Story from today's Sunday Post (have you seen it yet Screacher?!)

Steven Craven, a Newcastle fan currently on parole from a life sentence for murder in 1989, has complained that his parole conditions were in breach of his human rights. Apparently he was not able to watch the Toon! At the High Court in London Mr Justice Stanley Burton said: "His inability to watch Newcastle United FC when they play at home, while regrettable, in the scheme of things is insufficient weight to lead me to reject the revised exclusion zone." The judge said society had to protect the parents of his victim from their anxiety about a chance encounter with him!

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Answers

I would argue that WATCHING Newcastle United is a breach of human rights at times!

Since the implementation of the human rights act there have been loads of legal challenges by prisoners and parolees regarding human rights but this is the first time I've seen anything so bizarre. He can always go to away games I suppose.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

So he must have topped his victim near the town centre then - presumably there's something like a mile exclusion from the locality.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

The incident took place in the ritzy nightclub,also known as the oxford building.It is quite close to the monstority that is sid james park!

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

monstority
You love chucking these big words in to confuse us thick skunks, SK.

If you used words we could comprehend, your point would have much more impact

What was your point, by the way ?

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Jacko, this was the main story in yesterday's Journal. First thing that struck me was the fact he's out on parole after commiting the murder only 10 years ago.

IMHO, that is appalling (yes, I know it's not an isolated case - par for the course I'm afraid). Imagine what any of us would feel like if a loved one of ours had been killed and the killer only got banged up for 10 years? Ferchrisakes. Apparently the exclusion was mainly due to avoiding a chance encounter with the victims family.

As far as I'm concerned, they can include Powburn in that exclusion zone. I don't want him near me. And I certainly don't want to sit next to him at SJP.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

I wasn't passing judgment on the case Screacher - simply passing on the story.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

yes yes pit Bill.You know i meant monstrosity all along.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Jacko, sorry if I gave the impression that you were. It was clear to me that you were just passing on the story. However, that incident hit a nerve with me. Perhaps I over-reacted.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Nee probs marra.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Just the normal cut and thrust of being petty, SK. But look on the bright side, it probably confirms one of your mag preconceptions.

One of the advantages of being a miserable owld git. But without a doubt your turn'll come.:-))

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Sorry to have to tell you Screacher but serving 10 years of a life sentence is not unusual.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

10 years for life is shocking, whether it is standard or not. Didn't this guy do a runner to the US as well and stay there for a year. Shouldn't that have been taken into account?

Also, this guy was the reason I wasn't allowd out in Newcastle when I was around 17 or 18 as my parents were worried about how dangerous the toon was.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

I watched 'Anybody's nightmare' earlier, and can't comprehend that the legal system made such an ar5e of the case.

It's chickens coming home to roost as far as I'm concerned. I'm basically in favour of the 'hang 'em high' form of justice, - I had quite a bit to say on the topic in a very interesting thread a while back, but I must admit, I'd have a hard time justifying my point of view after watching that.

It looks like it's ok being prepared to take the risk of a miscarriage at your own expense, if the odds against are as high as I've always hoped they are, but to end up locked away because the cops wanted it, and the defense didn't ask the right questions, has given me pause for thought, to put it mildly.

So, HELP. where the fook does binlid fit into all of this ? Does he have a case ?

In a way, it looks as if you're nearly better off making your mind up early on, and sticking to that, regardless.

So why don't I join the NF, or even the UK branch of the taliban ?

I'm gona try and get me feet back on the deck and listen to some music, but basically, I'm sh1t scared to go where the cds are in case I get arrested on the way, and end up as a dramatised documentary called 'Some other poor bugga's nightmare'.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001