Man Charged with Lighting Fires that Killed 21 in Victoria

[Jaythulhu]

According to The Courier Mail: "Latrobe Valley resident Brendan Sokaluk has been charged with arson causing death, intentionally or recklessly causing death, and possession of child pornography.

He is currently being held in a secret location due to fears over vigilante strikes."


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Opinion Time:

That last part sickens me. This piece of trash should be thrown in to a regular cell, and whatever happens, happens. I certainly object to police personnel being taken away from search and resuce, as well as the other myriad of duties they were performing in Victoria to watch this scum of the earth fucktard.

How many Australians don't know someone who has been affected by these disgusting acts?

Do you agree with the Victorian Police Commissioner that he deserves protection from the people he's caused so much pain and anguish to? Our justice system is notoriously pathetic for crimes that don't involve fraud or illegal drugs, and I do not believe this man will ever get his day in court. His lawyer is already filing for diminished capacity.

Don't get me wrong, I am damn glad they've caught one of the son of a bitches responsible for these horrific crimes, but I'm equally disgusted that he's being given special treatment and round the clock police protection. I don't really want to rile people or preach mob mentality, but these have been events that have affected the nation and when the criminal is given greater rights than the victims, enough is enough. Where does it end?

 

[Nerdfury]

Only 21? You must be a bit behind, son. The death count is projected for upwards of 300 and the current is exceeding 200.

 

[mcgooch]

I Fully understand your point but rightly or wrongly ( I personally believe rightly) our justice system means people are innocent until proven guilty. So at the moment he must be protected as if he was innocent. I'd be terrible if he was killed by vigilantes then proven to have no involvement whatsoever.

 

[Trivun]

I'm British so I don't know much about what's going on (being at university somewhat limits my access to news resources), but what I do know is that someone started a series of fires that have spread and have killed upwards of 200 people in Australia (assuming my sources are right [i.e. BBC Radio 1], correct me if I'm wrong). That is just completely sick and I don't see why someone who could do such a thing, especially when in possession of child pornography as well, can be allowed to be given protection. In Britain I'm all for reinstating the death penalty and this is a situation (albeit not in the UK) where that should definitely be considered. In the UK we have a huge problem with criminals getting more rights than victims too, although that's mainly down to the EU and our 'dependence' on Europe (i.e. the Court of Human Rights). In all countries, especially the UK and Australia, this needs to end now.

 

[BaronAsh]

Only 21? You must be a bit behind, son. The death count is projected for upwards of 300 and the current is exceeding 200.

Wow, that's not murder that's terrorism.

 

[Jaythulhu]

Only 21? You must be a bit behind, son. The death count is projected for upwards of 300 and the current is exceeding 200.

No, he's only been charged with lighting one specific set of fires that killed 21 people. It is suspected there is at least 3 or 4 others who are responsible for the rest of the fires.

 

[CrafterMan]

Death sentence or life imprisonment.

If you KILL

You don't deserve to LIVE.

 

[Specter_]

I Fully understand your point but rightly or wrongly (I personally believe rightly) our justice system means people are innocent until proven guilty. So at the moment he must be protected as if he was innocent. It'd be terrible if he was killed by vigilantes then proven to have no involvement whatsoever.

Quoted for truth.

For all you morons crying for him to not be protected from vigilantes:
So I accuse you of producing child pornography. Now you're on the list as well.
Think before you write. "Innocent until proven guilty" is a fundamental right of all serious legal systems and it's there for a reason. This is not the middle ages, no more witch hunts for you people.

 

[aussiesniper]

I thought that the bushfires were caused by the massive heatwave in victoria and buildup of undergrowth over the last few years. Maybe I'm wrong, but that would seem to be the most likely cause of the fires.

 

[Ignignoct]

The free market has spoken.

Save the tax money, kill the arsonist (if compelling evidence provides).

 

[Dys]

Tattoo his forehead with "Black Saturday Arsonist", drop him off in the middle of Kinglake and let what happens happen.

Anyone who deliberately lights fires on the hottest day ever recorded in the state should be left alone with those they made suffer, no questions asked afterwould. This is really not a case where we want bureaucracy to go soft because his mother yelled at him when he was a kid.

"Innocent until proven guilty"

Getting caught with child porn is pretty solid proof in my book. There is a massive difference between being proven guilty and being prosecuted fairly.

 

[Fire Daemon]

I thought that the bushfires were caused by the massive heatwave in victoria and buildup of undergrowth over the last few years. Maybe I'm wrong, but that would seem to be the most likely cause of the fires.

Exactly. There was more than one fire, this isn't some huge inferno created by one guy, its a number of fires in which most have been created by natural causes. Yes, there are some people that created some of the fires but most have been created by natural causes.

People jumping to conclusions and demanding that people die. Fucking disgusting.

 

[mcgooch]

"Innocent until proven guilty"

Getting caught with child porn is pretty solid proof in my book. There is a massive difference between being proven guilty and being prosecuted fairly.

You think child porn is proof of being an arsonist?! It is generally accepted he is guilty of viewing child porn but i don't personally see the link between that and lighting a fire do you? No of course you don't because there isn't one!

