The numpty questions thread

[Dizzle]

Have I totally missed a major announcement with the Browny 250 stuff that just popped up on the Lions' shop webpage?

Was this something the club promoted or have they just sent it 'live' prematurely? (Especially since it clearly says the date and Tigers as the opponent - what if he doesn't get up?)

Either way it looks cool. Seems the club is determined to take all of my spare beer money...

http://mm.afl.com.au/portals/57/lions_shop.html​

 

[Ironmonger]

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to have to wait until Browny plays another five games before I get the official Jonathan Brown Coola Can at just $400! Cheap at twice the price!

 

[Skoob]

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to have to wait until Browny plays another five games before I get the official Jonathan Brown Coola Can at just $400! Cheap at twice the price!

They normally retail for $435.
Not really in my budget, but reasonably priced by comparison.

 

[GingerGreatness]

I see the maroon blue reverse jumper.

I don't hate it or anything, but 'less is more' has kind of left the building again. It's not as 'busy' as the Black jumper though, which is good. Will need to see it in the flesh I think.

 

[Ironmonger]

They normally retail for $435.
Not really in my budget, but reasonably priced by comparison.

So if you don't buy one, it's like you're costing yourself $30!

 

[Hollow Knight]

One for the lawyers...

Why was Brett Cowan's long history of violence against children kept from the jury?

I appreciate that he was on trial for a specific crime and needed to be convicted on evidence pertaining to that particular crime, but far out, surely his lifetime of predatory behaviour has informative value to this case - particularly in adding weight to the video confession.

Is a defendant's previous criminal history always kept from the jury?

If not, the only logical explanation I can think of is that the prosecution chose to withhold that information because they wanted to convict him cleanly and not allow any scope for claims of a mistrial or a prejudiced jury.

 

[winged1]

So if you don't buy one, it's like you're costing yourself $30!

Think what it will be worth if he doesn't make 250 games!! It will be like a misprinted stamp that got into circulation.

 

[winged1]

One for the lawyers...



Is a defendant's previous criminal history always kept from the jury?

.

Not a lawyer. But to my knowledge it is always kept from the jury because the case needs to be treated in isolation and the jury not prejudiced by past behaviour.

Having said that I would bring back the death penalty for scum like that.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Having said that I would bring back the death penalty for scum like that.

I fundamentally oppose the death penalty on philosophical grounds, but yeah, I have to admit I won't be saddened, disturbed or bothered one bit if he is found dead in the prison shower block.

As an aside, Queensland Police are getting a bad rap lately and much of it is deserved (albeit due to decisions made by the government) but they deserve a massive congratulations for the job they did on this case.

 

[notting18]

Why was Brett Cowan's long history of violence against children kept from the jury?
...
Is a defendant's previous criminal history always kept from the jury?

Criminal history will always be excluded by the Court if more prejudicial than probative. Previous criminal history of the the same/similar vicious crimes will always be more prejudicial.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Criminal history will always be excluded by the Court if more prejudicial than probative. Previous criminal history of the the same/similar vicious crimes will always be more prejudicial.

Fair enough. Hard to be unbiased with cases like this I guess.

When I really pull the threads, I guess there is no real way for that prior history to be used in any other way than "he did it before so he probably did it again" which is legally pretty unfair I suppose. At the end of the day legal ethics have to rule whether it is a traffic ticket or a child murderer.

But yeah, imagine if he got off on a technicality and then his prior history got released. It would be an ugly scene.

Cheers notts.

 

[winged1]

I fundamentally oppose the death penalty on philosophical grounds, but yeah, I have to admit I won't be saddened, disturbed or bothered one bit if he is found dead in the prison shower block.

As an aside, Queensland Police are getting a bad rap lately and much of it is deserved (albeit due to decisions made by the government) but they deserve a massive congratulations for the job they did on this case.

I actually felt physically ill when reading about some of his other crimes. Scary to think there are a number of people out and about in society like that.

I agree the cop sting was brilliant.

 

[whatboutbob]

Between this and the Meagher case in Melbourne, one has to wonder at how light serial criminals cop it. I read the Vic parole system has been tightened significantly and Bayley is being held accountable by his comrades behind bars. Hard to shed a tear for him.

 

[notting18]

Fair enough. Hard to be unbiased with cases like this I guess.

When I really pull the threads, I guess there is no real way for that prior history to be used in any other way than "he did it before so he probably did it again" which is legally pretty unfair I suppose. At the end of the day legal ethics have to rule whether it is a traffic ticket or a child murderer.

