Narrowboat Raider Jailed for Two Years

[comfortably numb]

This from my local paper The Birmingham Mail.

 

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/billesley-canal-raider-who-ransacked-367641

 

Hopefully it will teach him not to do it again.

[twbm]

On the face of it not a bad result, however I imagine the sentence was driven by the robbery rather than the thefts, and also as he'd likely been remanded in custody once caught he's already done a few months of that, so will be out and about this time next year if he behaves.

[RLWP]

Skanga is looking nice in that picture

 

Richard

Edited December 12, 2012 by RLWP

[Ray T]

It never ceases to amaze me the excuses briefs come up with to explain their clients behaviour.

 

Quote: "Jabeen Akhtar, defending, said Coffey's father, to whom he was close, had died in March last year and he began drinking too much".

 

There must be thousands of people who loose a father they were close to but don't go out stealing and bullying.

Edited December 12, 2012 by Ray T

[mrsmelly]

It never ceases to amaze me the excuses briefs come up with to explain their clients behaviour.

 

Quote: "Jabeen Akhtar, defending, said Coffey's father, to whom he was close, had died in March last year and he began drinking too much".

 

There must be thousands of people who loose a father they were close to but don't go out stealing and bullying.

 

To be a defending solicitor or barrister it is a requisit that you are unable to lie straight in bed !! Similar proffesions include Estate agents and MPs amongst others.

 

Tim

[Guest]

I notice this one wasn't so drunk that he didn't realise the value of a boats inverter....

 

"The electrical inverter had been pulled off the bulkhead, leaving him with no heating or lighting – so he had to stay with his family until it was repaired."

Edited December 12, 2012 by The Dog House

[MaryP]

To be a defending solicitor or barrister it is a requisit that you are unable to lie straight in bed !! Similar proffesions include Estate agents and MPs amongst others.

 

Tim

 

My cousin is a defending solicitor. He says that in a civilised society, where people are innocent until proved guilty, then someone has to be willing to defend the criminals. That doesn't mean he likes them, trusts them, socialises with them etc. I think he's very brave - I don't think I'd like to do his job!

[Guest]

This guy certainly paid the ultimate price for being one -

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20662412

[grey wolf]

This guy certainly paid the ultimate price for being one -

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20662412

 

As did a lot of innocent people. and it still goes on

[john6767]

Not a very accurate write up by the Birmingham Mail though. I assume that the Drawbridge pub being referenced is the one by Shirley lift bridge, ie in Shirley, not in Hockley heath!

[Tiger 1057]

My cousin is a defending solicitor. He says that in a civilised society, where people are innocent until proved guilty, then someone has to be willing to defend the criminals. That doesn't mean he likes them, trusts them, socialises with them etc. I think he's very brave - I don't think I'd like to do his job!

Nothing to do with the huge amounts of dosh they get in legal aid for doing so then?

 

How is he brave?

 

Edited for spelling

 

This guy certainly paid the ultimate price for being one -

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20662412

 

Couldn't have happened to a better guy

Edited December 12, 2012 by Tiger 1057

[Guest]

Couldn't have happened to a better guy

 

I am in no way an IRA sympathiser but surely he was just doing a job that somebody had to do, and for the RUC and security services to collude in his killing when they should have prevented it is unforgivable. They were supposed to be maintaining law and order not actively promoting the killing of others.

 

and what of his family who witnessed him being shot 14 times right in front of their eyes.

 

Sorry I can't agree with you on that one.

[MaryP]

Nothing to do with the huge amounts of dosh they get in legal aid for doing so then?

 

Yes, he'll get paid, but that would be the case if he was defending a better type of person too. However, I don't suppose his earnings are a patch on the earnings of the corporate lawyers (eg newspaper and bank) with all the litigation claims going on at the moment.

 

How is he brave?

 

He's brave due to some of the awful people he comes up against, and situations he's found himself in. Some of the stories make your hair stand on end! He's been confronted by guns and knives etc. But also it seems the vitriol of society at large if your post is anything to go by.

 

 

Would you rather there was no defense for people charged with crimes then, who have to appear in court? Do you have an alternative suggestion?

[mrsmelly]

Would you rather there was no defense for people charged with crimes then, who have to appear in court? Do you have an alternative suggestion?

 

If you cant do the time dont do the crime as the saying goes. I do not advocate a no defence system, there are often mitigating circumstances to be taken into consideration when sentencing. What is wrong is time after countless time defence solicitors/barristers knowing their client is guilty try to find loopholes to wriggle them out of their conviction.

