Disabled man 'killed for sport'

[Queso]

Not sure if this has been covered already, but if it has I haven't seen it. To say I'm disgusted doesn't even begin to cover it. WTF is wrong with the human race? :mad::mad:

A gang beat and tortured a disabled man to death for sport, a court has heard.

Brent Martin died in hospital after being found with multiple injuries on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate in August last year.

A youth, aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murdering the 23-year-old, who was found dying next to a parked car.

William Hughes, 21, and a 16-year-old have already admitted Mr Martin's murder, at Newcastle Crown Court.

On Tuesday, at the start of the 17-year-old's trial, the court heard that the attack began at a bus stop when he bet £5 that the 16-year-old could not knock out Mr Martin with his right hand.

Both youngsters were trained as boxers, and their victim was repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and head butted, the jury was told.

Multiple injuries

Prosecutor Toby Hedworth QC said: "That man Brent Martin never lifted an aggressive finger towards them and they did that to him until he was dead. They did that for their own sport."

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a massive head injury and had suffered at least 18 separate blows to the head and neck.

The court heard that the 17-year-old defendant later told witnesses: "I am not going down for a muppet."

A 47-year-old woman, the mother of the 16-year-old, is also on trial accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

She is accused of destroying evidence by washing the blood-stained clothing of her son.

The trial continues.

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/7177716.stm)

[PlaceofDis]

makes me sickenly disgusted to be a human.

[Queso]

Here's the verdict by the way. I hope someone in that prison corners them and does the same to them.

Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/7270808.stm)

[mufflon]

seemed like a rather good verdict for change - they certainly had it coming... ... murder and the attack on the disabled is viscious and brutal and should never be accepted anywhere anytime

[cheeseadiddle]

Shoulda got life. No parole.

[thecritix]

welcome to the uk...

life doesnt mean life, parole is given far too easily because the government don't like to build prisons.. these people should hang, what good have these two (or the arguably worse mother) got to offer the world, other than the production of more like themselves..

[Schtumple]

Do the same to them I say, be nice if the damn death penalty was brought back, we're wayyyyyy to lenient with criminals...

[newappleboy]

Do the same to them I say, be nice if the damn death penalty was brought back, we're wayyyyyy to lenient with criminals...

Send them over here to Texas - we'll do it right. :-)

[Much Ado]

Do the same to them I say, be nice if the damn death penalty was brought back...

these people should hang

I don't want to start another death penalty debate, but I would like to voice my distaste at these comments.

Nothing personal, gents.

[Applespider]

There are times when I despair of the depths of depravity which people can reach. Even if it started as thoughtlessness, how on earth can people become so carried away and goad each other on without realising that what they are doing is wrong?

[newappleboy]

There are times when I despair of the depths of depravity which people can reach. Even if it started as thoughtlessness, how on earth can people become so carried away and goad each other on without realising that what they are doing is wrong?

It's not that they don't realize it's wrong - it's that they don't care. They either don't think they'll get caught or don't think the consequences will be any worse than the state their life is already in. In the US we constantly hear about people who commit crimes just so they'll be sent to jail where food and clothing and a bed will be provided for years to come, not to mention cable TV and so forth. And there are even instances where they can earn money by working while they're in there and they can get a lump sum paycheck when they're released. It's all BS. The whole judicial system is ridiculous.

[floriflee]

Perhaps it's just me, or just the accessibility of the media these days, but is certainly seems like there are more "killing for sport" type of crimes lately. I recall, in particular, the one where a couple of girls in Australia killed another girl for fun. I mean, what gives?!

Either way, it's just sad. I keep hoping that their time in prison will teach them a lesson, but the system so often fails to rehabilitate that that hope is pretty minimal.

Is there any chance of Brent's family getting some sort of retribution in the civil courts?

[MrSmith]

I'm against the death penalty in principle, but there are times when I could make an exception. This would be one of them.

[Abstract]

I'm against the death penalty in principle, but there are times when I could make an exception. This would be one of them.

Or lets pay £5 to anyone in jail who uses these guys as toys for their pleasure.

I keep hoping that their time in prison will teach them a lesson, but the system so often fails to rehabilitate that that hope is pretty minimal.
Yes, it sounds quite pessimistic, but I feel the same way sometimes. This is one of those times.

[Flynnstone]

I've heard a story about the way the Natives handled something like this.

I believe those convicted are sent on a journey. A very tough journey. If they make it back alive, they've paid their price.

For these guys, I think sending them to the North pole in shorts.