 

[JRCB]

Death sentence or life imprisonment.

If you KILL

You don't deserve to LIVE.

Compromise: Life in prison, followed by the death penalty, where he is thrown into a fire pit.

As you can see, I have no tolerance for this kind of bullsh*t.

 

[WolfThomas]

We need to declare war against bushfires, then charge him (and any others) with treason for aiding and abetting an enemy of our nation.

 

[Adam Jenson]

Lock him up with the rest of the criminals. If they don't have family that died than at least they have a new plaything. Believe it or not, even criminals don't like child offenders.

 

[Dys]

"Innocent until proven guilty"

Getting caught with child porn is pretty solid proof in my book. There is a massive difference between being proven guilty and being prosecuted fairly.

You think child porn is proof of being an arsonist?! It is generally accepted he is guilty of viewing child porn but i don't personally see the link between that and lighting a fire do you? No of course you don't because there isn't one!

Being caught with child porn is pretty solid proof of being in possesion of child pornography, however just because their is solid proof of the suspect possessing child pornography doesn't mean he will be found guilty of it. That alone proves he is a criminal and should be removed from the public.

I was making the point that being proven guilty and facing a fair and just punishment are worlds apart.

If he has been arrested then there is most likely strong evidence suggesting that he lit fires on black saturday, arresting an innocent person isfar less likely than you would think. Especially with something this high profile, he is suspected to be responsibly for over 100 deaths from what I read in the age this morning.

 

[mcgooch]

Being caught with child porn is pretty solid proof of being in possesion of child pornography, however just because their is solid proof of the suspect possessing child pornography doesn't mean he will be found guilty of it. That alone proves he is a criminal and should be removed from the public.

I was making the point that being proven guilty and facing a fair and just punishment are worlds apart.

If he has been arrested then there is most likely strong evidence suggesting that he lit fires on black saturday, arresting an innocent person isfar less likely than you would think. Especially with something this high profile, he is suspected to be responsibly for over 100 deaths from what I read in the age this morning.

I agree that being in possession of child porn is reason to be removed from the general public.However to claim that people are rarely falsely accused is just silly. In New Zealand police officials have stated that 64 percent of rape reports are false. There has been 39 false death sentences given in America (that is they were executed then proven innocent). I absolutely believe that anyone responsible for these crimes should be seriously dealt with. I also believe that our justice system is to soft on criminals. I don't however believe in vigilantly justice or labeling someone guilty of any crime without a proper trial. To do such a thing removes a mans basic human rights. sorry to be so negative to your post, this is something I feel very strongly about. This is not just in response to your post but all the posts calling for the man's instant execution.

 

[Dys]

Being caught with child porn is pretty solid proof of being in possesion of child pornography, however just because their is solid proof of the suspect possessing child pornography doesn't mean he will be found guilty of it. That alone proves he is a criminal and should be removed from the public.

I was making the point that being proven guilty and facing a fair and just punishment are worlds apart.

If he has been arrested then there is most likely strong evidence suggesting that he lit fires on black saturday, arresting an innocent person isfar less likely than you would think. Especially with something this high profile, he is suspected to be responsibly for over 100 deaths from what I read in the age this morning.

I agree that being in possession of child porn is reason to be removed from the general public.However to claim that people are rarely falsely accused is just silly. In New Zealand police officials have stated that 64 percent of rape reports are false. There has been 39 false death sentences given in America (that is they were executed then proven innocent). I absolutely believe that anyone responsible for these crimes should be seriously dealt with. I also believe that our justice system is to soft on criminals. I don't however believe in vigilantly justice or labeling someone guilty of any crime without a proper trial. To do such a thing removes a mans basic human rights. sorry to be so negative to your post, this is something I feel very strongly about. This is not just in response to your post but all the posts calling for the man's instant execution.

Don't be sorry for disagreeing with me, if you altered youre beleifs for my benefet I would regard you with little respect. If you see my posts in a negative light, I'm a big enough kid to deal with it.

As for your beleif that everyone is entitled to a fair trail, I can understand why, but in Australia far too many people seem to be getting off far to lightly for serious crimes. 64% of rape reports may not result in an conviction, but that doesn't make them false. Most rape victims do not come forward at the time, and by the time the authorities have been informed there is no evidence left. Rape and sexual violence is a very sensitive area of the law and is very difficult to deal with.
39 undeserved death sentances in America is a huge number, and unforgivable. However to arrest someone for large scale terrorism (which is what I regard deliberately lighting fires in those conditions) I doubt there are as many mistakes, the public is too aware and their will be too much money lost in the inevitable lawsuit. I strongly beleive they wouldn't have allowed the public to know of any arrest unless they were very sure that a conviction will follow, as there are too many people who were affected. Yet any arsonist caught will almost definiatly put in an insanity plea and not have to face justice, insane or not they need to be removed from society and an example made of them.

That said, ideally I would like the arsonist to never be identified in the public eye, they do not get any media attention (relating to them personially, there fate would be reported, just they would remain anonymous) and spend the rest of their life in solitary confinment.
Failing that, let the people who have suffered deal with them, copycat arsonists will be a real threat over the coming summers. We need to stop them acheiving their goal to stop them doing this.