What do you think of victim's statements?

@agnescav (566)
United States
August 11, 2007 11:40pm CST
In courts, the family of a murder victim can stand up and tell how the loss has affected them, and hope to influence the judge's ruling on punishment. If i kill someone with no family, is that less of a crime than if i kill a father of four/ Is that justice or revenge?
2 responses
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
12 Aug 07
I never thought of it before, but what you say is true. But I don't want to get rid of victim's statements either. I feel like courts should consider what a criminal's actions have cost.
@agnescav (566)
• United States
12 Aug 07
I really do not like this aspect of a trial. I think justice should be blind, just like the statue.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
12 Aug 07
Every human life must be as valuable as another, or none are valuable. It is a basic belief that a human life has value, regardless of their status in life. I think families want the opportunity to publicly express their grief, maybe to sway the court but possibly also as a release. In some cases where the defense has been particularly adept at downplaying the crime of the accused, it may be that a jury or a judge needs to hear these details, to continually put a human face to the victim and drive home the horrible nature of the crime. That said, in every case the jury must be reminded that a human life was taken, and that the only way for us all to remain free, safe and for the rule of law to survive is for justice to be served equally.
@agnescav (566)
• United States
12 Aug 07
That is why I believe victim's statements are wrong. They should not be allowed. There are other places to vent besides in front of the jury.