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fredr123 · 12-06-2007, 09:48 AM

A couple interesting stories caught my eye recently.

Robert Latimer became famous after being convicted of second degree murder for the killing of his own disabled daughter. The verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada and became a catalyst for lively debate regarding euthanasia in Canada. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1994 and was recently denied day parole, in part, because of a lack of remorse for his actions: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National...10479-sun.html

Vuthy Kong is well-known to Calgary police. He has been connected to a number of nefarious incidents in and around the city in the past few years involving violence and drugs. Kong was recently convicted of manslaughter after fatally stabbing Adam Miu in February 2002. He was released from custody in July, following the second trial for this charge, after serving 2/3 of his sentence. Yesterday, Kong was arrested during a traffic stop after officers allegedly found him in possession of a loaded pistol and crack cocaine. He was also wearing body armour: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...10459-sun.html

To me, there is something completely incongruent between these two cases. On the one hand you have a farmer from Saskatchewan getting on in years denied parole because, even to this day, he believes he was doing the right thing in helping to end his daughter's suffering. On the other hand, you have a young man well-known to the local police for his involvement in gang activity serve part of a 7 year sentence for violently killing another young man and he's caught less than 6 months later continuing this kind of behaviour.

I've spent time before defending the Canadian justice system from critics, but these kinds of situations call for a critical review of the way things are done. I have a hard time justifying the decisions in these two cases.

Thoughts? Rants?

12-06-2007, 09:48 AM	#1
fredr123 Franchise Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Exp:	Latimer vs. Kong A couple interesting stories caught my eye recently. Robert Latimer became famous after being convicted of second degree murder for the killing of his own disabled daughter. The verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada and became a catalyst for lively debate regarding euthanasia in Canada. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1994 and was recently denied day parole, in part, because of a lack of remorse for his actions: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National...10479-sun.html Vuthy Kong is well-known to Calgary police. He has been connected to a number of nefarious incidents in and around the city in the past few years involving violence and drugs. Kong was recently convicted of manslaughter after fatally stabbing Adam Miu in February 2002. He was released from custody in July, following the second trial for this charge, after serving 2/3 of his sentence. Yesterday, Kong was arrested during a traffic stop after officers allegedly found him in possession of a loaded pistol and crack cocaine. He was also wearing body armour: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...10459-sun.html To me, there is something completely incongruent between these two cases. On the one hand you have a farmer from Saskatchewan getting on in years denied parole because, even to this day, he believes he was doing the right thing in helping to end his daughter's suffering. On the other hand, you have a young man well-known to the local police for his involvement in gang activity serve part of a 7 year sentence for violently killing another young man and he's caught less than 6 months later continuing this kind of behaviour. I've spent time before defending the Canadian justice system from critics, but these kinds of situations call for a critical review of the way things are done. I have a hard time justifying the decisions in these two cases. Thoughts? Rants?