Police, victim group back life sentence for rapist
Saturday 28th May 2011, 2:30PM BST.
PC 86 Jules Duquemin, walking the beat in Town, yesterday passes Forest Lane, scene of rapist Filipe Burton’s first and third attacks. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 1141190)
THREE life sentences handed down to rapist Filipe Burton reflect the harm he did to his victims, the detective who led the investigation said yesterday.
DCI Ruari Hardy was pleased the 19-year-old was convicted of one charge of rape and two of attempted rape after a series of attacks last summer.
‘I think that the way the court dealt with the matter clearly shows the damage it did to the victims, the harm it did to the community and the gravity of his offending,’ he said.
‘The sentencing of those three issues sends out a very clear message that Guernsey is a very nice place to live and very tolerant but when offences like this are committed society deals with it appropriately.’
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One of guernseys biggest failures is to support and help people with problems
Drugs,drink,mental health,child abuse and a wide range of other social issues are not a priority for guernsey
rehab and help is the way fwd
PREVENTION WORKS
long term prison sentences achieve NOTHING
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Well seen pbfalla is not a victim of such a despicible act, the sentence is the right one and is a good deterent.
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I don’t think you know what you are talking about pbfalla everybody needs help in some shape of form before they part this world my friend…
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I have to agree with Ppbfalla. Although I know nothing of this boy’s up brining I am going to guess that it was not one that the rest of us are accustomed to. Unfortunately we are the way we are a lot of the time because of the way we are brought up. I am not dismissing the fact that he committed a horrific crime, but at such a young age rotting in a prison cell is going to accomplish nothing.
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It is not a deterent
Thats exactly the point.
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“…rotting in a prison cell is going to accomplish nothing.”
But it is going to accomplish the job of preventing Burton from being released into society to do the same terrible thing again and again. This remorseless creature’s criminal actions were so despicable that he has shown himself to be beyond ‘help and rehab’. As long as he remains a danger he should remain behind bars and if that means life so be it. Get real Milly and pbfalla.
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pbfalla
“It is not a deterrent” is a very sweeping statement to make
If you are saying that it will NEVER stop further offences of that nature in the future then to that extent you are probably correct
But if such a long sentence makes 7,8 or 9 out of 10 young males consider the possible consequences of such a crime then it is a deterrent
If there were no consequences at all to ANY crime do you think the crime figures would go up ,or down?
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Sentencing was wrong. I agree with 1 life sentence but 2 additional life for attempted rape.
His lawyers will be appealing this and if he is a changed man in10 years he will be out on supervision.
What message for the next sick Burton under the influence of alcohol? Kill your victim as sentence is the same as murder and without victim sentence no one will no true extent of your crime? Pick someone under 16 as you get less as a paedophile? Sentencing in guernsey is a joke.
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Hang him from the nearest tree im sure that will send out a warning to anyone else who sets off to rape and ruin someones life….and think of the savings the island would make not having this Misfit enjoying the luxury of Prison.
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Milly
We keep dangerous Animals in cages for a reason you know.
There are many deserving people around the world that deserve help in one way or another but he aint one of them, throw away the key i say.
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martino
How do you know hes beyond help and rehab?
I wonder what help he had received in his young life?
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Other than a prison cell what could you do with someone who has no thought for what he has done and probably would do again, maybe even going further and killing his next victim. I can only think of chemical castration, then the urge may not be there.
Regardless of a persons history, no one has the right to destroy anothers life and prey on the innocent. These people are better off the streets as far as I am concerned.
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caz
Very backward thinking,how about trying to help people with mental issues?
There is no evidence anywere that long term jail and even death penaltys are the answer.
