This is definitely one of those expressions that needs to be taken seriously and with the true roots in mind. It is not an expression that can change to suit OUR time.
A formal definition: "a concealed motive or unknown factor affecting a situation in an adverse way." (Taken from the Urban Dictionary).
Why would I use this phrase? I looked long and hard to find something to describe the following post. This was most apt.
Today's Express (10th May 2007) carries a report of the DPP dropping charges against Quincy Allum. If you recall, Quincy Allum is the Coast Guardsman who shot fisherman Shazard Mohammed.
The reasons given by the DPP sounds to me lame at best, and aimed at protecting the Coast Guardsman at worst.
(Ishwar) Ryait confirmed in his statement that when the boat was eventually intercepted and boarded by Allum, the Coast Guard "tried to switch off Shazard engine and when he stretch he hand, Shazard tried to push back his hand. Shazard just hit it away". (Adesh) Ramkissoon gave a similar account.
Henderson pointed out that in these circumstances, based on the witnesses' statements, it is highly unlikely that the prosecution will be able to successfully prove to a jury that "the Coast Guard did not kill Shazard in self defence, nor will it be able to show that the accused did not honestly believe that he was under some threatened or actual attack that required immediate defensive action".
Given that there will be a certain bias on both sides, and as such I expect the other Coast Guardsmen to support their fellow officer, I still cannot see how this case cannot proceed. If I recall correctly, the fishermen were fleeing from an unlit boat (according to the initial reports) which they mistook for pirates. It was only AFTER they were boarded and Shazard was shot that the perpetrators identified themselves as a Coast Guard unit.
I have to say I agree with the wife of the deceased in this one.
What exactly Shazard had in his hand that he (Allum) could say was self defence and pull his gun just so and kill him? It's not like Shazard had a gun too, so I don't understand how he could say self defence," (Nalini) Ramkissoon said.
This alone would make the charge manslaughter at least. Far too often we have members of the armed forces pulling a gun without the slightest reasonable excuse to do so. I personally am of the mind that the majority of members from many parts of the protective services can satisfactorily perform their jobs without being armed and that there should be one highly trained unit to be called out if needed, much like a SWAT team. Then monitoring of firearm use can be made easier.
Still, even if Shazard slapped the hand of Allum away, how can that justify pulling a gun and shooting an unarmed (by all accounts) man?
What is even more incredulous, the Guardian reports that Allum is a Coast Guard mechanic. Can someone please explain to me why a mechanic is armed and out loose in the public domain?
DPP Henderson has raised many an eyebrow this morning I am sure, and once again showing that Justice is difficult to obtain in TnT, especially under his watch. I myself am wondering about the independence of the judiciary, and whether we tout that phrase too quickly.
A formal definition: "a concealed motive or unknown factor affecting a situation in an adverse way." (Taken from the Urban Dictionary).
Why would I use this phrase? I looked long and hard to find something to describe the following post. This was most apt.
Today's Express (10th May 2007) carries a report of the DPP dropping charges against Quincy Allum. If you recall, Quincy Allum is the Coast Guardsman who shot fisherman Shazard Mohammed.
The reasons given by the DPP sounds to me lame at best, and aimed at protecting the Coast Guardsman at worst.
(Ishwar) Ryait confirmed in his statement that when the boat was eventually intercepted and boarded by Allum, the Coast Guard "tried to switch off Shazard engine and when he stretch he hand, Shazard tried to push back his hand. Shazard just hit it away". (Adesh) Ramkissoon gave a similar account.
Henderson pointed out that in these circumstances, based on the witnesses' statements, it is highly unlikely that the prosecution will be able to successfully prove to a jury that "the Coast Guard did not kill Shazard in self defence, nor will it be able to show that the accused did not honestly believe that he was under some threatened or actual attack that required immediate defensive action".
Given that there will be a certain bias on both sides, and as such I expect the other Coast Guardsmen to support their fellow officer, I still cannot see how this case cannot proceed. If I recall correctly, the fishermen were fleeing from an unlit boat (according to the initial reports) which they mistook for pirates. It was only AFTER they were boarded and Shazard was shot that the perpetrators identified themselves as a Coast Guard unit.
I have to say I agree with the wife of the deceased in this one.
What exactly Shazard had in his hand that he (Allum) could say was self defence and pull his gun just so and kill him? It's not like Shazard had a gun too, so I don't understand how he could say self defence," (Nalini) Ramkissoon said.
This alone would make the charge manslaughter at least. Far too often we have members of the armed forces pulling a gun without the slightest reasonable excuse to do so. I personally am of the mind that the majority of members from many parts of the protective services can satisfactorily perform their jobs without being armed and that there should be one highly trained unit to be called out if needed, much like a SWAT team. Then monitoring of firearm use can be made easier.
Still, even if Shazard slapped the hand of Allum away, how can that justify pulling a gun and shooting an unarmed (by all accounts) man?
What is even more incredulous, the Guardian reports that Allum is a Coast Guard mechanic. Can someone please explain to me why a mechanic is armed and out loose in the public domain?
DPP Henderson has raised many an eyebrow this morning I am sure, and once again showing that Justice is difficult to obtain in TnT, especially under his watch. I myself am wondering about the independence of the judiciary, and whether we tout that phrase too quickly.
