U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#1

Post by noahc » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 5:04 PM UTC

U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts
news.cnet.com

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#2

Post by pavel_lishin » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 6:19 PM UTC

Why would you write this article, but not include the text of the posts?

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#3

Post by sfk » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 6:44 PM UTC

Much better article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/16/facebook-riot-calls...

"Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, of Latchford, Warrington, used his Facebook account in the early hours of 9 August to design a web page entitled The Warrington Riots. The court was told it caused a wave of panic in the town. When he woke up the following morning with a hangover, he removed the page and apologised, saying it had been a joke. His message was distributed to 400 Facebook contacts, but no rioting broke out as a result."

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#4

Post by cellis » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 6:56 PM UTC

Make a post on Facebook, get sentenced to the Men of the Night's Watch. Steal two scoops of ice cream, get your hand cut off!

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#5

Post by Shenglong » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 7:01 PM UTC

Social media is no different from any other form of communication for trying to incite crime. Drunkenness is not an excuse for other crimes, and should not be for this one.

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#6

Post by biafra » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 7:04 PM UTC

Shenglong wrote: post #5

Social media is no different from any other form of communication for trying to incite crime. Drunkenness is not an excuse for other crimes, and should not be for this one.

Here in Germany drunkenness can reduce your sentence and your criminal responsibility.

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#7

Post by Shenglong » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 7:08 PM UTC

biafra wrote: post #6

Shenglong wrote: post #5

Social media is no different from any other form of communication for trying to incite crime. Drunkenness is not an excuse for other crimes, and should not be for this one.

Here in Germany drunkenness can reduce your sentence and your criminal responsibility.

Spoke too soon. Culture gap I guess

Edit: took out attempt at humor

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#8

Post by alain » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 7:46 PM UTC

4 years... There are murderers who do less.

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#9

Post by Stevenup7002 » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 7:47 PM UTC

What about the actual posts?

Re: U.K. men get 4-year sentences for Facebook riot posts

#10

Post by Daniel_Newby » Wed, Aug 17, 2011, 7:49 PM UTC

"Jordan Blackshaw, left, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, both pleaded guilty to using Facebook in attempts to fuel riots in Cheshire. They have been jailed for four years"

One wonders what sort of lawyer they had that recommended a guilty plea, or in the absence of a lawyer what was done to encourage that plea.

"Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, of Latchford, Warrington, used his Facebook account in the early hours of 9 August ..."

Dateline of story: Tuesday 16 August 2011

One also wonders how their lawyer allowed the situation to progress from alleged offense to media circus regarding four year sentence IN LESS THAN A WEEK. I don't know how Britain usually does things, but in the U.S. a non-violent victimless offender would generally spend most of the first week out on bail awaiting the gathering of evidence for a proper arraignment. Methinks someone has been railroaded.