What a way to get out of jail

Two young brothers whose disappearance prompted a nationwide alert in Greece died of starvation and dehydration when they became trapped in a broken elevator, authorities said yesterday. They were in an empty building near their home. A coroner said that Aihan Ceribasi, 6, and Amet, 8, had survived up to five days in the elevator before dying.

Authorities issued an alert for the pair after they disappeared in the north-eastern city of Orestiada on May 28. Police had also arrested and jailed their father, and a couple, on suspicion of having sold the boys, who were two of about 10 siblings.

Original report here




Australian appeals court finally jails black rapists of girl, 10

THE Queensland Court of Appeal ruled yesterday that the failure to send any of nine defendants to jail last year for raping a 10-year-old girl in Aurukun was a miscarriage of justice, and resentenced them. The three adult defendants - aged 17, 18 and 25 at the time of the offences - got six years' jail. One boy was sentenced to three years' detention, another to two years. The four others received the longest possible period of probation - three years - after they had demonstrated a desire to reform.

The five arrest warrants were deferred for a week while their lawyers considered whether to launch a High Court appeal. They released a statement criticising the "politicisation" of the case.

A short time later, the Queensland Attorney-General, Kerry Shine, released a review by the barrister Peter Davis, SC, of Cape York sex offence sentences. It found just one of serious concern, but it was considered too late to appeal. Three more were "marginal", one involving one of the Aurukun defendants, although this time he was the victim; the perpetrator was an older female relative aged 20 or 21.

Mr Davis cleared Judge Sarah Bradley of judicial misconduct and found no pattern of inadequate sentencing. He criticised submissions of the prosecutor, Steve Carter, at the trial. They were "at best confused and at worst misleading", and of virtually no assistance to the judge.

The Court of Appeal blamed both, saying: "The imposition of a proper sentence was ultimately the responsibility of the judge." The sentences did not reflect the crimes, nor the differences between offenders, it found. It noted the judge's heavy workload, but said she used "excessive haste" to get through the list. "We note that public concern about dealing with serious and complex sentences in such a summary way is longstanding," the court said. The acting Premier, Paul Lucas, said: "Justice was done today." A review is under way on improving justice in remote communities.

Original report here



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