Give everyone a chance to live life in peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7qaSxuZUg
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DO NOT GET ME WRONG, I think he does deserve this BUT how many times do you read about KILLERS getting out on “good behavior” about 15 years into their “life sentence”, Its in some way cruel to allow people to believe that he’ll be inside forever, I bet you he’ll be out within 20-30 years. How will the victims and their families feel then? Always thinking he’d be locked away, there’s a 95% he’ll be released before he’s 50. And people that thought he’d be away forever will be angry, upset and feel betrayed at the punishment system for once again lack of promise to us that we are safe from other danger to society. And I never see anyone who been taken off the roads for speeding let back on quicker for “good behavior”. Mark my words he’ll be out soon enough. I just hope he gets what he “gave” whilst he serves his “life” sentence. Oh sorry he’ll be protected by the government in fear for his health and life against other criminals whom hate people like him, another waste of tax payers money to protect the evil people whom we now give TOO MANY luxuries whilst serving their time.
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The judge has ruled that his action’s were on the same par as murder, ie the deliberately taking of life where the victim is gone forever. Yup, you may as well kill your victims as you’ve probably got a better chance of getting away with it and if you get caught the punishment is the same.
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Texas have got it right. This degenerate will now sit in a prison happy in the knowledge that he is safe and warm, fed and watered, able to play on his X-box, go and build something in the workshop, play 5 a-side football in the sports hall, do some gardening, gain new qualifications and have visits from his family almost whenever he likes. This lowlife has it “sorted”. This is too close to practically rewarding him for his crime! Put the wretch to sleep – and if none of you want to pull the trigger or give the injection the give me a call. How would I sleep at night? Happy, in the knowledge that one less filthy miscreant is not using my taxes that could be better spent on buying smaller buses!
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@pbfalla
“Give everyone a chance to live life in peace”
Burton never gave that chance to his victims, did he?
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Burton is 19 years old with learning difficulties. Was this preventable? Were there any warning signs?
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Chemical castration is one answer. After all, many man are receiving this treatment as we speak,including yours truly.The sex drive vanishes for ever,and least it is keeping us from dying from Prostate Cancer. The treatment is also painless.
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pbfalla
I must have missed the part where it said he had mental issues
That’s quite often the fallback by weasel mouthed lawyers who will dig up an ‘expert’ from somewhere who,for a fee,will swear on oath that they have detected during a twenty minute chat that the accused had been suffering from some pent up trauma which MADE him commit the crimes
How do those people frigging sleep at night?
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pbfalla
Why do you put this behaviour down to mental illness? Maybe he could just be rotten to the core and evil? there are people with mental illness but it should not always be assumed that it is the case when they commit such evil crimes.
Was Hitler and all those Nazis mentally ill or just evil with no regard to those they murdered and in many cases enjoyed it.
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Actually Cypher I think you will find the actual sentence sentence for murder is somewhat less so I suspect your point deserves some further debate. As for the hang’em and flog’em brigade, they seem to have forgotten the purpose of prison – I am sure they would love it to be a far worse punishment than the loss of liberty, but it’s purpose is rehabilitation – not a lot of that will come from castration “chemical” or otherwise or the removal of limbs as one contributor suggests!
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h:
The sentence for murder is fixed by law – you get found guilty, or submit a guilty plea for a single murder you will get “life” (15 years).
Secondly I personally do not believe prison is about rehab at all – and neither should it be. It should be a place where people who ruin society are restricted from being able to ruin society. To promote rehab is to ignore the route of problems. Improve child support services, improve education and then those who still fall through the cracks should be considered a waste of decent people’s space.
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This is what Burton deserved
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13594762
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pbfalla
Even if there were mental issues involved, clearly this man has to be secured away somewhere while being treated as there is a clear chance he might offend again.
I wouldn’t like to explain to another raped and traumatised woman that her attacker was a known and convicted rapist who was allowed to roam around freely because “he needed help and long term prison doesn’t work.”
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Although not a victim of Filipe Burton, I am a survivor of a similar attack in Guernsey in the last 10 years. I have tried to refrain from commenting on the articles since this case began being reported for fear of becoming too emotionally involved, however I feel that I need to make a couple of points, which appear to be overlooked by many people.
