justice!

[Inhalaattori]

What do you think about this example...

It is often said thet judiciary is quite different in US and in Europe (Finland in this case). You who live in US, can you say what kind of punishment they would have had if they had done the same crime in US.

Death sentence? Life in prison? After all, they ate their victim.

August 11 1999, Helsinki, Finland; Jarno Sebastian Elg, Terhi Johanna Tervashonka, Mika Kristian Riska sentenced for ritual murder

Overview: A court sentenced three alleged satanists, including a 17-year-old girl, to prison terms for killing a man and ingesting some of the body parts. Jarno Sebastian Elg, 24, was given a life sentence for killing a 23-year-old man in November and instigating others to participate in a ritual that included torturing the victim and listening to heavy-metal music. The Hyvinkaa District Court in southern Finland sentenced Terhi Johanna Tervashonka, 17, to two years and six months in prison and Mika Kristian Riska, 21, to two years and eight months in the case. The victim, who was not named, suffered prolonged torture and eventually was strangled to death, the court said. It also said the three people convicted "were strongly influenced by satanism." The court declared most of the details of the case secret. See, "Alleged satanists sentenced for murder, cannibalism," Associated Press, August 11, 1999

 

[Yaype]

Since the two people sentenced to less than three years in prison were not actually convicted of murder charges, it is hard to say that they would be sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. However, I would have to think that they would get a longer sentence than they did, especially considering that they were involved with the person who was convicted of killing the man. People convicted of sexual assault in the U.S. can be sentenced to life, so I do not see why two people convicted of torture would not be treated much the same.

Regardless of how it would be handled elsewhere, this is another sad story.

 

[Sanaz]

It depends on the lawyers, and how good they are/are not. They may get a plea of insanity, which means they are locked up for life, but instead of in a prison they are in a state hospital. If they are not insane, then maybe death penalty, but that depends on the state and the jury. Again, a good lawyer will try to have the trial in a place where there is no death penalty. The US is so big, that similar crimes have different punishments depending on location. But no matter what, I don't think these three people would ever walk free again. Then again, OJ gets paid very well for being a criminal who beat the system, even ten years later. So, if you ever decide to kill someone, or eat your victims, in the US, get a very good (and very expensive) lawyer. There are plenty of people sitting in prison for relatively minor crimes because they couldn't afford the right lawyer.

 

[Iggy]

Jarno Sebastian Elg, 24, was given a life sentence for killing a 23-year-old man in November and instigating others to participate in a ritual that included torturing the victim and listening to heavy-metal music.

Was listening to heavy-metal music part of the criminal charges?

 

[Colonel]

i think that they would have gotten shot long before they got to trial as we got crazys over here

 

[Hundegesicht]

I remember watching a documentary about a similar case in Michigan. From that: The man who actually committed murder would receive a death sentence, or, more probable, being put in a mental institution for the rest of his life. The other two who ingested his organs would be charged with being an accessory to murder and cannibalism, and would receive 15 to 20 years in jail or being locked up in an insane asylum as well. The fact they're both minors might have an effect on how they're tried as well.

 

[Inhalaattori]

Just to sort things out.

Yeah. In Finland "Life in prison" = 13 years. And if you are "first- timer" you serve only half of the sentence... Here longest sentence you can get is that 13 years. I believe in US life sentence really means that you spend rest of your life in jail.

Here is another example: Theyll be free after 6-7 years...
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1076152966009

 

[luiz]

Just to sort things out.

Yeah. In Finland "Life in prison" = 13 years. And if you are "first- timer" you serve only half of the sentence... Here longest sentence you can get is that 13 years. I believe in US life sentence really means that you spend rest of your life in jail.

Here is another example: Theyll be free after 6-7 years...
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1076152966009

That's sick, and unfortunately the same thing happens in my country.

I will never forget a case when two kidnappers killed a 4 year old girl in an oven(!!) and after they got caught they were sentenced to only 14 years, and since they were first time offenders they got released after 7 years(!!!)
The brazilian Law is much more concerned about protecting criminals then citizens.

IMO, murderers should NEVER go free.

 

[M37]

Just to sort things out.

Yeah. In Finland "Life in prison" = 13 years. And if you are "first- timer" you serve only half of the sentence... Here longest sentence you can get is that 13 years. I believe in US life sentence really means that you spend rest of your life in jail.

Here is another example: Theyll be free after 6-7 years...
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1076152966009

In canada life in prison is 25 years However, they norlmaly only spend 12-15 years of it in prison. More likely the'd be put in a mental hospital, treated and realsed in 10 years.

 

[Inhalaattori]

Its just very interesting that US is so different from other "Democracies". Why most US states have so hard punishments. So "Dont mess with Texas".

By the way, that second thing happened in my hometown.
http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1076152966009
This killer- lady had her victims head in her backpack, when she went to reataurants and other places. Grazy...

 

[Inhalaattori]

How I can delete these posts.

 

[Inhalaattori]

Im sorry, my combuter is just teasing.

 

[Vietcong]

i live in texas, and if thay lived hear, the leader whold probly get the death penalty, life inprisonment or life in a mental hospital. the 2 acoplis may get 15- 20 years in prison or even life in a mental hospital like some one said befor

 

[The Last Conformist]

Conclusion: Heavy metal is evil.

 

[Yaype]

Its just very interesting that US is so different from other "Democracies". Why most US states have so hard punishments. So "Dont mess with Texas".

Well, apparently our tougher policies do not help. Our prison system is overflowing, and we have a higher violent crime rate than most of the world. It is definitely something that could use some improving here in the U.S.

 

[luiz]

and we have a higher violent crime rate than most of the world.

Most of the First World? Probably
Most of the World? HELL NO

Try checking the violent crime statistics in Colombia, Brazil, South Africa(hell, all Africa) or Russia just for fun

 

[FredLC]

It’s hard to have an informed opinion with so few information with both the case and the legal system where it happened; however, considering the large difference in the penalties, evidences probably suggested that just the life sentence guy actually committed the crimes, and the other were accessories with small roles. Can’t tell for sure, thou.

See, justice, especially criminal justice, has lots of gray areas. It’s all about subjectivity. I remember a case that I goy when I was a trainee in the 4th criminal tribunal in my home town; I was to prepare a sentence for a guy, who were going to get 7 years in jail. It was like this:

This guy, of legal age, and an under aged boy, both tried to jump a fence and steal a motorcycle helmet from inside a house. They were both caught and brought in; Now, according to Brazilian’s law, the under aged kid would be sent to a corrective facility, and only the guy of legal age would face criminal justice.

The prosecutor required a penalty of 1,5 year for attempted theft, and no less than 5,5 years for corruption of the underage. Technically, he was correct.

What he overlooked, and I found out, is that the “under aged” boy was a month away of being of legal age; and the other guy had it for just two and a half months.

Also, that the underaged kid had a long history of problems with law, while the other guy was a first timer, and in a crime that meant little danger to society.

Evoking legal principles, I convinced the judge to dismiss the charge of corruption of minors, as it was obvious that it was the other way around – the other one is the one who convinced him – and he got just 1 year, what, being a penalty with less than two years in a crime that didn’t involve violence, from a first-timer, was converted in community service.

Technically, my setting was incorrect; but it served the spirit of the law far better than the cold text could.

So, don’t be surprised if the notion of justice, and the severity of penalties, varies a great deal even inside a unique legal system. As I said, it’s all about subjectivity and common sense.

Regards .

 

[amadeus]

Finland, don't worry, we were catching up to you for a while by electing socialists and then having them let murderers out (*cough* WILLIE HORTON *cough*)