 

Tim

[Guest]

If you cant do the time dont do the crime as the saying goes. I do not advocate a no defence system, there are often mitigating circumstances to be taken into consideration when sentencing. What is wrong is time after countless time defence solicitors/barristers knowing their client is guilty try to find loopholes to wriggle them out of their conviction.

 

Tim

 

The police shouldn't give em any loop holes to wriggle out of....

[Boondock]

Nothing to do with the huge amounts of dosh they get in legal aid for doing so then?

 

 

:lol: :lol:

 

Couldn't have happened to a better guy

 

Bigot

[David Mack]

It never ceases to amaze me the excuses briefs come up with to explain their clients behaviour.

 

Quote: "Jabeen Akhtar, defending, said Coffey's father, to whom he was close, had died in March last year and he began drinking too much".

 

There must be thousands of people who loose a father they were close to but don't go out stealing and bullying.

 

But that pathetic excuse carries about as much weight with the judge as it does with you. I doubt it makes any difference to the verdict or sentence.

[wrigglefingers]

I am in no way an IRA sympathiser but surely he was just doing a job that somebody had to do, and for the RUC and security services to collude in his killing when they should have prevented it is unforgivable. They were supposed to be maintaining law and order not actively promoting the killing of others.

 

and what of his family who witnessed him being shot 14 times right in front of their eyes.

 

Sorry I can't agree with you on that one.

 

Good riposte. The actions of the security forces are inexcusable. Finucane was doing his job and he was murderered for doing so. No more; no less. If he was involved in wrongdoing he should have been charged and brought to court. Assasinating lawyers is the mark of a society gone wrong. Unfortunately, it's our society and we are complicit in it.

 

No-one deserves a violent and horrible death no matter how much we may abhor their actions.

[MaryP]

If you cant do the time dont do the crime as the saying goes. I do not advocate a no defence system, there are often mitigating circumstances to be taken into consideration when sentencing. What is wrong is time after countless time defence solicitors/barristers knowing their client is guilty try to find loopholes to wriggle them out of their conviction.

 

Tim

 

Don't get me wrong - I'm not defending criminals myself, just everyone's right to a fair trial. And I agree whole heartedly, there should be no wriggle room!

Edited December 12, 2012 by Mary P

[FredDrift]

If you cant do the time dont do the crime as the saying goes. I do not advocate a no defence system, there are often mitigating circumstances to be taken into consideration when sentencing. What is wrong is time after countless time defence solicitors/barristers knowing their client is guilty try to find loopholes to wriggle them out of their conviction.

 

Tim

 

Surely, if the defence successfully achieves a not guilty verdict for a guilty defendant the prosecution hasn't done it's job properly?

Edited December 12, 2012 by happynomad

[rubblequeen]

Coffey was arrested in a pub in Hockley Heath after his bike was seen propped up against the wall.

 

Bl***y cyclists. If they were banned from the tow path this wouldn't happen.

[furnessvale]

My cousin is a defending solicitor. He says that in a civilised society, where people are innocent until proved guilty, then someone has to be willing to defend the criminals. That doesn't mean he likes them, trusts them, socialises with them etc. I think he's very brave - I don't think I'd like to do his job!

 

The code of ethics for a solicitor requires that they do not defend a not guilty plea for a man they know to be guilty. They get round that one by claiming they do not "know" him to be guilty until found so by a court of law. This can be despite a full confession by the man to them in private interview.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

[Chris Pink]

They get round that one by claiming they do not "know" him to be guilty until found so by a court of law. This can be despite a full confession by the man to them in private interview.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

 

Sorry George that's just not true. If an accused person confesses to their solicitor that solicitor is no longer allowed to plead for them.

 

I am not surprised at the forum showing it's Daily Mail skirts on this, "defense lawyers? string 'em up"

[furnessvale]

Sorry George that's just not true. If an accused person confesses to their solicitor that solicitor is no longer allowed to plead for them.

 

I am not surprised at the forum showing it's Daily Mail skirts on this, "defense lawyers? string 'em up"

 

You have just repeated what they are supposed to do.

 

All these years and defence lawyers have been telling me porkies.........who'd a thought it!

 

George ex nb Alton retired

[carlt]

It is my understanding that there have been occasions in the past where members of prosecuting teams have lied, fabricated evidence, withheld evidence, used illegal methods to extract confessions and employed other dishonest practices in order to win a guilty verdict.

 

I am sure, however, that the vast majority of prosecution lawyers are just as honest as the vast majority of defence lawyers and all the other fine upstanding legal professionals out there.

Edited December 13, 2012 by carlt