But yeah, imagine if he got off on a technicality and then his prior history got released. It would be an ugly scene.

Cheers notts.

Yeah, the only way you could see it being more than "he did it before so he probably did it again", is if the circumstances of the case are identical to show a pattern of behaviour. Even then, with issues this emotive, it would still be pretty prejudicial. In a white collar fraud cause that could be easier to get it.

 

[MacMum]

I just wish our sentencing was more like the Americans for despicable crimes of this nature.....guys like this would never ever see daylight again over there...would be something like 100yrs in jail or 4-5 life sentences etc.

..having said that, I also have no qualms whatsoever if creeps who do such horrible horrible things to kids or extreme crimes like Anita Cobby, slowly hang and suffer until they are dead....ideally on a tree with the crows picking out their eyes.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I just wish our sentencing was more like the Americans for despicable crimes of this nature.....guys like this would never ever see daylight again over there...would be something like 100yrs in jail or 4-5 life sentences etc.

He's yet to be sentenced but I am pretty confident that the only way Cowan will ever leave prison is in a bodybag.

..having said that, I also have no qualms whatsoever if creeps who do such horrible horrible things to kids or extreme crimes like Anita Cobby, slowly hang and suffer until they are dead....ideally on a tree with the crows picking out their eyes.

“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”

― Nietzsche

 

[MacMum]

I could become a monster real easy in cases like this..

 

[whatboutbob]

I actually felt physically ill when reading about some of his other crimes. Scary to think there are a number of people out and about in society like that.

...and he was only 7th on their suspect list... :-/

 

[matwt73]

One for the lawyers...

Is a defendant's previous criminal history always kept from the jury?

Yep.

It is up to the prosecution to prove he committed this crime. Based on the evidence pertaining to this crime.

However had he put in issue his character 'i'm a good bloke' his previous might have been brought up as evidence in rebuttal of a fact in issue.

Had he sought to run a psychiatric defense, it might have come in as the basis of a propensity.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I could become a monster real easy in cases like this..

Understandable. Vengeance is a very human characteristic, especially when "justice" always seems so disproportionate to the emotional hurt caused by the crime.

The world is a messy place and while I don't excuse his revolting, vile actions one bit, it is probably a good bet he was damaged by some sort of abuse as a child too. A state sanctioned, violent death just heaps more ugliness on an already ugly cycle.

He is dysfunctional animal that has to be removed from society and that is just about the best we can do. If the other dysfunctional animals in the zoo turn on him, then I won't be shedding a tear.

 

[dlanod]

..having said that, I also have no qualms whatsoever if creeps who do such horrible horrible things to kids or extreme crimes like Anita Cobby, slowly hang and suffer until they are dead....ideally on a tree with the crows picking out their eyes.

The problem is the awkwardness when some of them are later found out to be innocent...

 

[Skoob]

He's yet to be sentenced but I am pretty confident that the only way Cowan will ever leave prison is in a bodybag.


“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”

― Nietzsche

Sadly, "Never to be released" is only a recommendation, albeit a strong one taken notice of. It is possible for authorities to later recommend release. (I believe).
I hope this grubby oxygen thief dies in jail. I hope he isn't in jail long.

 

[Skoob]

One for the lawyers...

Why was Brett Cowan's long history of violence against children kept from the jury?

snip

Is a defendant's previous criminal history always kept from the jury?
snip
.

Just catching up with the rest of the news, I'm glad at least it sounds like previous behaviour is taken into account for sentencing, although I have never been a fan of or understood 'concurrent sentencing' each crime/sentence should be served separately.


Also for the lawyers, was there a change some years ago regarding prior behaviour/records? I used to read a lot of Australian true crime stories (particularly Andrew Rule & John Sylvester) and recall a story where a de facto stepfather ran scalding hot water on an infant who IIRC died as a result. None of his past was admissible, and as the jury could not believe anyone could act the way he did, he either got off or found guilty of much lesser charges. It was on the back of this that I thought things changed, or perhaps only added fuel to a campaign to do so.
So it is possible that monsters walk free because juries are not allowed all the facts.

 

[Skoob]

So if you don't buy one, it's like you're costing yourself $30!

You know it

 

[Ceebee]

I fundamentally oppose the death penalty on philosophical grounds, but yeah, I have to admit I won't be saddened, disturbed or bothered one bit if he is found dead in the prison shower block.

As an aside, Queensland Police are getting a bad rap lately and much of it is deserved (albeit due to decisions made by the government) but they deserve a massive congratulations for the job they did on this case.

You will not be the only one .scum absolute scum.