Student who stabbed boyfriend may avoid jail as it would ‘damage her career’

[beorhthelm]

This is a massive over reaction from the media and everyone has got sucked in by the "posh people doing what they want" angle. It's usually the case on NSC that people who consider themselves as a liberal tend to suddenly turn authoritarian and call for harsh jail sentences whenever a crime is in the media.

This is her first offence and she's of previous good character, the judge obviously thinks she's unlikely to re-offend. There's also a mention of addiction and possible mental health issues.She's got a conviction on her record so her future career in medicine is now a moot point because she'll never pass a CRB check anywhere. Why are people so keen for her to serve a jail sentence? What purpose does it serve?

its about the perception of how the law is applied, we expect it to be equitable to all, and doesnt do favours based on class or wealth. here the judge *looks* like he's being lenient on someone based on their class, based on the university and profession she is going into (because there's not really any other information). its really about the judge rather than the student.

end of day she still has the conviction for GBH and had the judge said "the conviction is punishment enough as it will end her expected career" it wouldn't have been a story. and if it did most would accept a custodial is unnecessary.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

https://thesecretbarrister.com/2017...read-knife-so-why-is-she-not-going-to-prison/

This is worth a read if people are genuinely interested in why she might not go to prison. It explains how the judge may have arrived at the sentence.

 

[Surf's Up]

She's ****ed.

 

[melias shoes]

So everyone is going for the 'one law for the rich' line etc etc.......how about 'wouldn't happen if it was a bloke' angle?

Exactly if the man had done this to her he'd now by on a life sentance.

 

[Uter]

https://thesecretbarrister.com/2017...read-knife-so-why-is-she-not-going-to-prison/

This is worth a read if people are genuinely interested in why she might not go to prison. It explains how the judge may have arrived at the sentence.

Ha. I just read that as well and was about to post the link too. It's good isn't it? It'd be interesting to know the extent of the injuries, though we can perhaps infer they were more minor than most people would imagine when they read about a stabbing.

 

[Rod Marsh]

So everyone is going for the 'one law for the rich' line etc etc.......how about 'wouldn't happen if it was a bloke' angle?

100% correct. Women historically get shorter custodial sentences than men for the same crime. That's if they do go to prison at all. Shambles,

 

[Uter]

its about the perception of how the law is applied, we expect it to be equitable to all, and doesnt do favours based on class or wealth. here the judge *looks* like he's being lenient on someone based on their class, based on the university and profession she is going into (because there's not really any other information). its really about the judge rather than the student.

end of day she still has the conviction for GBH and had the judge said "the conviction is punishment enough as it will end her expected career" it wouldn't have been a story. and if it did most would accept a custodial is unnecessary.

Wounding with intent, not GBH I thought. Big difference.

 

[BrightonCottager]

A jam jar WTF?

 

[Billy the Fish]

A jam jar WTF?

Jam all over his favourite shirt, string her up!

 

[OzMike]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp....nia-woodward-stabbed-boyfriend-may-avoid-jail

Definitely shaggable, but doesn't look the aggro type, just goes to show that you can never judge a book by the cover.

 

[bWize]

If it had been the average person they would have definitely served time for stabbing someone. The lady being good at a certain "thing" and having rich parents does not excuse it. What sort of message does it send out when a someone with wealth and a privileged background gets off for stabbing somebody whilst high on drugs, yet someone lower down the scale who commits a crime like credit fraud gets 2-4 years!

Just wrong

 

[happypig]

If it had been the average person they would have definitely served time for stabbing someone. The lady being good at a certain "thing" and having rich parents does not excuse it. What sort of message does it send out when a someone with wealth and a privileged background gets off for stabbing somebody whilst high on drugs, yet someone lower down the scale who commits a crime like credit fraud gets 2-4 years!

Just wrong

If the Judge feels this is category 3 GBH (and the referenced report suggests it might well be) then the starting point is a Community Order. Even if it crosses the custody threshold, then he can consider suspension.

 

[Husty]

If it had been the average person they would have definitely served time for stabbing someone. The lady being good at a certain "thing" and having rich parents does not excuse it. What sort of message does it send out when a someone with wealth and a privileged background gets off for stabbing somebody whilst high on drugs, yet someone lower down the scale who commits a crime like credit fraud gets 2-4 years!

Just wrong

Read and digest

https://thesecretbarrister.com/2017/...ing-to-prison/

 

[OzMike]

Read and digest

https://thesecretbarrister.com/2017/...ing-to-prison/

The page has disappeared.

 

[OzMike]

Sorry, didn't see the link to it below.

 

[Bwian]

If it had been the average person they would have definitely served time for stabbing someone. The lady being good at a certain "thing" and having rich parents does not excuse it. What sort of message does it send out when a someone with wealth and a privileged background gets off for stabbing somebody whilst high on drugs, yet someone lower down the scale who commits a crime like credit fraud gets 2-4 years!

Just wrong

It''s the same the whole world over
It''s the rich wots gets the pleasure
And the poor wot gets the blame

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39427291

 

[Uter]

If it had been the average person they would have definitely served time for stabbing someone. The lady being good at a certain "thing" and having rich parents does not excuse it. What sort of message does it send out when a someone with wealth and a privileged background gets off for stabbing somebody whilst high on drugs, yet someone lower down the scale who commits a crime like credit fraud gets 2-4 years!

Just wrong

Is she wealthy then? I didn't read that anywhere. Not everybody who goes to Oxford is.

 

[Triggaaar]

If it had been the average person they would have definitely served time for stabbing someone.

It feels wrong and I'm quietly outraged, but I don't like to jump on a bandwagon without being sure - you say the average person would have definitely served time - is that a proven fact? Are there never incidents where they don't? The following post suggests it's not always the case:

If the Judge feels this is category 3 GBH (and the referenced report suggests it might well be) then the starting point is a Community Order. Even if it crosses the custody threshold, then he can consider suspension.

 

[Albion my Albion]

They could take her salary for 5 years and give it to the poor.

 

[Hillian1]

So she only got a suspended sentence and has now decided to appeal against that as being to harsh.

It would not surprise me to learn she wins and is awarded damages against her ex for putting her through this terrible ordeal.