Posted on 05/15/2009 3:21:42 PM PDT by Chet 99
-snip-
Castro is accused of killing his girlfriend's cocker spaniel with a ball-peen hammer in 2007.
Because he has previous felony convictions, prosecutors say if the 48-year-old Castro is convicted again he could be sentenced to life in prison under the state's three-strikes law.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
So are you against three strikes laws in general?
I am opposed to a non-violent crime counting as a third strike, but beating a cocker spaniel to death with a hammer is clearly a violent act.
Most CA folks like the 3 strikes law, but many feel the 3rd strike should also be serious to send them packing for life. Don’t forget that it is also an habitual criminal law. If it takes a serious 3rd offense to send them away, then they can spend the rest of their life committing minor crimes and the 3 strikes law would be moot.
I hope he gets what he deserves. Cocker Spaniels are not known for being dangerous.
You said — So are you against three strikes laws in general?
—
No, not “in general” but “in the specific” — when it comes down to a stolen pizza leading to life in prison... :-)
And, as for dogs — and cats or any animals — no, I wouldn’t count them any more than I would count beating a hole in the sheetrock at a house, or busting out the car windows or breaking up a piece of equipment as being equated to something on the level of a “person”...
If I was on a jury, and that’s what came before me, and I knew that pizza or a dog or whatever like that would lead to life in prison — that would generate a “not guilty” verdict from me... “if” they are going to maintain that kind of law...
Take a look at ...
Fully Informed Jury Association
http://www.fija.org/
If the laws are not right, and you see an outcome that is not just, and you are on the jury, then you can act to correct it, and all jurors can continue to act in that manner, until the legislature corrects the problem.
That’s where I would apply the rationale of the Fully Informed Jury Association, if I were on the jury...
Fully Informed Jury Association
http://www.fija.org/
At this point, the sentence would not be for the cruelty to the animal. It would be for the cruelty to the animal and all his other violent, anti social acts. Lock this POS up and throw away the key before he takes a hammer to someone's head.
Exactly. The level of animal worship in America is foolish.
I guess people who are childless need something to fret over.
This man should be punished, but not severely.
I’ve seen people take hammers to all sorts of other things, in addition to throwing hammers, but I’m not going to send them to life in prison for what I think they might do to a person, because I’ve seen them do it to a wall or a car or whatever.
I may have seen them bust out windows or smash holes in walls with hammers — but it’s not going to be “life in prison” from me on a jury, because of that.
It’s kind of scary what this guy may have done.
I would not trust someone like that around any person who was not very defense oriented and practiced.
:)
F him, hope he rots in jail and has a big, mean cellmate that loves animals. Record your farts now, you won’t ever hear them again, scumbag.
Two weeks of testimony? Two weeks?
Arrrgggggg!
Hey, where did you get a picture of grandpa?
He looks exactly like I imagine you to be. I can’t be wrong, can I?
Well, I may be accused of not dressing formally, but that get-up is way beyond me... LOL...
Clearly, this is a desensitized monster. For a bigger thrill he might next perform human abortions with that hammer and be honored by National Abortion Rights Action League....
Let’s NEVER let our Soldiers be called the baby-killers.
Or puppy-killers for that matter. Let nobody be deceived into thinking PETA cares about the shelter-animals they fill dumpsters with.
The same evil ilk that blocks the death penalty for murder, perpetrates evil on both other people and animals.
Pray for justice. Demand it.
Well maybe for his day... :-)
Not arguing with you.
But what is ‘Dr.’ Tiller of Kansas abortion infamy, in comparison?
Or the new HHS?
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