Tuesday 10 August 2021

Maybe You Should Look Up 'Intent' In A Dictionary, Your Honour...

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Walsh pleaded guilty to wounding without intent.

Oh..? And what did she do 'without purpose or determination' then? 

She said the incident took place on April 27 last year, when the victim went to visit Cheryl Morrison, who also lived in the same area as Walsh. Ms Caples went to Walsh's address after discovering a living room window had been damaged and Ms Snowdon said Walsh 'felt genuinely fearful for her safety'.
Another neighbour said they 'heard raised voices' and 'as an argument was taking place Walsh came out of her address with a white kettle in her hand'.
They said they heard Ms Walsh say 'watch out'. Ms Caples said she then 'felt boiling hot water hit the right side of her face and chest' which had sugar in it...

Wait, hang on...

Unless she habitually makes awful tea and coffee, there's clearly intent there in not only boiling the kettle but on putting sugar in it!

Naturally, the excuses come thick and fast:

John Rowan, defending, said Walsh is taking medication for manic depression and anxiety. Mr Rowan said when Walsh was 15 she was the victim of a stabbing which 'perhaps has a substantial effect on her mental health' and added she suffers from PTSD.
He said she has two young sons, aged two and seven, and added her eldest son is 'very close to her'. Mr Rowan said: 'In my submission there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in this case.'
He added she had a 'strong work ethic' (Ed: In Liverpool..?!) and said there would be a 'significant detrimental impact upon dependents'.

What judge could possibly think this excuses this act?  

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, sentencing, said it was not only a serious case which 'could have been far more serious' but 'also a very sad case'.

*sighs* 

The judge said it was 'not suggested this was premeditated or planned' and was 'clearly something done in the spur of the moment'.

It appears you need to look up a few more words. 

The judge said: 'I have been just about persuaded in this case your sentence of imprisonment can be suspended.'
Walsh was handed 18 months suspended for 20 months and ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 150 hours of unpaid work.

It's beyond belief. 

The judge imposed a five year restraining order preventing Walsh from contacting her victim.

Why is this necessary if you're convinced that she won't do it again? 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sugar in boiling water used to scald is an old prison trick. You can heat the water to a higher temperature and the liquid sticks to flesh better. How this could be prepared without intent is a total mystery but then most of the UK so called justice system is a mystery these days.

JuliaM said...

So very true!