the rest of his life – more power to him. However, as we have seen before with recidivists, what happens when he doesn’t?

Who ultimately pays the price for his failure to be a productive member of society?

Agree Sepi, but it seems in this case the courts are making an effort to ensure this kid does make a satisfactory attempt – “The ACT Supreme Court will decide whether the teenager can be granted full-time bail once he completes the program.”

And most (all?) rehab facilities are not locked, and participants can just leave whenever they wish. The theory being that rehab won’t work if you don’t want to be there.

The problem with that is that rehab is often used by the courts instead of gaol – there needs to be two kinds of rehab – one serious lock-up version, for people like this guy, and another nicer, non-locked version, for people who have over-done the partying life-style to the point that they suddenly realise they are hooked.

Unfortuantly rehab wont help this little guy! He’s been in and out of jail, a smacky, and his parents are no where to be seen.

In the current rehab/health system, there’s nothing you can do for a 17yr old off the rails.
Unfortuantly this little shit didnt crash the car and become a cripple like miatke.

And? Rehab programs are not an uncommon thing. His sentence will end sooner or later, so it would be preferable that he comes out of the prison system not a junkie. I believe he would be able to do this inhouse at the Maconochie Centre.