Going to a criminal law conference on Saturday. One of the speakers is the former DPP in NSW. Another is the judge who in 2002 sentenced the ring leader of a pack of gang rapists to 55 years with 40 non-parole.
If there were more like Justice Finnane, women would be safer to walk the streets of our cities. Maybe Jill and Sarah would be spending Christmas with their families. :-(
This is from Four Corners, a few snippets from His Honour's sentencing remarks.
15 August 2002
HIS HONOUR: The offender (Skaf) was the leader of a brutal gang of rapists who, on three occasions, raped four young women. His activity and those of his gang spread terror in Sydney in August 2000 just before the commencement of the Olympic Games. The gang consisted of varying numbers of men, up to about fourteen. Not all of them have been caught.
As is common with rapists, the gang members treated each of their victims with callous indifference and considerable cruelty.
The courts must attempt to protect society from the possibility that those who have been caught will engage in this type of activity again.
The Crown also attacked (leader's) credibility, something made easier when he falsely claimed from the witness box that he was a man of good character. This led to an application that I permit the Crown to prove his criminal record.
What this trial showed was that he was the leader of the pack, a liar, a bully, a coward, callous and mean. He is, in truth, a menace to any civilised society.
He has expressed neither remorse or contrition. Indeed, during the trial and during the sentencing proceedings he has conducted himself as if the proceedings were a joke.
The offender's head sentence will conclude on 11 February, 2056 and his non-parole period will conclude on 11 February, 2040.
At that stage he will have been in custody for forty years. Hopefully he will no longer be a menace to society. The offender may be removed.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s675775.htm
:twocents:
