Just deserts?

I do hope so.

Natural justice. The punishment fits the crime.

My first thought was a vindictive 'Serves him right'. But then I thought again. Two wrongs don't make a right, and if he is infected it won't take away the anguish of the poor woman who suffered this dreadful attack.

And - it will cost the NHS a fortune in drugs to treat him for the rest if his life anyway, and, if and when he is released,who's to say he won't then then go snd infect someone else? After all he is a man with no conscience.

In fact, he sounds such a charming soul, attacking a woman he knew to be ill, that he could go and infect someone else on purpose. You are right.

However, it is very nice to think of how he felt when he discovered that it was a possibility!

I wonder how the woman he raped is feeling, knowng that the majority of the public will think he deserves to get an incurable disease as punshment, and that they see being HIV postive as something nasty and life-ruining, when she has to manage living with that condition, too.

when the same thought had crossed my mind too.

And mine when

It's human nature to feel glad that he's suffering anguish too. No one's that saintly.

Sometimes there's a bigger picture that a single event is a part of that has nothing to do with being saintly.

And mine when

j08 all sorts of unpleasant things are a part of human nature. In these circumstances I don't feel vindictive. The normal punishment for rape will do as far as I am concerned.

I don't feel vindictive either but I don't feel sorry for him, whereas I do feel sorry for the woman, both because she was raped and because she is HIV+. Another way of putting that is that I wouldn't wish an illness on anyone but the fact that he may now be HIV+ as a result of a bad act does leave me with the feeling: serves you right. I don't know the woman's circumstances so I don't feel that about her. She may just have been doubly unlucky, as so many people are.

mice's first comment about the NHS picking up the tab illustrates how criminal acts affect the whole of society.

Says elsewhere that he started on cannabis at 9, drinking heavily at 11, addicted to ecstacy and cocaine at 13, then taken into care.

What a life! Not an excuse I know.

I can, and do, feel sorry for anyone who's had such a completely fucked up childhood as that.

But I still think it serves him right.

Which means I feel sorry for him for some reasons at the same time as not feeling sorry for him for others.

Honesty can be hard.

No. Not an excuse. What happened to you in childhood doesn't have to affect your behaviour in adulthood. Your feelings yes. Actions, no.

No. Not an excuse. What happened to you in childhood doesn't have to affect your behaviour in adulthood. Your feelings yes. Actions, no.

Sorry! #theusual

When does society decide that a damaging childhood (emotional /physical/ sexual abuse) is not longer deserving of sympathy/empathy/mitigation?

(N.B. I am not suggesting any poster has suggested that)

As a society we become , rightly, enraged when children are abused and ill-treated. We know that for many children this abuse impacts on their ability to feel empathy and to form attachments and is highly damaging. At what age does society think those kids should overcome their past?

Given that we all respond differently to situations..look on here some people are thick skinned and others are more easily bruised by comments... there will be damaged kids who do manage to overcome traumatic childhoods but for some is the damage irreparable? If so is that mitigating?

J08 crossed post..did not see your comment until I posted mine.

I feel so sorry for the girl , what a terrible thing to have happened to her !

Absolutely appalling for the woman concerned..not excusing anything in my post. Just asking genuine questions to see what people think Nonu

PENS, that is fair enough !

Glad we are both on the same page !

And you think that....???

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