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Old 05-16-2008, 10:29 AM   #1
calculoso
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Default Crown must prove teens deserve adult sentences: SCC

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

Quote:
It is the responsibility of the Crown to prove teens convicted of violent crimes should be sentenced as adults, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Friday.

The ruling does not bar judges from handing adult sentences to offenders between 14 and 17 years old, but says that it is now up to the Crown to prove why a stricter sentence is appropriate.
Quote:
The court, which ruled 5-4 in the matter, said young offenders should be presumed less morally culpable for their crimes than adults. It said the reverse onus is a breach of justice and of young offenders' Charter rights.
And what about the victim's rights? Do they not count?

Quote:
The ruling means minors have a constitutional right to be treated differently from adults, Queen's University legal expert Nicholas Bala told the Canadian Press.

With the ruling, the Youth Criminal Justice Act moves from simple legislation to an extension of the Constitution, Bala said, calling it the most significant case about juvenile justice in all the years of the youth court system.
Great..

As a comment down below says:
Quote:
Greg
Another great decision by the people who really run the country-lawyers at the helm of the SCC.

Its a great day to be a youth criminal. Goes kids go you can do the crime without the time.

BRUTAL, BRUTAL, BRUTAL!
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