OT- Hills fire bug

[Redlegs14]

At the very least, the perpetrator(s) should be charged with attempted murder.

 

[Alex99]

At the very least, the perpetrator(s) should be charged with attempted murder.

More like involuntary manslaughter – they would have had every intention of starting to fire but never set out to take some ones life but should be locked away from society for a very long time.

 

[macca23]

More like involuntary manslaughter – they would have had every intention of starting to fire but never set out to take some ones life but should be locked away from society for a very long time.

Nup. Can't accept that, because when they light those fires they do know that there always has to be a chance that someone could lose their lives in them, but they still do it.

It's a deliberate act that puts human lives in jeopardy, some what like the actions of terrorists. While it's more like incidental attempted murder, in the absence of any other specific charge for their action, I'd happily settle for them being charged with attempted murder.

If and when they're caught, I'd prefer the courts to err on the side of severity with them rather than leniency.

 

[PrideOf]

If and when they're caught, I'd prefer the courts to err on the side of severity with them rather than leniency.

Agreed, but if that actually happened, it would set a brand new precedent for sentencing. It just doesn't happen now.

 

[Vader]

Put it this way...

A very low percentage of CFA/CFS volunteers are firebugs. No problem.

A very HIGH percentage of firebugs are CFA/CFS volunteers.

 

[Jars458]

Its a terrible thing to do.

You would have to think that these people have some sort of mental problem to engage in such behaviour.

Each case should be treated on its merits but its hard not to agree that very harsh penalties should apply in these cases.

As for burning at the stake and vigilante comments. Very silly stuff.

 

[jenny61_99]

It seems to me that someone who has a "passion" for lighting fires, knowing that lives/property can be lost, should not be charged with involuntary anything. It is a deliberate act. Life in maximum security prison (and only then because the death penalty is not available).

 

[jc67]

Worst part about it is that apparently a lot if not most of the firebugs turn out to be volunteer firefighters.

the guy that lit the big ash wedesday one wasn't.
he was a roller skating instructor.
He taught me to skate!!!

I think he was released in about 95.

 

[afc9798]

It seems to me that someone who has a "passion" for lighting fires, knowing that lives/property can be lost, should not be charged with involuntary anything. It is a deliberate act. Life in maximum security prison (and only then because the death penalty is not available).

The legal system does not provide that as an option, as you can only be charged with murder or attempted murder, if it can be proven that the perpetrator intended to kill people by their actions. This would almost be impossible to prove in this type of case.

I think it would be far more appropriate to amend the laws to 1) Allow for the freezing and removal of assets of the "firebug".
2) make an order of reparation in forcing the perpetrator to help reinstate what they damaged.
3) Tracking bracelets for a period of time after their release.

None of these steps will prevent firebugs, as pyromania is an illness, but at least this would provide some relief for those affected by the firebugs. Unfortunately death penalties or maximum security jails do not offer any compensation to the victims or allow any possibility of rehabilitation for the offender.

 

[afc9798]

the guy that lit the big ash wedesday one wasn't.
he was a roller skating instructor.
He taught me to skate!!!

I think he was released in about 95.

The Ash Wednesday fire wasn't lit by a firebug, it was lit by a fire spreading from the Heathfield dump, when an idiot decided to burn off on a total fire ban day. Not quite the same situation as pyromania.

 

[jc67]

The Ash Wednesday fire wasn't lit by a firebug, it was lit by a fire spreading from the Heathfield dump, when an idiot decided to burn off on a total fire ban day. Not quite the same situation as pyromania.

Maybe one of the 60 odd secondary fires did.
But Darren Bing was responsible for the main blaze and did significant time in jail for it.

 

[macca23]

The legal system does not provide that as an option, as you can only be charged with murder or attempted murder,

I thought that too, but I heard on the radio yesterday that someone was charged with deliberately endangering human life.

As long as the penalties are severe, it seems to be an appropriate charge.

 

[*PAF]

... It's a deliberate act that puts human lives in jeopardy, some what like the actions of terrorists. ...

I thought that too, but I heard on the radio yesterday that someone was charged with deliberately endangering human life.

As long as the penalties are severe, it seems to be an appropriate charge.

The SA premier must read BF as apparently (going by the radio up here) he has been quoted as saying that firebugs should be treated like terrorists as what they are doing is no different to a terrorist act.

macca23 strikes again.

 

[Asgardian]

I live in Mt Barker, I'd neuter the swine

 

[*PAF]

I live in Mt Barker, I'd neuter the swine

I got married in Mt Barker. How close did it get?

 

[Alex99]

The SA premier must read BF as apparently (going by the radio up here) he has been quoted as saying that firebugs should be treated like terrorists as what they are doing is no different to a terrorist act.

macca23 strikes again.

Didn't you know that Macca23 is "Media" Mike Rann .

 

[macca23]

The SA premier must read BF as apparently (going by the radio up here) he has been quoted as saying that firebugs should be treated like terrorists as what they are doing is no different to a terrorist act.

macca23 strikes again.

Interesting, as I hadn't heard Rann say that. This is probably a first - Rann and me agreeing.

Didn't you know that Macca23 is "Media" Mike Rann .

Boy, you sure know how to hurt a guy!!

 

[Alex99]

Boy, you sure know how to hurt a guy!!

 

[jenny61_99]

The legal system does not provide that as an option, as you can only be charged with murder or attempted murder, if it can be proven that the perpetrator intended to kill people by their actions. This would almost be impossible to prove in this type of case.

I think it would be far more appropriate to amend the laws to 1) Allow for the freezing and removal of assets of the "firebug".
2) make an order of reparation in forcing the perpetrator to help reinstate what they damaged.
3) Tracking bracelets for a period of time after their release.

None of these steps will prevent firebugs, as pyromania is an illness, but at least this would provide some relief for those affected by the firebugs. Unfortunately death penalties or maximum security jails do not offer any compensation to the victims or allow any possibility of rehabilitation for the offender.

IMO if you deliberately light a fire it is a deliberate, wilfull and pre-meditated act. Illness or not, one must accept the consequences of ones actions. A slap on the wrist and a psych assessment is not the answer.

 

[Asgardian]

I got married in Mt Barker. How close did it get?

Mt Barker was never really in trouble, I'm in the actual township, hence pretty safe.

 

[portentous]

I work with a guy who lives in Harrogate. Every day he drives to work leaving behind his wife and 2 kids under 2. I can totally understand how people turn into vigilantes after seeing what he's going through this summer.

If I caught the SOB, I'd kill him.

EDIT: I was in the South East when Ash Wednesday happened. Being near a bushfire is THE scariest thing I've ever experienced. Saw so many of my friends traumatised and people I knew die.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

I had to spend all day saturday at a friends house cleaning up after the fire. some of their photos are just amazing. I knew the fire got close to their house but I never imagined how close. Everything around the house was burnt, but because they had a bushfire plan they managed to save the house. It literallly stopped at their front door, their downpipe was all burnt but thats all.

They had 6 minutes from when they saw the smoke to when the fire hit, they were the first house to be hit. The CFS responded in 7 minutes and screamed up the road, they saw the fire and apparently just turned around and drove off to get in front of it because there was no way they could stop it.

I will see if I can get some of the photos and post them on here because they are incredible.