Albion Sinking V: Probe demanded into Scotsman's release
It appears that our arguments that the Colin Ross attack on Marty Layman-Mendonca may be just the spur that is needed to pass needed reforms in Britain in order to bring the out of control criminal element there to heel. Read on:
INVERNESS, Scotland, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- British lawmakers are demanding to know why a Scottish man who admitted to the brutal beating of a U.S. tourist had been walking the streets.
Police in Inverness said they had been powerless to keep suspect Colin Ross in jail despite the fact he was a confessed woman-hater with extreme anger issues who had recently served three years for attacking another female tourist.
Ross was being held Saturday on charges he beat Marty Layman-Mendonca, a 57-year-old teacher from Vermont, with an iron bar and then robbed her in early July.
The Scotsman newspaper said Saturday that Layman-Mendonca remained in serious condition in a hospital.
Police were concerned enough about Ross' mental state to slap him with an order banning him from going near women; however officials said he should have instead been in custody indefinitely.
Tory lawmakers said they would seek answers from the Scottish judiciary to explain why he was released despite the seemingly obvious danger to the public.
Hat tip: Political Gateway
The Scotsman says:
AN URGENT investigation was last night demanded into why one of Scotland's most violent criminals was released early from prison weeks before carrying out a horrific attack that left an American tourist in a coma.
Colin Ross, a self-confessed woman-hater, yesterday admitted attacking Marty Layman-Mendonca, 57, a teacher from Vermont, with an iron bar near Inverness on 5 July.
When he was arrested, he confessed, saying: "I can't cope on the outside. I've got so many anger issues. I am a danger to the public and I don't deserve to be walking about."
Also commenting on the case is Scottish Executive Justice Minister Cathie Jamieson, whose spokesperson said: "It is not appropriate for Scottish ministers to comment on the details of an individual offender's case."
Problem is, Ms. Jamieson has made proposals that will let all prisoners out of jail after serving only 50% of their sentence% no matter how violent the crime. She also has put forward proposals to ban the sale and posession of swords. If guns were still legal in Scotland, she'd likely be agin them as well. She has even proposed that victims be forced to meet with their attackers to help the attacker be "made aware of the consequences of their crime".
Ms. Jamieson was in a bit of a scandal when she paid £100.00 into her nephews bank account while he was on the run for murder.
A Mr. John Scott of the Howard League for Penal Reform has expressed opposition to any return to extended sentencing, or 'three strikes and your out' style laws.
Ms. Jamiesons solution: She now is working at implementing a program by which offenders, even violent ones, whose crimes are drug and alcohol related, are given referrals to substance abuse treatment and let on their way. She says, "Efficient and effective justice is not about punishing criminals. It is about providing people with routes out of crime."
Now, we shouldn't be shocked that Jamieson is soft on crime. After all, she was previously Education Minister.
Now, we know Ms. Jamieson is capable of laying down the law when she's motivated, after all, she's empowered police to ban soccer hooligans from attending games for up to ten years. On this, she's said, "I am passionate about football, and those who sour the reputation of their clubs are a disgrace to us all. The police asked us for additional powers, and we have provided them."
Last year, the Observer reported that Jamieson was implementing a plan to rid Scotland of what are called "Neds" by 2010. Her proposal included banning Buckfasts tonic win from store shelves, banning wearing of baseball caps and anyone caught wearing burberry clothing will be sentenced without a trial. Speech therapy courses will be imposed on those with what Observer reporter Sandy Minje calls "a scummy accent".
Phrases commonly associated with working class delinquents such as "ya dobber" "pure dead boggin" and "aw whit man" will be outlawed, with severe punishments to act as a deterent.
Jamieson predicts that if this plan is properly executed it could not just erradicate young crime, but crime itself would become non-existent. Under Jack McConnell, Scottish Labour has been of the firm stance that 'neds' are the root of all problems in Scotland, and the First Minister has reacted to this proposal with optimism. "The Labour government are committed to clearing the filth off Scottish Streets" he said today in a television interview.
The proposal has not been met with universal approval, however. The Observer described the Justice Minister's plans to an opposition MP who replied "Really? haha what a tosser!". Public opinion is divided on the matter, a recent opinion poll showed that 46% of Scotland believe Jamieson is indeed a tosser, whilst the remaining 54% see the Justice Minister as more of a dick-head.
We are only 50% sure that this Observer article was satire.
FYI, a "Ned" is a Scotch term for hooligan. The stereotypical view of a ned is an adolescent male youth, of working class background who engages in hooliganism, petty criminality, loutish behaviour, or just irritating others. They are often assumed to be unemployed. Fairly or not, many are quick to stereotype youths dressed in casual sports clothes as "neds". What we in the states would call gang bangers if gun ownership were legal in Scotland...
Seriously, though, Ms. Jamieson doesn't seem to have a problem with going hard on killers, provided they are corporate executives and directors of companies where workplace accidents result in death. Perhaps if Ms. Layman-Mendonca had been pipe-whacked in a workplace, Ms. Jamieson would give a damn...
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