So the guy who shot someone in Preston was released on bail. He didn’t steal a mop from Wal-Mart; he didn’t sell stuff at a flea market and not declare the earnings, HE. SHOT. SOMEONE. Politicians and the courts only have themselves to blame when they let a scumbag like this back on the streets before his trial. FFS, he shot someone you asswipes!! And you wonder why this city is getting worse instead of better…
Once again, this world deserves what they get. There is more outrage about a dead dog than a man shooting someone and getting released on bail. Or, maybe the Black community is right- black on black, so he’s back on the streets… who gives a shit, right???? Eat shit, Halifax.
—Sick Of Pol’s Allowing Violence
This article appears in May 14-20, 2009.
They should just skip right over the trial part, eh?
How about a happy medium, Tim? Say remanded to custody until trial?
Exactly, Tim. That dude is innocent until proven guilty.
That’s why they have a bail hearing– to see if there’s a flight risk, to determine if the ACCUSED presents a risk, etc.
Lots of accused people are remanded. Others, not.
Do we know the details of the release? Do we care (before validating this bitch)?
I’m with lindsay and tim on this one.
Holy fuck, Joe and Josie Average aren’t getting nailed – these shootings are a result of either turf or drug disputes – why the fuck all the overreaction? Oh, I forgot, thanks there, you media scumbags for freaking the public out.
yup, the media pulls the trigger and makes Haligonia a dangerous place to live. Sure. Don’t be like that, TTFN! This is our community and the release of gang-specific-killers does nothing to improve it… I don’t even know the details of his release but know enough that I don’t want killers on our street… and I hardly give a fuck who his favorite target is! I could be standing next to them at a bus stop or driving next to them on Main Street and still end up dead.
Not to say the guy deserves a fair trial, however, is it in the public’s best interest to have him out on bail. I don’t think so. And kay’s right, stray bullets kill too.
Lindsay/Tim: It’s not the trial that seems to be the issue; it’s the fact that this greaseball is free until then. If they have enough evidence to charge the guy, and try to go to trial, then why can’t they keep him in prison until then? Firearms offenses (or attempted murder in general) should be treated with a much higher degree of severity than the other more mundane stuff… The crime they are charged with should also dictate whether they get back on the street until the trial.
I don’t think “flight risk” should be the only consideration.
He shot at someone in public, and so he should sit in a dusty jail cell until he gets back in court.
From what I read in the Herald it sounds more of a case of an accidental shooting rather than an actual attempt to harm anyone. So if it is indeed that and the fact the accused has no criminal record, then why spend money on puttung him in jail. Of course this is based on the charges rendered, aggravated assaut (due to damage inflicted in the shooting), Endangering the victim’s life by discharging a firearm (obvious), careless use of a firearm (also obvious), but no attempted murder or manslaughter charges. Sounds as if he was showing off a gun and he stupidly pulled the trigger and the tragedy resulted.
Honestly, if the guy was let out on bail, the judge made an educated decision that the accused was not a risk. Even if the shooting was an accident, the judge was clearly wrong. We’ve all made an educated decision and have been wrong, haven’t we?
You only need to look to the west (the big smoke) to see what we are in for…lots and lots of gun play, if the laws remain unchanged. We need to leave race out of the equation. This is not about stealing a loaf of bread to feed you family. It is about the never ending cycle of retaliation, and drug abuse. What the courts do not realize, is that most people do not care if incarceration, or the death penalty (another bitch for another day) is an effective deterant. They just want revenge, vengance, or justice. The number of people losing faith in religion is ever growing. “No worries, they will be judged by God” is rapidly losing credibility.
it was better when the hells angels were in charge
Flyingbrick— I think it’s less now about “they will be judged by God”, but they will be judged by society. You’re spot on about the loaf of bread thing though, it’s not just about that anymore. But, the old adage of “let them kill each other” doesn’t work either, people far too often get caught in the crossfire.
If we keep releasing these people, eventually, probably sooner rather than later, they will shoot and/or kill an innocent person. The problem is there are so many people being held in jails and prisons right now for petty things, it makes less room for the people who should be held. If remanded until trial, when sentenced, that time usually gets taken off the sentence…usually. Big deal if he goes and shoots another criminal…yeah right, and then there is the little kid walking home or something from a friends and happens to get caught in the crossfire. And anyone who has actually been wrongly accused/charged for something will realize quite quickly, though they say innocent until proven guilty, it is quite often the other way around. YOU have to prove your innocence, just as they have to prove your guilt. And as far as accidental shootings go, there shouldn’t be any within the city as it is illegal to discharge a firearm… within (x)amount of distance…Unless you’re hunting in the woods, I do not see how there could be an ‘accidental’ shooting…
Nobody who owns or wants to own a gun, Americans included, see how there could ever be an accidental shooting…. right up until their 8 year old “accidentally” kills his brother.
Fever writes, “Even if the shooting was an accident, the judge was clearly wrong”. What’s so clear about it, Fever? If it were that murky do you think the judge could have made such a decision on a public bench and what could be the judge’s motives? To put the public at risk? To make some points with the Hell’s Angels? To impress council? That’s not his job so please tell us how he was wrong and why it’s so “clear”.
kay, I’d really like to see you up in the judges’ chair and make decisions that effect people’s freedom on a daily basis and not make one mistake. Please don’t take my posts out of context.
After the case with Tim McLean closed, I lost all faith in humanity. This doesn’t really surprise me.
Don’t blame the system; blame the cowards who saw another human being get shot down and didn’t come forth. Blame the community for being unwilling to proctect the eye-witnesses.
It’s called proof – if there isn’t any, the courts can’t make miracles for people.