Satpal Ram freed

whom?

Asian guy who was has been imprisoned for murder for an act of self- defense committed whilst being racially attacked. ADF wrote a song about him.

16 years in prison though. Poor guy.

Heard his (the dead man's)sister on the radio snifling about how life should mean life etc etc, and how her dear old mum had gone downhill. Didn't really know what to think. Personal tragedy, feel for the family, but the guy was a racist thug.

Damn, that came out of nowhere. Took long enough. But will Asian Dub Foundation change the name of the song?

Did anyone see the Guardian interview with Paddy Hill,, one of the Birmingham Six? Jesus...

Wrongful imprisonment: Worst fear of a liberal? Discuss.

― Nathan Barley, Wednesday, 19 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Damn, that came out of nowhere
Not really. It's been on the cards ever since the ECJ (earlier this year?) ruled that the Home Secretary in effect did not have any powers to decide on parole issues once the minimum term (in this case, 11 years) has been served.

I remember that ruling. I also recall a tabloid article (probably Mail, no I think it was the Express, oh who cares) about how this ruling could free some of Britain's most NOTORIOUS KILLERS. Such as Myra Hindley, and, er...Satpal Ram. Eh?

If memory serves, and I'd be interested if it doesn't, the man who died, Clarke Pearce, refused medical treatment because he had some kind of religious belief that prevented it (Christian Scientist?). Also one of the witnesses could not speak coherently in English and no interpretation was provided for his testimony in Bengali, a language that none of the jurors could understand - farcically the judge, who could not speak a word of Bengali, declared that he would interprete. Thankfully this would not be allowed now - certainly there have been massive advances in translations for testimonies in court since 1987.

Naturally this is great news, and another example of the (generally) progressive effect of European integration.