[MacRumorUser]

OMG! What on earth is this world coming too ? Seriously its really awful and depressing. At least the justice system seems to have worked - not much consolation for the victim though :o

[Artful Dodger]

Holy crap! I can't, NO, make that I don't like to believe this can happen but then the news shows me once again how primitive some people still are no matter where any of us live. My only question: is there "hard labor" there or just maximum security prisons? It would seem fitting that they be given hard labor for the crimes but some will argue with that thought as well and that's not the intent of the question/statement.

I would strongly agree that these waste of humans just don't care about anything, anyone or even any outcome in life, now or later. I don't like to see that people can't change but given facts from family that deals with the prison system (rehab/counseling side of things) most offenders don't change their mindset until "they" are way older and would end up loosing a battle or their life. That's where most (the one's that could change but are small in a percentage factor) start to rethink things but again at what, 50-65? I also don't want to say it, but whatever they serve is better than getting away with it and never getting caught or getting the chance to harm others for sport.

[rockthecasbah]

Ugh what a way to end a night by reading such a vile story... I can't believe those "people" are even part of the human species...

[KJmoon117]

I... Wow.. I feel more depressed then I was originally...

They should get life, seriously, if I saw the victim's face, I would puke. This is absolutely disgusting.

[Counterfit]

Holy crap! I can't, NO, make that I don't like to believe this can happen but then the news shows me once again how primitive some people still are no matter where any of us live. My only question: is there "hard labor" there or just maximum security prisons? It would seem fitting that they be given hard labor for the crimes but some will argue with that thought as well and that's not the intent of the question/statement.

I'm sure the UK has their own version of "Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison".

[scotthayes]

I don't think 15-22 years is long enough. Even if the 16 year old did 22 years he'd be my age when he is released and that (I feel) is still pretty young.

On a side note, I'm not sure I'd celebrate the sentence with champagne if it were a member of my family who has been murdered.

[Abstract]

^^^ Maybe not, but at least a few high-fives would be in order.

In many cases, the sentencing seems to be so light. The reason is usually because "they're all so young," which is a lame excuse. In this case, the sentence really was what they deserved, although they also deserve to be pounded in jail. :)

[Schtumple]

I'm sure the UK has their own version of "Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison".

surely, virtually every one of them?

[Counterfit]

surely, virtually every one of them?

Hmm, I suppose they would be, wouldn't they? Not every prison in the U.S. is a federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison. There are state pound-me-in-the-ass prisons as well. :D

[maxrobertson]

It makes it even worse that his mother tried to cover it up. I can't believe the perversion in the mind of someone who would do something like this, and then someone who tries to let them get off with it.

.. these people should hang, what good have these two (or the arguably worse mother) got to offer the world, other than the production of more like themselves..

Yeah, I'm not much for the death penalty, but these people will do nothing but crowd the prisons, and if they're released... God almighty would that be wrong. They truly are worthless.


And people, quit saying "what is the world coming to?" Have you taken even a Jr. High-level history class? History is full of horrible crimes against humanity like the Spanish inquisition, racism and slavery, forced lobotomies of the mentally disabled and people who were nothing more than depressed. The world is no worse now than ever.

[notjustjay]

I'm disgusted, but no longer really shocked or surprised by these stories. Which is a sad thing to say, really, but it just seems to happen so often.

Then again, is this really new? Haven't we been doing this sort of thing for almost all of history? The Roman gladiators, for example -- for such an advanced and ahead-of-its-time society, their thirst for blood as entertainment seems almost totally out of place.

[dmw007]

That is truly a terribly sad story. It makes me sick to my stomach to think of what they did to that poor man. :o :(

[waffle911]

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

They really need about 16 tons of "do unto you" for this one.

Seriously, an eye for an eye seems like the best consequence for this.

Death by any other means legal would be too quick and painless for them to ever feel remorse for what they've done. It's just too bad that they wouldn't get to live in guilt for the rest of their lives afterwards.

True, it is a sick punishment, but I first came up with the idea a few years ago when I read a news story of a middle-eastern girl who was third wife to a 45 year old man at age 12 (or earlier, I can't remember), was sexually abused and treated as a slave, and typical punishment for spilling drop of water was making her get on her hands and knees while the entire family used her as a dinner table without any plates. They cut and stabbed right into her back underneath the food. Even sadder is that she did not see them as ill-willed after she had been taken into protective custody because she didn't know any better.

It's these kinds of crimes that stick with you when you otherwise have no relation to the matter. It makes me question whether or not it would be a good idea for the powers that be to wipe the slate clean and start over, unless they really are that sadistic.

I eventually started my own agnostic system of beliefs from stories like this.
But that's a different topic entirely.

[nbs2]

People are animals (http://www.nbc30.com/news/4274785/detail.html) too.