* Mick Philpott jailed for 'life' (15 years minimum) after being the "driving force" behind the sick plot to torch his own home which killed 6 children. * Nicholas McFadden jailed for 23 years for stealing seized drugs and redistribution of said drugs. I imagine McFadden will be out after two thirds of his sentence has passed, so about 14 years. Philpott I imagine will be eligible for release after 15 years, although you never know these days. Which one of the crimes is the worst?
Obvious what the majority response will be. But stepping back, how many deaths and destroyed lives do you think drug dealers are responsible for?
In a bizarre why I find McFadden's more morally abhorrent. I probably can't properly explain what I mean or why.
McFadden was in a position of trust and has benefitted financially (possibly as has Philpott) throughout his career as a criminal. The drugs issue in sentencing isone of deterrent (as is handling compared to the actual theft of items), but having said that, I would hope that Philpott's minimum 15years isn't the minimum he will spend in jail. He has life sentence which will be reviewed by the parole board in 15 years time, when I would hope they decide that he will need to spend longer inside. I can't see him changing that much to be able to convince them otherwise, nor that he would be able to come out after becoming institutionalised even more. It always seems as though financial crimes are treated more harshly than takers of life (especially driveing matters) though and I can see your comparison. Perhaps this is the way society values the crimes and sentences passed, i.e society puts more value on material things than humanity!
I don't know the intricaies of either case, only what I am led to believe in the press but I wonder whether intent was used as a defence in the Philpott trial.. Just a thought
I think both deserve life. As in life. End of thread (it's mine I can do what I want). [MENTION=2]Gally[/MENTION] CLOSE THE THREAD!
Philpott's crime was manslaughter. The result of a stunt which went badly wrong and ended in the death of 6 innocent kids. His own kids. Im sure that if he has an ounce of human in him, he'll be mentally tortured every day for the rest of his life (And so he should). I cannot see he will ever be released. More likely to be killed by another inmate or he take his own life. McFadden abused his position as a police officer and this must always carry the harshest of punishments. Without this, the credibility of the police would be put into question. That could ultimately lead to civil unrest like the London riots the other year. Think the difference is that McFadden will feel he got caught and is doing time, where Philpott will hopefully be haunted every last day of his life.