Statute Of Limitations for Murder?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

one of many rich and powerful people to get away with murder.

I'm confused. He was a poor gang member and got caught and went to prison (presumably for 10-15) and was then released.

How can you
1 Get caught almost immediately
2 Get convicted and go to prison
3 Serve your sentence and get released

and then still "get away with murder"?

So since he's rich now, was he somehow able to go back in time and get un-caught, un-convicted and un-serve his time?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911boost

Yes he served his time, but what value does it bring talking about it now?

Do the victims family (if there is one) want to hear about it?

That's a good question. If there is a family, since this is super high profile, some journalist (or a thousand) is almost certainly going to look them up for an interview. Presumably, they were aware at the time. It has been over 55 years since it happpened.

The other question is, is there any possibility that this guy can help someone else that is headed down the same path, turn their life around.

If there are a million young people that are going down a dark road, and this guy and his book and publicity could stop one of those kids from going down a dark road and maybe stop one of those kids from killing someone, would that be worth it? (however unlikely that sounds).

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm confused. He was a poor gang member and got caught and went to prison (presumably for 10-15) and was then released.

How can you
1 Get caught almost immediately
2 Get convicted and go to prison
3 Serve your sentence and get released

and then still "get away with murder"?

So since he's rich now, was he somehow able to go back in time and get un-caught, un-convicted and un-serve his time?

That is likely how Hannity, Carlson, Q and the crew of bimbos at FOX think it went down.

[fintstone]

Seems to me that a few years of easy time is essentially “getting away with it.” Should still be in prison.

[fintstone]

Let he who never murdered an innocent teen cast the first stone at the admitted murderer who is profiting on his crime while the family of t he e victim suffers. You guys sure pick some unworthy people/causes to champion.

“…a poor gang member” like that is a mitigating circumstance…lol. Do we sympathize with murderers that are not wealthy? Seriously?

[oldE]

You certainly get the full spectrum of opinions here.
It seems to me if this guy had got out prison after 15 years for a capital crime committed as a teenager and became a contractor or craftsman, that would have been alright. But this fellow got his degree and rose up in the world of business. Shame on him!

Best
Les

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Let he who never murdered an innocent teen cast the first stone at the admitted murderer who is profiting on his crime while the family of t he e victim suffers. You guys sure pick some unworthy people/causes to champion.

“…a poor gang member” like that is a mitigating circumstance…lol. Do we sympathize with murderers that are not wealthy? Seriously?

No. It has nothing to do with wealth. It has to do with circumstance. He was sucked into a corrupt culture as a young teen. There's a reason for a juvenile justice system.
I don't minimize his crime at all, and I don't get the sense that he does. But I have zero problem with his getting an education and working hard and rising in business despite his past. Is that not a net social gain rather than another body rotting in prison?

[herr_oberst]

Outrage is the new adrenaline.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Seems to me that a few years of easy time is essentially “getting away with it.” Should still be in prison.

I suspect that 10-15 years in any prison is not "easy," but maybe you have more experience than I do. I've never been arrested. If he should still be in prison has nothing to do with him or him being rich and powerful. If there's a beef, it's with the justice system.

Originally Posted by fintstone

Let he who never murdered an innocent teen cast the first stone at the admitted murderer who is profiting on his crime while the family of t he e victim suffers. You guys sure pick some unworthy people/causes to champion.

“…a poor gang member” like that is a mitigating circumstance…lol. Do we sympathize with murderers that are not wealthy? Seriously?

Glenn's post, at least to me, read like this guy "got away with it" because he was "rich and powerful." My point was that the guy didn't wasn't (at the time) "rich and powerful" and didn't (according to our justice system) "get away with it."

If this kid got away with it, it had absolutely NOTHING to do with his current condition and everything to do with the justice system.

[fintstone]

Any time you are sent to prison for a brutal murder of a child and come away without a record and a free college degree that you are able to turn into wealth and fame (without any burden of your past crimes) is pretty easy time. Less than 15 years is not a lot of punishment. Much easier than the person you killed or their family.

Instead of being pilloried for his seeming lack of contrition in using the murder to line his pockets he is celebrated. It seems with his wealth and fame, he would have looked up his victim's family and maybe shared his profits.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by oldE

You certainly get the full spectrum of opinions here.
It seems to me if this guy had got out prison after 15 years for a capital crime committed as a teenager and became a contractor or craftsman, that would have been alright. But this fellow got his degree and rose up in the world of business. Shame on him!

Best
Les

If someone murdered your child and later became a contractor or craftsman...or a businessman, would it matter to yo? Would you be as supportive? Would you think that less than 15 years and a free college degree were sufficient? Would you be pleased that he was selling a book about killing your child and being celebrated for his "Achievements" in spite of that tiny transgression?

Yes. "Shame on him!" It is not like it was an accident. It was cold blooded murder of a total stranger. All I can say is that he (and I) are lucky it was not my child he murdered of I would get to go to jail and take some college courses myself.

[oldE]

Maybe you would. But could you re-make yourself into a better person?
You can't change the past. You have a chance to learn from it. Some people can take that chance. Many fail to do so.

Best
Les

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by oldE

Maybe you would. But could you re-make yourself into a better person?
You can't change the past. You have a chance to learn from it. Some people can take that chance. Many fail to do so.

Best
Les

We don't know he is a better person, just more wealthy. His innocent victim never had that opportunity (for a "do-over"). This case is different than most...as it was the cold, calculated execution of a total stranger (not a robbery gone bad or an accident). While it is great that he apparently earned his lesson and has not killed again, making a good deal of money or even saying you regret it happened is really not redeeming to me.

