General Chat

I too think that all premeditated killings should be harshly punished - equally. Sometimes they seek out a woman or old person specifically and they don't get a harsher sentence for that. I hope those thugs like it when some big butch bruiser asks them if they want to be mummy or daddy tonight? If you get my meaning. Jacquie

I've been trying to work out in my head whether the fact that they were racially motivated is worse... I think it is. To go after someone and kill them because of the colour of their skin is disgusting! I am so angry and upset about this that if I heard they'd both been killed with an ice axe similar to the one they used to end the life of poor Anthony Walker, then I wouldn't be upset. becx

Im sorry but this racist murder thing is all wrong. There was a case in our town last year when two Asian boys beat up and killed a white boy. The PC brigade including the police and local ethnic doo gooders decreed that it was NOT a racist murder. The trial was even conducted 30 miles away and suppressed from the local news. I beg to differ. One rule for all please. Murder is murder is murder is murder. Period..

If the white boy was killed at random just because he was white then I would class that as a racist murder. I know nothing about the case, so cannot really comment futher. Gwynne

Peter and Frances, I agree with you both 100%. Jean x.

The murder of an innocent person, racist or not, is unforgiveable. What I keep thinking is what were Anthony's thoughts as this was happening? I try not to dwell on it, but I do think about that often. R.I.P., Anthony sweetheart. x

Frances, you are absolutely right. All are as guilty. Racism is irellevant.

The difference between a murder and a racist murder is that with the latter there are two crimes committed - that's why there's a heavier tarriff. That law applies where the intent is racist, regardless of the colour of the victim(s) or the murderer(s). Peter - I would imagine that the police found no evidence to suggest that the asians in your town murdered because of their victims colour although perhaps you know better than the police or are aware of more evidence than they are. Anthony Walker was hounded as a 'coon' and a 'nigger' and murdered with a pickaxe because he was black by Barton & Taylor. I'm very glad that our country recognises racism as a motive and punishes accordingly.

Well said David, I agree with you 100%, racism should not be tollerated it as to be stamped out once and for all! RIP Anthony xxx Lib :))

David, I don't buy that. Would you also say that when someone is raped and murdered two crimes have been committed and the sentence should be longer than if someone is just murdered.

David, The Police had not even looked for evidence before they pronounced the crime was not racist. the chief of P and the heads of the ethnic comunity stood before the cameras the next day proclaiming this, The murder was racist, but it was PC not to say so, Sorry, you are in rose tinted land. Next you say:- The difference between a murder and a racist murder is that with the latter there are two crimes committed - that's why there's a heavier tarriff. That law applies where the intent is racist, regardless of the colour of the victim(s) or the murderer(s). What is this supposed to mean? Why are there two crimes? Murder is Muder is Murder ...etc is it not?

Hi Jean I think they should be but doesn't the law already take into account types and levels of murder?

I have just been reading through this thread and I must say I have to agree with Peter. I agree that the murder was dreadful and I wish they had locked the two thugs up for ever, but to say a racially motivated murderer should be given a longer sentence than any other murderer, is in itself an act of racial discrimination, which the PC police should pounce on. Kath. x

David, Perhaps what is needed is a change in the law then. Personally I do not know how anyone can say the taking of one life is any more or less than the taking of another for whatever reason.

Peter Sorry but I would trust the judgement of the police over yours any day. I don't know the case you're talking about so it's no use me commenting. There are two crimes because racism is a crime and murder is a crime or - if you choose to see it as one crime it is murder committed with only racism as a motive. Murder is not simply murder - there are degrees of murder from premeditated murder to manslaughter. I do not live in a rose tinted land - I live in the real world where I have seen my 8 year old relative coming home from school in tears hating the colour of her skin and her afro caribean hair because spiteful kids taught by ignorant adults call her the names that Anthony Walker was called the night he was murdered. You obviously think that the killers were treated too severely - write to an paper or your MP. Complaining on this board won't achieve anything.

David, I don't think Peter is saying that the two murderers were treated too severley - in fact I think most of us would say the key should have been thrown away, but if we want black and white to be properly intergrated in this country then we have to treat everyone in the same way and under the same rules. Yes, you are right that there are different types of murder committed, but at the end of the day, someone is dead, and the colour of their skin shouldn't even be thought about when it comes to finding the killers and prosecuting them. It's only when we stop mentioning the colour of someone's skin that we will know there is real intergration. Kath. x

Kathleen Whenever a murderer is sentenced the nature of the crime is taken into account. If the murderer is someone who preys on the vulnerable elderly or children, someone who has committed euthanasia, someone who killed many people or in this case someone who has murdered someone because of the colour of their skin that has to be considered and they are sentenced according to the law. These murderers have been given a higher sentence than some killers and a lower sentence than others. The racist issue can't be ignored because that was the reason for the murder. I don't think it would achieve anything - never mind integration - to say well let's not mention the fact that Anthony Walker was black when that's the reason he's dead now.

Sorry David, but I think we will have to agree to disagree. Everytime we look at someone and see a 'white person' or a 'black person' we are keeping racism alive and well. We should just see a 'person' and until that happens we might as well resign ourselves to the fact that racism is always going to be around, and I'm sure that's not what you want. Kath. x

The point with this murder is that the men set out to kill a black person. When that is the intent of the murderers you can't leave colour out of the discussion. Their motive was utterly racist, no other reason - how can that be ignored in sentencing? Gwynne

It will be interesting to see the outcome of the trial of those accused to fhe murder of PC Beshnivsky. >*|*<