Comments on: …and throw away the key

By: JackP

JackP — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:10:55 +0000

…ah, right: so he’s despite the fact that it may seem to us non-legal experts as though he absconded, he’s not actually been found guilty of that as such.

But, as you say, there’s still another 21 years of his original sentence to run. And I can’t imagine escaping exactly counts as ‘good behaviour’.

By: Seb Crump

Seb Crump — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:42:50 +0000

The fact that he’s got to spend the rest of his life rotting in jail is a direct consequence of not only the initial crime he committed, but the second crime he committed in escaping from jail in the first place and going on the run.

Just a factual correction, from what I heard on the radio (so may be incorrect), is not to do with him escaping. They had the option of taking him to trial for that when he returned but chose not to, so he is still being detained for the original crime.

FWIW IMHO he should stay inside, as he hasn’t served the time he should have.

By: John H

John H — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:07:28 +0000

I agree that Biggs shouldn’t be let out early because of his health. It’s not as if he doesn’t have access to health care in prison.

On the wider question of punishment, the “throw away the key” principle is problematic. While I’m dead against (!) capital punishment for various reasons, I think it’s a great pity that the state has to fork out huge sums of money to keep in jail for life certain murderers who are no use to anyone, including themselves. I’m not referring here to someone who has killed once in questionable circumstances and has no other criminal record, but to the persistent serious criminals whose sole purpose in life seems to be to make it a misery for others. For these people it’s a pity that exile (say, to the Arctic) is no longer practical…

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:14:50 +0000

Erm.. “IF you can’t do the time…”
:-\

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:13:29 +0000

I agree too. Seems to me he ONLY came back to the UK because he thought there was something in it for him. No remorse, no regrets.
I’m sure this sentiment has been espoused by villains down the ages, and long before nicking a loaf of bread got you sent to ‘God’s Own Country’,: I’m you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.
That is all.

By: Gary Miller

Gary Miller — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:22:21 +0000

Hear hear. The driver, Jack Mills, was "hit on the head with an iron bar" and "suffered constant trauma headaches the rest of his life.". Source: Wikipedia. Although Biggs probably didn't take part in the assault, he was a party to the robbery and so - IMHO - shares the blame.