Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
My family has been unfortunate enough to have read a victim impact statement in court.
Maybe you think I'm someone who carries a burdensome amount of sentiment around with them, but I think the victim is somewhat under represented in criminal proceedings as they relate to violent crime in Canada.
Victim impact statement won't turn a simple assault into a life sentence, but they should help contextualize the impact of the violent crime on society and the burden that charge has brought on the community, and it should be influential on sentencing.
We often see signs of remorse and empathy taken into account during sentencing. A remorseful, apologetic defendant will likely see a lesser sentence for the same crime as a remorseless defendant. I don't think this is out of bounds or an indication of a judicial flaw and I like to think I'm a pretty 'cut and dry', justice oriented individual.
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My real issue is that it often involves unverified statements that have nothing to do with the crime. So it shouldn't matter whether your son was a wonderful boy or an absolute disgusting wretch - murder is murder in the eyes of the law.
It sets a standard of bias, which should have nothing to do with justice.