A Tribute to Victims

With the shocking killing of Leeds teacher Ann Maguire, who was stabbed to death in her classroom and reports of another botched execution in America (step forward Oklahoma), this is a week which proves (as if needed) that murder is never far away. Naturally it rekindles the age old debate about what society should do with its murderers.
Regular readers of the Dai Jakes blog will know that in the past I have favoured capital punishment and in my heart I can see reason why I do, but alas my head is slowly turning toward the belief that a life sentence is more appropriate ('life' in bold because I mean a full life tariff as opposed to free in fifteen to twenty years). And while some suggest a memorial for Drummer Lee Rigby, I cannot imagine a more fitting tribute than making life in jail mandatory for all murderers. Nothing against stone memorials to honour victims, I just feel that tough and fair Justice is more useful and benefits society whole. A force to help crush the bloody hand of murder, making everyone safer.
Indeed the more I think about it, the better idea it sounds. In Britain we only have around 50 or 60 murderers serving life without parole, which is a very poor show. Murder is a most heinous, wicked crime, destroying not just victims but loved ones also and to have the majority of killers walk free after serving fifteen years, sticks in my throat a tad. More than a tad if I'm honest, it fairly makes my blood boil.
Capital punishment, whilst delivering justice to one particular thug, doesn't 'treat' the rest of them. And not everyone agrees with the death penalty. A mandatory life sentence for all however would (and while there are those who disagree with even full tariffs, their reasoning behind those beliefs are weak and anyway those types don't exist in particularly high numbers). Of course we could simply send the entire rotten bunch to the gallows but im afraid that in these 'enlightened' times of 21st century (and I am still searching for evidence of this enlightenment), that won't fly. Reality won't allow for mass executions, it takes a different kind of world for that to happen and however much people say they would hang all killers, I suspect the truth when it came to it would be different.
I think life without parole for all murderers is a wonderful idea, I absolutely believe in it 100% and think it a perfect tribute for murder victims and families. And like I say, would benefit society in general too. Marble memorials and flowery displays are all well and good but were I Jakes I, King of Great Britain (and I can dream hehe) I would create a more lasting tribute to victims of violent crime and set in law that if you commit murder in this country then the remainder of your 'mortal liberty' is forfeit. Down you shall go for life. Justice for the slain, and protection for the rest of us.

We deserve at least this, and victims certainly do.

No Jake's Joy over Kidnappers Suicide

Looking nice?

So Ariel Castro, the Cleveland kidnapper has been found hanged in his prison cell? The creep was was found about 9.20pm yesterday at Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio, just one month into his 1,000 year prison term.

Look, don't get me wrong here, im Pro death penalty, so its no loss in my eyes but! I am also in conflict with myself because I believe he got off way too lightly. Have you seen photos of the cell (or similar cells) this guy was kept in? There is one above. His suffering is over, I would also prefer the stiff n' blue option against spending any amount of time in one of those. Then of course there is the fear thing. Castro would have been a marked man in gaol, spending every day, every hour of that day, watching his back, wary of a 'shiv' being plunged into his podgy flesh. Or an eye gouging (these inmates can be terrible with their jailhouse retribution.) He is free of that now too.
Also, because I do not believe in such a place as 'hell', and think we all (sinners included) go to a gentle paradise after we die, its even harder to take this news and I cannot see much to be happy about. It is pretty evident to me that to a lot of folk death is a mighty taboo, the hideous dark to end all darkness; but to me (and there others who feel the same) death is not so frightening, it doesn't posses that dreadful clout and therefore my jubilation at the news of Ariel Castros demise will not include shouts of "YES!" and "Burn in hell!" Because I truly believe he has cheated the 'hangman'.
Here in Great Britain, the vile Ian Brady is on his 47th year in captivity and guess what? He is begging for the right to end his pathetic life. The worm has been on hunger strike for years but the high security hospital he so deeply despises, keeps on force feeding him in order to deny him his freedom. Death is escape. Death is no more weakness of flesh. Death is becoming pure. Death is freedom.
Of course we all hold different beliefs, this is the beauty of Life and there will be thousands of merry people today, celebrating Castro's descent into hell or some other eternal damnation. Good luck to you, enjoy your day but brief it will be. Rather like this cretins sentence.

