Dumb and Dumber

I saw that as well Sarnia absolute idiots. Hope they have to pay substantial damages or do community service. Still don't know whatever possessed them to fell that beautiful tree.

I’ve often thought those who plead innocent but are found guilty should get a double sentence - after all, they’ve lied in court, which is perjury.

Georgesgran

I’ve often thought those who plead innocent but are found guilty should get a double sentence - after all, they’ve lied in court, which is perjury.

Absolutely!

The maximum sentence for criminal damage is only 10 years.

I hope they are found guilty and receive the maximum sentence without parole.

This thread should be in the what makes you furious thread!

I’m sorry - words failed me when I saw this the day it happened, and they almost fail me now. I just hope Karma kicks in and these two prize prats get their just desserts sometime. I can’t get my head around what possessed them, I really can’t.

The reason for it escapes me too.
I can only assume they thought it would amuse them.

A certain mentality of person these days seems to be solely motivated by ‘having a laugh’

Why just WHY !

Throw them in prison. Not community service , too easy , not a punishment.

Yes, I understand that they filmed the event and took a " trophy" How can it be, then, that we are funding a trial?

I believe that trials cost around £3K a day

Chocolatelovinggran

Yes, I understand that they filmed the event and took a " trophy" How can it be, then, that we are funding a trial?

What an absurd question.

Do you want to destroy the rule of law?

The principle is ‘innocence until proven guilty’. Guilt can only be legally proved by means of a properly held trial. ‘Due process’.

Think about it…

Well that's quite a sharp response.
There is something in what Chocolatelovinggran says though isn't there?
Someone filmed themselves breaking the law. The film is available to view.
How much process is required?
What 'due process' is required to persuade of the evidence available before your eyes?
Should there be some sort of new process now the world has moved on?

Of course it’s a sharp response.

We’re watching, mostly utterly horrified, Trump ignoring the rule of law in the US and at the same time here are Gnetters apparently oblivious to the absolute necessity of its observance.

Simplistic notions of ‘common sense’ endanger everyone’s access to the law.

Indeed.

Pleading not guilty means that you say you didn’t do the crime … or that you did, but you had an excuse which the law recognises as a defence.

It will be interesting to hear that the defence is. From what I have read, it seems the two men are going to blame one another - presumably in the hope that one will get a lesser sentence.

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC:

Carruthers and Graham were once good friends, the jury was told, but not now. That once close friendship has seemingly completely unravelled, perhaps as the public revulsion at their behaviour became clear to them, … each man may now be trying to blame the other.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/29/two-men-felled-sycamore-gap-tree-mindless-criminal-damage-court-told

When and if they are found guilty, I hope they throw the book at both of them!

This should also apply to companies/persons who take down any ancient trees without permission.

Carruthers and Graham were once good friends, the jury was told, but not now. That once close friendship has seemingly completely unravelled, perhaps as the public revulsion at their behaviour became clear to them, … each man may now be trying to blame the other.
They really are quite dim, aren't they.

As for community service, if found guilty of criminal damage, perhaps ten years of strictly supervised tree planting might be appropriate.

Golly MaizieD that was a little unpleasant.
Of course I do not want to ignore the rule of law. My family includes solicitors and barristers.
I wondered merely whether the defence might have been able to suggest to them, in view of the strength of the evidence, that a guilty plea might be better for them- and us.

I'm afraid I want to understand why - but don't think I ever will.

Yes Allira I really think they are now blaming each other. I wonder what their families think of them - if they have any!

Someone's woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning haven't they? Such a venomous response to an innocent post; says much about that poster.

I was looking at the facebook page for one of the defendant's landscaping business yesterday and he seems to have had an excellent, highly recommended business. No matter the outcome of the trial; it's unlikely he'll recover his reputation. So much destruction caused in just a few minutes.

Landscaping business??
He doesn't have an aesthetic bone in his body. Perhaps it means he lays paving slabs and artificial grass.

I just had a look, Carlotta
It's a Ground Work's (sic) company - slabs, concrete and Artificial grass cleaning. Machine washes and makes grass look new again.

How did I guess? 🤔

No, not at all Allira; definitely "all types of groundwork"; which makes it all the more baffling if he did cut a perfectly healthy tree. Interestingly, he lists an extensive range of equipment that he has for groundwork; one of which is large chainsaws.

Snap Allira! Quite staggering isn't it?