Bless You, Too
How wrong can someone's judgement turn out to be? Not just 'someone', but a justice in whose determination in judging an individual can result in absolute carnage when his trust in the goodness of humankind proves unwarranted. Well, amend that; there are most certainly instances when people standing before a court of justice deserve an opportunity to demonstrate their sincere regret for abnormal behaviour seen as inimical to society' security.
In the case of Allan Schoenborn of British Columbia, whom RCMP Constable Scott Mcdiarmid was convinced was a dangerous man and did his utmost to convey his unease to justice of the peace Fraser Hodge - trust in a man who claimed to regret his temporary loss of perspective in threatening a schoolchild whom he suspected of being unkind to his own daughter - that error in judgement proved fatal.
"God bless you" was the kindly bestowal of appreciation that Mr. Schoenborn left with the good justice of the peace. It took two days only after his release for this man to murder his three children, ten, 8, and 5 years of age. Evidence that Mr. Schoenborn took the justice seriously when he released him with the words "I want you to remember you got a good break on this and, you know, appreciate that. Don't let anything go wrong."
One imagines justice of the peace Mr. Hodge suffering hugely at just this point. The three young children will never suffer anything again. Mr. Hodge will forever recall Constable Mcdiarmid's frantic overtures to him, attempting to convince him to retain Mr. Schoenborn in jail, until a hearing over his having threatened a child. At which time, presumably, it might have been revealed that the man was dangerously insane.
The officer had informed the justice of the accused's previously, frequent arrests. He pointed out the man's criminal record. That he was immensely worried over the fact that this man's aberrant behaviour was such that he could threaten a nine-year-old child. "I know we are close to the line on this one", Mr. Hodge responded. "But I am going to give Mr. Schoenborn a chance."
A dread decision now, to live with.
In the case of Allan Schoenborn of British Columbia, whom RCMP Constable Scott Mcdiarmid was convinced was a dangerous man and did his utmost to convey his unease to justice of the peace Fraser Hodge - trust in a man who claimed to regret his temporary loss of perspective in threatening a schoolchild whom he suspected of being unkind to his own daughter - that error in judgement proved fatal.
"God bless you" was the kindly bestowal of appreciation that Mr. Schoenborn left with the good justice of the peace. It took two days only after his release for this man to murder his three children, ten, 8, and 5 years of age. Evidence that Mr. Schoenborn took the justice seriously when he released him with the words "I want you to remember you got a good break on this and, you know, appreciate that. Don't let anything go wrong."
One imagines justice of the peace Mr. Hodge suffering hugely at just this point. The three young children will never suffer anything again. Mr. Hodge will forever recall Constable Mcdiarmid's frantic overtures to him, attempting to convince him to retain Mr. Schoenborn in jail, until a hearing over his having threatened a child. At which time, presumably, it might have been revealed that the man was dangerously insane.
The officer had informed the justice of the accused's previously, frequent arrests. He pointed out the man's criminal record. That he was immensely worried over the fact that this man's aberrant behaviour was such that he could threaten a nine-year-old child. "I know we are close to the line on this one", Mr. Hodge responded. "But I am going to give Mr. Schoenborn a chance."
A dread decision now, to live with.
Labels: Canada, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ 6:30 PM
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