Justice for April Jones

No fun in the sun here

Yesterday the wretch that is Mark Bridger was given a whole life sentence for the murder of 5 year old April Jones. He will die in prison. And you know what? Dai Jakes is satisfied with that result. Long time readers of this blog will know by now that it is a supporter of the hangman and scaffold but for once there is relief that death will be a very long time coming (providing the Scum That Is Bridger doesn't hit upon some razor blades and a death wish.)
To begin with, he will be a Category A prisoner stuck in a prison within a prison with up to seven others on his disgusting kind. Single cage, monitored 24/7. Just one hour exercise, five days a week, clothes taken off him every evening, meals eaten in a cage after coming all the way from a kitchen (so you can imagine what they will be like when he receives them.) And certainly nobody will want to talk to the Scum That Is Bridger. He will forever be within a shout of the general population shouting out what they will do to him when they get him and chances are someone WILL get to him (they did Huntley and Whiting.) He will never be safe, never be able to trust anyone, never have a friend and best of all the Scum That Is Bridger will live in fear always until the end of his days. One way or another he will suffer every minute of ever day for this vile crime.

Compared to all of this, death would be so very easy.

Rest in peace April fach, justice has been done. Hedd, perfaith hedd x

Scum.dotcom

Says it all?

They say that the devil makes work for idle hands, and in the horrible case of Mick Philpott, its true. Philpott, his wife and a friend are due for sentencing this morning over a fire that killed 6 of his children. All because he didn't want to give up the £1000 in benefits they gave him. No more a father, than a terrible 'spermbot' made flesh.
Very few photographs say SCUM louder than that of this vile man. Bullied his mother. Attempted murder of an ex girlfriend. Scrounger supreme. Some would say (look at the Daily Mail up there) a living illustration of 'benefits Britain'. And when you see what this family received in state handouts, its hard to argue against it; £60,000 a year, 2 50" Plasma televisions, caravan, anything they asked for it would seem. Reports of his sordid lifestyle will certainly harden public attitude to welfare reform.
Choose any national newspaper today and you can read all about Philpott's antics but im appalled at some attempting to paint wife, Mairead, as a victim. A victim? Really? Sorry but I don't see it myself, all I see is another contemptible person, all too eager to partake in 'dogging' escapades (sex with strangers.) An utterly abhorrent and shabby couple. Hard to believe human beings can sink so low.
So what to do with them? Well I heard a lawyer earlier on the radio say that he cannot see a sentence of less than life in prison for all three of these cretins. Lets hope so! I sincerely hope that when the jail door closes, the next time it opens for them is feet first.

Jailhouse Justice

No heroes they

This week a child killers body was found murdered in a cell at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire. And you know something? Dai Jakes won't lose a wink of sleep over it, I feel not an ounce of pity for those who torture and kill children. What is troubling however is the amount of people calling the two suspected murderers 'heroes', and even going so far as suggesting they should be released. And yes you read that right, released. Go to any online edition of a newspaper who is running this story and in the comments section underneath you will read plenty of support for this bit of 'jailhouse justice'. (The same thing is happening on various internet forums.)
Have ye all gone mad? HMP Long Lartin accomodates Category A prisoners, some of the most dangerous inmates in Britain, and folk want a couple to go free? Okay sure, let them out, why not? Afterall they probably only raped or killed people themselves eh? So fine release them for bad behaviour (murder remember?) and do away with justice for THEIR victims. Sound good? No, not to me either. You see the trouble with 'jailhouse justice' (besides the whole moral side of it) is it makes prisoners feel they are on the same level as law abiding citizens who foolishly believe that their 'good deed' wipes the slate clean. Newsflash: they are not, and it doesn't. Heroic? No, its just bad men offing bad men.

