After the last week of devastation, the communities of Victoria affected by the recent bush fires have ridden an emotional roller coaster. Sadness, sorrow, pain, heart ache, loss, guilt, happiness, thankfulness, comradeship, friendship, and the list could go on of the emotions people may have felt. We have seen the whole country band together to help those affected as Australians do so well. Our national pride and mate ship always shine through the most during the darkest times.Now we are having the emotional tide start to turn with the first arrest of an arsonist whom is suspected of starting the Churchill fire. Online forums are now being flooded by posts of hatred, calls for torture and more.
As quoted in the article below, everyone is entitled to a fair trial:
[quote]Police say a man charged over one of Victoria's deadly bushfires must be allowed a fair trial.
The community can have faith in the justice system, they say.
The man, whose identity cannot be released, was arrested on Friday and charged with crimes including arson and possessing child pornography.
He is accused of lighting the Churchill fire, which killed 21 people.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said he believed the man could get a fair trial and called on the public to allow the justice system to do its job.
"We have got to respect the system, our whole justice system is based on providing fairness to everyone that's charged ... because there is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty," he said.
The man remains in custody and is due to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday.
From: : http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/752127/give-accused-arsonist-fair-trial-police[end quote]
My hesitation is with our present legal system, is it really able to give the public of Australia a fair trial or just the accused. I mean will he, if found guilty, be given a sentence really worth the devastation and loss caused. Is it going to be a case of 15 years, parole in 7 after good behaviour? or are we going to see true justice. What is true justice for these sort of crimes?
Would you be interested in signing a petition to submit to all levels of Government, putting forward the ideas of the community in relation to the changes that we see need to be made in the Australian law to make sure these sorts of crimes against our communities are dealt with in the correct manner? If so make suggestions on wording of the petition.
Please post your feeling here: Victorian bushfires
If you would like to thank anyone involved in the clean up effort: click here
