« Australia: Muslim Mufti Has Been Replaced |
| UK: Father & Uncle Guilty Of Muslim Honor Killing »
June 11, 2007
UK: Man With Learning Difficulties Jailed For Mosque Arson
On May 18, 29-year old Richard John Hall, the son of a vicar, was found guilty of committing arson and burglary. On March 10, 2005, he had set fire to the Islamic Cultural Center in Ivy Arch Road in Worthing, Sussex. DNA from blood inside the mosque linked him to the crime.
Yesterday, according to the Argus, he was sentenced to three years in jail. This is about half of the sentence of seven years, given to Abdullah el-Faisel and to Abu Hamza for soliciting murder. Unlike the two hate preachers, Richard Hall is of exceptionally low intelligence, and has learning difficulties. He even seemed unaware of the consequences of his actions, according to his lawyer, Selwyn Shapiro. Hall's IQ is only 66.
Shapiro said: "During the trial it was put to him that what he had done was a fun thing to do to impress his girlfriend. This was child mischief which fits in with his learning difficulties. Biologically he is 29 but mentally he is a child and if he was to go to prison the punishment for him will be far greater than for someone who does not have learning difficulties."
Hall had initially denied having anything to do with the crime, but later went to a police station to confess his actions. In court, he had said he had confessed when "agitated" after drinking alcohol while under the influence of anti-depressants.
Arson against any building is a serious crime, but it must be asked if Hall is capable of withstanding a jail sentence of this length. Surely a psychiatric institution would have been more appropriate a destination, where he may have received some help and guidance for his problems.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 11, 2007 5:30 PM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)