A developing pattern where criminal behaviour is considered permissible

Feb 28, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
When Babysitter Fatima Martin was found guilty of abusing a toddler she had a speedy trial and an equally speedier sentencing of five years imprisonment. Soon after, that story got national attention as newspaper and public organizations rushed to her aid, most of those writers giving their own second, maybe third hand account of what transpired, all leaning towards the so-called innocence of the babysitter. These were all biased accounts as to what actually happened.
It was a time of jaundiced reporting when suddenly race, where the individual came from (Martin is an Amerindian) the speed at which this case was dealt with, as well as the position the parents hold in society – Mr Joel Edmonds is a lawyer whilst his wife is a magistrate – all of the foregoing taking centre stage.
What I am most concerned about is, the amount of garbage thrown in the path of an otherwise simple but serious case, a crime is a crime irrespective of who committed it. This babysitter is guilty of the physical abuse of a minor for which she should face severe punishment, the babysitter’s race nor the parents’ status in society have nothing to do with it.
Readers, let’s keep it simple here please, a young babysitter for whatever reason lost her patience with a little child and physically assaulted her, the visible signs as well as the medical report are there to prove it so, the next step is just punishment for the offender. Five years’ incarceration for an offense that can be considered attempted murder is justifiable in my book. All the hullabaloo as to the punishment being draconian is uncalled for. I would want to ask those who consider her punishment overly harsh what would be there reaction if their child was left in the care of a babysitter who vented her anger on a toddler to the point where the physical scars are most visible? I would like them to give me a valid reason why this individual should not be punished?
When you delve deep into this case as well as others you will see a pattern developing where criminal behaviour is considered a permissible offense, where criminal activity gets a new name. It is the newest craze when it comes to a Georgetown/Region 4 landscape.
The Colwyn Harding case comes readily to mind here, when a felon could be transformed into a victim and he gets all the care and attention of an innocent victim. This is the nonsense that some sections of society embrace; this outpouring of sympathy for felons. I, on the other hand would like to see all those who break the law justly penalized for their wrongful deeds. My only regret is that all matters engaging the courts should be dealt with the same dispatch as was the Martin case.
Neil Adams

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A developing pattern where criminal behaviour is considered permissible

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