BF2S Forums No Jail Time for Army Contractor in Revenge Killing

Dilbert_X wrote:

FEOS wrote:

That is a far cry from the US government committing the crime.

If the govt, in the form of the court, gives someone a mild slap on the wrist for a serious crime its reasonable to conclude they condone it.

I'm pretty sure if an Afghan govt employee, working in the US, grabbed a US civilian, tied them up and shot them in the head they'd face a bit more than a $12,500 fine - regardless of the circumstances.

That is a fair enough point. I can't for the life of me figure out why he didn't get a heavier sentence. As I said before, he should've gone away for a very long time.

BN wrote:

Sentences are supposed to deter crime. Where is the deterrent here? There is none...kill someone and...well...dont do it again ok? (slap on wrist)

facts are: if he committed that in the US. He would be facing something like 15-20 years?

You can dress it up all you want but and argue that he deserved it. But at the end of the day its cold blooded murder.

Ah, but this wasn't in the US.  This was in Afghanistan where honor killings only get a slap on the wrist.  Where blood money settles killings.  And as such, Afghan degree of justice should apply.

BN wrote:

FEOS wrote:

BN wrote:

FEOS wrote:

That is a far cry from the US government committing the crime.

not sure anyone has even hinted at that.

It was more than hinted at by this guy. I think you might know him:

BN wrote:

Planet Earth.

negative.

Sentences are supposed to deter crime. Where is the deterrent here? There is none...kill someone and...well...dont do it again ok? (slap on wrist)

facts are: if he committed that in the US. He would be facing something like 15-20 years?

You can dress it up all you want but and argue that he deserved it. But at the end of the day its cold blooded murder.

I'm not arguing your last point. I said before he should have gone away for a long time.

But after re-reading the OP's article in its entirety, he was charged with murder 1 and plead guilty to manslaughter. Apparently, his defense team argued there were extenuating circumstances (PTSD). That could explain the lesser sentencing: he plead guilty to a lesser charge and had some expert say he "wasn't right in the head" when he did what he did. That happens all the time in US courts.

That doesn't mean the US condones or endorses such behavior. Only that our courts do things that don't make sense sometimes (see State of CA vs. Simpson).