Nine months is the punishment for the desecration and toppling of more than 230 gravestones at historic Hamilton Cemetery in June. This is ridiculous and a slap in the face too the families who's memories of their departed loved ones have been besmirched.
A frustrated Ontario Court Justice Norman Bennett echoed popular opinion when he said the crime "verged on being considered evil." But added, yesterday that he was "shackled" by the Youth Criminal Justice Act in how severely he could sentence the first of five teenagers to face trial for the vandalism totaling more than $36,000. Still, the youth was told he must pay the cemetery, operated by the city, $36,000, and he was sentenced to nine months in custody.
The teenager was 17 years old the night of the York Boulevard cemetery rampage and cannot be named because the Youth Offender act protects scum who are disrespectful to a society that gives them everything, in return, asks nothing of them. Instead of being part of society these self professed misfits, think its "something to do" to go out and perform these malicious and destructive acts.
I have to love defense lawyer Stephen De Wetter; who is probably being payed from public coffers; when he argued it was a despicable act but the youth had been caught up in the devil's night mindset of June 6, 2006, a date that matches the 666 that is the biblical sign of the beast.
Judge Bennett must have been choking back the giggles at such a lame defense, as he said it was "absolutely shocking" that the youths had the "audacity" to topple gravestones and bring "sad moments" to the lives of those with loved ones in the cemetery.
Some of the headstones were destroyed forever because the misfits also moved the lids of vaults to get at coffins. The vandalism was already beyond anyone's comprehension but the youths were not content and had then gone across York Boulevard and tried to break into Dundurn Castle, but where scared off by a security guard.
"You are a youth absolutely out of control ... This community has to be protected somehow." Was the last tough words from the judge, but in the end his actions failed the community that he protects.
The youth has already been in custody for three months and will be credited for four and one-half months served while completing his sentence in the Peninsula Youth Centre and in a group home. The judge also placed him on 12 months probation with various provisions, including anger management.
I hope the judges who handle the remaining cases show more incentive and find ways to make these degenerates pay for their crime. In many jurisdictions in other civilized countries these punks would be looking at a good year in tough youth jail.
Later,
Kenaz