Sad we do not treat rich socialites that committed crimes quite the the same as others. If he was a poor truck driver, no one would say a positive thing about hm.

[A930Rocket]

^^^ Making great money over the years and this book, how much is he sharing with the family of the murdered victim? I’ll bet none and never did.

[oldE]

Originally Posted by fintstone

We don't know he is a better person, just more wealthy. His innocent victim never had that opportunity (for a "do-over"). This case is different than most...as it was the cold, calculated execution of a total stranger (not a robbery gone bad or an accident). While it is great that he apparently earned his lesson and has not killed again, making a good deal of money or even saying you regret it happened is really not redeeming to me.

Sad we do not treat rich socialites that committed crimes quite the the same as others. If he was a poor truck driver, no one would say a positive thing about hm.

"Revealing his past now, Miller says, will free him to discuss his experiences with at-risk youth and people in prison, and perhaps help steer others away from violence and toward a productive life."

You are right, we'll have to take his word regarding whether living with the guilt of taking another's life for 56 years has indeed changed him. I would agree the fact he did not go back to the streets indicates there was indeed a change.

I think we'll have to disagree regarding the difference between seeking out a potential victim and taking life during a criminal activity. I know the law treats it differently, but in my pov, if you take a life while committing a crime, it is just as bad. Indeed the laws seem to echo this if the life taken is that of a police officer.

Regarding your comments regarding the treatment of rich socialites vs. poor truck driver, I think you're right: there is indeed a different standard. A poor person, if they stated their intention to work with youth at risk or incarcerated persons when they retired to attempt to atone for a crime committed half a century ago would be granted some grudging respect by some. A rich person better pay the family for what he did. It seems many value cash more than deeds.

Best
Les

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

^^^ Making great money over the years and this book, how much is he sharing with the family of the murdered victim? I’ll bet none and never did.

This man’s act of senseless murder could be construed as the catalyst for his eventual success. If so, the man owes everything to his victim.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by oldE

"Revealing his past now, Miller says, will free him to discuss his experiences with at-risk youth and people in prison, and perhaps help steer others away from violence and toward a productive life."

You are right, we'll have to take his word regarding whether living with the guilt of taking another's life for 56 years has indeed changed him. I would agree the fact he did not go back to the streets indicates there was indeed a change.

I think we'll have to disagree regarding the difference between seeking out a potential victim and taking life during a criminal activity. I know the law treats it differently, but in my pov, if you take a life while committing a crime, it is just as bad. Indeed the laws seem to echo this if the life taken is that of a police officer.

Regarding your comments regarding the treatment of rich socialites vs. poor truck driver, I think you're right: there is indeed a different standard. A poor person, if they stated their intention to work with youth at risk or incarcerated persons when they retired to attempt to atone for a crime committed half a century ago would be granted some grudging respect by some. A rich person better pay the family for what he did. It seems many value cash more than deeds.

Best
Les

To me, intentional murder should always warrant the death penalty...so I realize I am out of the mainstream (who find excuses for this and almost anything)...so I will expect to have differences there. My personal belief is that there should be no "coming back" from certain actions.

That said, I think that a man "living in guilt" for 56 years would have not waited until elderly and wealthy where there really was no risk to atone. He sounds more like folks my age who wish they had not picked on that one fat/different kid back in elementary school or unceremoniously dumped that nice girl for a hotter one. A little saddened by their behavior, but not enough to really make any sacrifice to do anything about it.

I think the differences in your example are less about cost in money than personal cost. Writing a book and getting paid to do so really does not come with much of a personal price, and indeed, the author attempts to use it to further burnish his reputation and gold plate his lifestyle. Now, he never has to worry about being exposed...as he has made his revelation a triumph for him. His wealthy and influential friends have turned a black mark into positive...as if his becoming wealthy after conviction as a murderer is something to aspire to. If I were a gang-banger, it would lead me to believe that I could commit almost any crime and still live a fairy tale life afterwards...certainly not the prohibition/warning used in my youth... that "it will be on your permanent record."

A poor person that chooses to contribute/spend their valuable time to do hard, gritty work with youth at risk (as a known convict/murderer) where they could instead be working to enrich themselves would be indeed be granted some grudging respect by some...as they have little else to sacrifice and have apparently gained in no way from their crime (a lifetime of hard knocks/sacrifice). A rich person would feel little pain being feted on the talk show circuit discussing his experiences from a soft recliner during his comfy retirement....while earning a fortune doing so. It seems quite the dichotomy...where the rich guy who murdered someone is portrayed as virtuous because he managed to get wealthy despite his heinous crime...and then is celebrated for doing so and selling that story. I would have had a lot more respect if this man had quietly worked with youth for decades without a payoff.

[oldE]

Flint, i understand. It is a very personal thing. We may speculate about the things within another's heart , but that is all it is:speculation. Most of us can feel lucky if we know what is in our own heart and are content.
Good talking to you.
Best
Les

[fintstone]

Well said. Thanks for sharing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Seems to me that a few years of easy time is essentially “getting away with it.” Should still be in prison.

Originally Posted by fintstone

To me, intentional murder should always warrant the death penalty...so I realize I am out of the mainstream (who find excuses for this and almost anything)...so I will expect to have differences there. My personal belief is that there should be no "coming back" from certain actions.

Your beef is primarily with the justice system. The justice system thought that this guy had paid his debt and released him. You can't blame the guy for not committing suicide or refusing to leave prison.

Could/should the guy have done more? I have no idea. I don't know what he's done and not done.