Ronnie Biggs poll - let him out?

[petewick]

Just heard on the radio he's not going back to jail

[maxmix]

Just heard on the radio he's not going back to jail

You are correct, Jack Straw has let him out of Prison so he can die in hospital....

With the photos that were in the news a few days back, I cant see him having long to go etc...

maxmix

PS I wonder what would happen if he somehow makes a full recovery, although I dont think he will leave hospital, unless he is going to his own funeral....

[Rabmacd]

A guy called Baxter wull get him out.

Tom B -- I would say ---yes

[blueboyno1]

There are child molesters walking the streets who got comunity service .This man has already served a lot of time and the only reason he was not allowed out before now is because he made a fool of the police .the prison service and the justice system .It has been petty pay back. Very soon he wont be on this earth but under it .

[History]

He was given 30 years for his part in the robbery. That was 46 years ago. He would have been released more than 16 years ago if he had done his time.

The law isn't perfect but it's all we have to keep society safe and if it is seen to be petty payback which I don't believe this is then so be it. Someone has to pay and why should that not be thugs and robbers like Biggs.

By the look of him he has a far higher judge to meet very soon and it won't matter if his journey starts from a prison cell or a hospital bed.

[the big man]

jack mills never died as a result of his injuries in the train robbery, ronnie biggs was a bit part player in the armed gang that robbed the train ,having read many books and watched a lot of programmes on the robbery itself, biggs was only really there that night by accident,biggs only crime was not to show remorse,queen and country did not like this , ronnie biggs making a mockery of them hiding out in rio for 30 years practically untochable , what a legend long live ronnie

[Ship called Dignity]

what a legend long live ronnie

Indeed. I must remember to teach the young ones what a legend is indeed!

[maxmix]

I'm sure Jack Mills (The train driver, who was injured in the robbery) died around 1970 of Leukemia

I may be wrong....

maxmix

(No one else was hurt in the robbery as far as I can remember)

[hugh]

If we're arguing that the sentence shouldn't be commuted on compassionate grounds because of the assault on Jack Mills, then aren't we entirely missing the point that Biggs wasn't convicted of assault?

[ionnsaigh]

My fault for not reading General Chit Chat, otherwise I wouldn't have started this thread. In my opinion both crime and punishment are contentious issues, hence the reason I chose Speakers Corner. Accusations and name calling only serve to detract from the main issue - I feel these personal attacks, run contrary to the rules of etiquette, expected by forum members - wouldn't you agree, mrn?
Of course Mr Biggs used the media - as they used him, the criminal justice system in a civilised society, must include some degree of compassion for the individual, regardless of the crime committed - otherwise we have a society, that's permanently preoccupied with revenge.

[bakbjerg]

If we're arguing that the sentence shouldn't be commuted on compassionate grounds because of the assault on Jack Mills, then aren't we entirely missing the point that Biggs wasn't convicted of assault?

I would say taking part in the robbery makes him accompliced in what happenes during the robbery. He was on the team, he has been anti-social and selfish then, and ever since, so why show him respect or attention at all

Where's the priority in the media's when illness and death of Ronnie Biggs and Jade Goody can gets hours and hours of attention on BBC and Sky News, compared two the few minutes for Harry Patch or the everyday heroes dying in Afghanistan or in a fire

Silence the media-lecherous away by putting focus back on the everyday heroes

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Anyone know who hit the train driver?

[ionnsaigh]

I can't help drawing parallels between the Biggs case, and dying Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, found guilty of the Lockerbie bombing. Serious doubts as to the verdict of guilt of Mr Al-Megrahi, have continually plagued the Criminal Justice System since the trial. Given similar circumstances that surround the Biggs case, and the subsequent release of Biggs - shouldn't these conditions be extended and applied to the Lockerbie case?
I wonder if another poll on Mr Al-Megrahi , would reflect similar results as those of Biggs poll.

[hugh]

I can't help drawing parallels between the Biggs case, and dying Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi

Well spotted that man! I don't want to say too much about this, because it's all speculation, suspicion and surmising on my part, but I think there may be a very close connection betwen the two cases. Jack Straw has absolutely no sympathy or compassion for Biggs whatsoever, he's already on record as saying that. The other case remains a matter of international controversy, and the British government's hand may well be being forced on that matter. All speculation on my part, of course. Now, if Jack Straw releases a man convicted of terrorism the government may lose face with the electorate, so the Biggs release may well be just a ploy for them to plead "even-handedness" if and when that happens.

Maybe I'm putting 2 and 2 together and getting 17, but I'd say watch this space.

[hugh]

How would you feel if Jack Mills was your son?

Old and confused.