The ramblings of a restless mind - Page 2

I am trying to sound like a responsible adult who can see different sides of this argument but its so hard for me to do that. I cannot. I tried. Granted, Salman Khan should have gotten his punishment years ago... but he did not because of the Indian Judiciary system. But that does not mean that the crime is any less 13 years later. If anything, its very important for people to understand that you cannot commit a crime and then pay for it and have it be forgotten. Paying the family, caring for them, all that should have been done out of regret and guilt but not as a solution to the crime he committed. 

I believe one of the victims has given an interview expressing satisfaction with Salman's judgement.

India's Judicial system needs to introspect. What is ultimate purpose it wants to achieve with punishment? Retribution? Recidivism? I agree with your rambling. Intent/mens rea is how we hold anyone accountable for a crime. There's a reason why in many countries, defendants have the right to a speedy and fair trial. Reasons to punish are: 1) justice 2) set an example 3) hope the time changes the person so that when they're back in the society, they can integrate. In Salman's case, the judiciary needs to be held accountable for its own negligence. You're telling me it takes 13 years to hold someone accountable? Had this been in any other country, the statute of limitations would have barred the claims by now. I've seen (first hand) in trials where victims are compensated for in such cases (rightly so!), whereas the defendants are sentenced to probation because their crime lacks the intent required to convict them.



PS- texting and driving / drinking and driving are similar. They both amount to recklessness.Edited by kitkataha - 8 years ago

Another reason why I think driving intoxicated is the worst decision to make - in the very likely chance that you do something bad like get in an accident, you're in such an effed up state that the subsequent actions will be as irresponsible and stupid.

Bottom line: Don't drink and drive. Coz you may end up paying for a crime you had no intent of committingEdited by desigal90 - 8 years ago

Even in child psychology, they teach is that punishment is only effective if delivered immediately.
Right away.
Only then does it achieve its purpose - to lessen the behavior.

Delayed punishment just ends up confusing the one getting published, for he she doesn't feel at that point the association between them as strongly as if the punishment had been delivered right away.

@desigal: and therein lies the reasoning behind a speedy trial. How can you convict anyone after a decade for a crime? The association is missing, not to forget, the defendant probably has been in enough mental anguish about his or her pending punishment. Here in the States, this would amount to cruel and unusual punishment. It's different when a criminal flees and gets captured after decades. But when the criminal is present, within Court's reach, and yet the Court acts this negligently, that should let you know that the system needs to be reworked. Even Salman's victims want compensation at this stage.

This is a good discussion you're having. Let's hope no one gets called a criminal, supporter of a criminal while we are at it.