Today "The View" opened with the news of the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius, which happened earlier today in a courtroom in South Africa. Pistorius was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. However, he won't be held in a typical prison cell, for a few reasons, and he could be released and placed on house arrest anytime after 10 months served.
Nicole Wallace said it perfectly when she commented that "...it sure feels like a lot of men get away with murdering their girlfriends and wives in cold blood." Very true and unfortunate.
Although I'm not a true fan of crime t.v. like Rosie Perez claimed she is, I've kept a close eye on news and blotters of my local law enforcement agencies and majority of cases settled in court result in a plea deal. I recall one case wherein a man ran his ex-girlfriend over with a vehicle in her own driveway, resulting in permanent injury---she had several operations on her legs and last I knew, was faced with having to consider amputation--and he was sentenced to just six months in jail (which could be reduced down to four months for good behavior) followed by five months of probation. Stalking, property damage, choking/strangulation...either the right lawyer or the wrong judge, can result in a perpetrator walking away from the judicial system and into the prison system with too light a penalty, so long as the victim wasn't murdered. Yet, in Pistorius' case, murder took place and a life was taken, yet his sentence isn't for life. He'll be released before we know it.
As Domestic Violence Awareness month winds down, I ask everyone to consider the levels of fear and injustice victims experience, regardless of gender, race, age, and sexual orientation. And petition for necessary changes our society needs to have happen, so that justice is truly served.
No comments:
Post a Comment