The Feathered Gavel

If anyone still needed proof of how soft our British courts have become, read on: a man found guilty of manslaughter yesterday, was told to expect a jail term. Judge Mr Justice Williams told the man in the dock that he had “no option but to impose a prison sentence”.
This is how far along the path of leniency our courts have gone. A guy commits manslaughter (murder in its other name), where the victim loses their precious life and a judge, almost as if he is afraid to mention 'prison', has to warn the killer that he must impose a custodial sentence. Could someone slap me the face please? It is time call time on this madness!
There was a time when anyone found guilty of such a serious crime as manslaughter, could expect nothing but the sternest condemnation from our Justices, followed by a lengthy prison sentence and not once would the judge show any sign that he was sorry to impose it. He sent the miserable prisoner down without remorse, satisfied he had banged the gavel of Lady Justice and had the approval of a grateful public.
But times have changed and favour now swings the way of the lawless as we bend further backwards to pamper and accomodate the criminals among us. Warnings for first time paedophile offences. A puny 12 years for murder. Videogames and satelite TV in jails. Choice of meals. Somewhere in the middle of all this change we slipped the leash and lost sight of proper punishment, believing (mostly through the trickery of liberals) that a softer, more forgiving hand was the sensible way to go.
Does it work? Hardly, all its ever given us was apologetic judges, simpering to the thugs in front of them like the one mentioned above.

Rights Away, Right Away

So more drugs are getting in prisons eh? Simple! Ban visiting to inmates. Does Dai Jakes have to think of everything? Its entirely their fault their locked up in the first place so little sympathy should afforded them. Take away their 'human rights' the instant they break the law so they cant whine we're breaching any rights, and for the term of the sentence the prisoner has less rights than a garden slug. A HMP prison visiting room must be an awfully desperate place to spend an afternoon for the family so my guess is they would be secretly over the moon at not having to travel to see their wayward family member. What doest thou think dear reader? Too draconian?
We could always go the other way and allow them all the narcotics they wish so they could drop like flies and be less burden on taxpayers? Either way works for Mr Jakes. And please don't try to bruise me with name calling (apart from 'barbaric', I like that one), its merely a suggestion and hardly ever likely to happen now is it? I burnt my toast earlier and just needed to vent.

No More Light Of Day?

So the European Courts have told the UK we can extradite suspected terrorists to America. Very kind of them, thank you EU im sure. (Seriously do we really need Brussels to give their approval on everything?) The newspapers are covering the main story so Dai Jake's Book now looks at what kind of 'jug' (jail) these men are headed to. And bad luck chaps, judging by where other terrorists are sent in the United States it looks like ADX Florence, a supermax prison in Colorado will be your new home. A place nicknamed 'the Alcatraz of the Rockies' and described as a cleaner version of hell. Nice.
Cells are single only and windows are 4 inches by 4ft which makes it tough for inmates to know exactly where they are within the jail because they can only see the roof and sky. 23 hours lock up and the hour exercise is in what is described as a concrete pit resembling an empty swimming pool. They are held in near total solitary confinement, rarely do inmates see each other. So a lot different to our prisons where most spend all day outside their cells mixing all they want.
Of course we are getting some people now telling us that Supermax is 'inhumane' and cruel but in Dai Jakes opinion its not. Sure its hard but it isn't supposed to be easy. this is prison, not a country club. Keep this in mind: its not easy getting sent to a Supermax, its designed for the worst of the worst, extremely violent prisoners who have killed other inmates and guards. You won't find any street muggers or people who have not paid their fines in them. You'd think they would welcome the silence to read holy books and think about the horror their crimes have had on innocent people. If ever I found myself in jail id be begging for solitary confinement to be away from other lags and their (presumably) filthy habits and smells.
Anyway enjoy your stay lads, send us a postcard from Colorado, I hear its nice this time of year.