Testing Times
I have a two-fold problem. Which is this:
- I am incredibly bored, due to the software I’m meant to be testing being delayed by over a fortnight. I’ve had so much time on my hands that I honestly believe that I may have memorised every Wikipedia page in existence. Even the ones in foreign languages.
- I can’t think of anything to write about.
Seriously, this is a major problem. I’ve had various ideas for entries: the joy of turning 26, my renewed enthusiasm for computer gaming (gone for nearly a decade, but never quite forgotten). The tribulations of buying a house (would have been a lot more interesting if anything had gone wrong so far). The rise of Facebook and it’s strange addictiveness. The furore around the release from jail of Learco Chindamo (killer of school teacher Philip Lawrence) and why it has angered me greatly. I could go on. But I simply can’t get up the enthusiasm to write about any of these things.
Instead, you get this rambling diatribe. I’m not sure where it’s going, or where it will end. I just know that, so long as I keep writing, the clock at the bottom right of my screen keeps ticking inexorably towards that magic 17.00.
15.17
I scroll backwards and re-read what I have written. I add or amend words here or there to make sure it sounds OK.
15.19
Still no ideas of what to write about. This could last a long time.
15.20
I know. I will write about Learco Chindamo.
A brief history lesson: headteacher Philip Lawrence was stabbed to death on 8th December 1995 outside his Maida Vale secondary school. In recent days the tabloid press has been up in arms about his killer’s impending parole, and the decision of a judge that to extradite him to his native Italy would be a breach of his human rights.
The thing is, Philip Lawrence was killed when Learco Chindamo was 15 years old. I don’t know about you, but I’m a completely different person now to when I was 15. I probably did some things back then that I’m not proud of (although none spring instantly to mind… I might have been mean to a shop assistant or something). I always assumed that the British legal system imposed sentences for crimes, and then released the offender when they are rehabilitated.
I’ve seen no evidence that Chindamo still presents a risk and, even if it was considered that he does, I strongly believe that people shouldn’t stay locked up indefinitely for crimes commited when they were, perhaps, too young to appreciate the brevity of their actions.
Learco Chindamo emigrated to this country from Italy when he was five years old. His family are here. Whatever crimes he committed in the UK were down to the upbringing he received within these borders. He is a product of this country in a very real way. We have suffered his crimes, punished him for them. Now he should be given the opportunity to give back to the society he wronged.
At the same time, anyone who thinks that the killer will be released and live an easy life is living in a dream world. The reaction of the tabloid press is ample evidence that his re-integration into society won’t be easy. At the age of 25, with little education or experience and a notorious criminal record, what prospects can the coming years hold for Learco Chindamo? It wasn’t just the life of a North London headmaster that ended back in 1995.
15.44
Things are looking up.
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:14 am
Ok, the tabloids grabbed the human rights aspect as it’d get attention, but that isn’t the problem. The problem is the EU and the freedom of citizens of member states to move between countries.
“if a convicted criminal can show that he or she is normally resident in the country which is trying to deport him, the courts need to take that into account, along with the risk he or she poses, before sanctioning his/her removal. ”
If, however, this case was treated more in the way of Jamie Bulger and the release of Terry Venables and Robert Thompson, and how they had to go into hiding, change of ID, and in effect spend rest of their lives looking over their shoulders.
Even though their crimes are heinous and my own personal views, they have served their punishment. They may return to society, but at what cost to themselves and their family.
I think the concern should be more on the likelyhood of reoffending, not the original crime, as such.
As far as the deportation side of things go, I am all in favour of it, but as soon as they are found guilty, not after they’ve served there sentence.
August 24th, 2007 at 8:50 am
“I think the concern should be more on the likelyhood of reoffending, not the original crime, as such.”
But you can’t pre-emptively punish people for crimes that they may commit in the future… And the point of prison, as much as punishment, is re-education and rehabilitation. At least, in theory.
“As far as the deportation side of things go, I am all in favour of it, but as soon as they are found guilty, not after they’ve served there sentence.”
Agreed, although there’s no guarantee that another country would agree to sentence one of their citizens for crimes commited under the UK’s jurisdiction…