Firstly, to the women who were attacked (and this need not be restricted to Filipe’s victims), you all showed commendable strength and courage in reporting what happened to the police. I know from experience that the process of reporting, the interviews, the medical exams, etc. can be as much of an ordeal as the attack itself and the fact is that if you hadn’t had the courage to report it, as the majority of rape victims sadly don’t, this man would have been able to continue to attack women. Your strength has saved many women from becoming potential victims to him, and I for one am very grateful to you.
Secondly, to the people who believe that the sentence was too harsh, perhaps you could take some time to really consider the long-term effects on the women who were attacked before passing judgement. The possibility of STDs or pregnancy. The fear of men, of going out drinking, of the dark. The cost of therapy, which may not be adequately covered by health insurance or the States (due to lack of specifically trained therapists on-island and the waiting list/long period of time between sessions due to lack of resources). The effect on their jobs, their families and friends, their relationships. These women’s lives will never be the same again, and you think that his sentence is too harsh? Perhaps you should walk a mile in a victim’s shoes, and see how quickly your opinion changes.
Thank you to the police, the courts, and everyone involved in ensuring that this man received a fitting punishment, and here’s to hoping that equivalent sentencing will be given to similar future offenders, including paedophiles.
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ray
I never stated he had mental issues,my point is guernsey fail many parts of society,eg mental isues,child abuse,problem child issues,drug abuse,alcohol abuse,abuse of women in the home,if guernsey had decent social programmes to help people who suffer from the above and more then we can start looking at living in a better society
The majority of posters are so backward thinking,EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION
Help society to help itself from a very young age.SIMPLES REALLY
example
guernseys attitude for a problem drinker,put him jail for 14 days or 30 days then send him back out with some pocket money,hmmm
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Ray
Long term sentences do nothing to potential offenders,they need help,Do you not think that a human must be disturbed to commit such a offence.
Martino
If burton had received help earlier in his life,maybe this wouldnt have happened.
Btw you have still not replied to this
How do you know hes beyond help and rehab?
——————–
Its easy to sit in the comfort zone and criticise the needy and disadvantaged,how big of you all.
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Chemical castration is NOT the answer. It is NOT permanent. Here is the best and cheapest answer:
20 strokes of the birch with salt rubbed into the resultant wounds, which is the way it used to be. Then SURGICAL CASTRATION afterwards, which IS permanent!
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pbfalla
So people comment on this animal and and you somehow manage to turn this around and make the posters look as if they are not careing for the “needy” and “disadvantaged”?.
And that comeing from someone who`s posts are nearly always negative on just about everthing you post (troll) on.
This forum is about Burton not someone who`s been caught for a bit of shop lifting because they have no income or struggling in some way.
I just read diappointed`s post then thought about your comment
“How do you know hes beyond help and rehab”?
and thought “who cares” its the victims that should get all the avaliable help.
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The victims wont get adequate help either.
Thats life in modern day guernsey.
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One question here. Does he have AIDS? Also what of all the other rapists, and there are many around the world, even though they have AIDS will still continue to rape. Now that is really a life sentence for their victims.
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I knew this guy, went to school with him, met his family…he is a nice guy and fun to hang around with so was a huge shock to find out this, however it always seems to be the same thing where the actions don’t match the person’s normal behaviour.
At first I thought 3 life sentences was extreme, but in court he said nothing however knowing him, it will have been due to embarrassment. He was not mentally handicapped, he wasn’t very bright but he wasn’t particularly stupid.
If he had been more repentant he wouldn’t have got 3 life sentences, he was 18 when he did it and has ruined his life, some people might say ‘think of the victims scared for life’ but cmon! 60 years in prison is far worse. Also he doesn’t have aids lol. He did have a girlfriend though.
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John
“he is a nice guy”?
You should be ashamed of yourself.
And i hope your right about the 60 years being far worse, with a bit of luck far far worse.
your not very bright either eh.
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He will be out on licence within ten years. The appeal court will reduce his sentence considerably.
It does not stack up no matter how one looks at it. It promotes murder. Like others have touched upon.
Sentences have to take into consideration the bigger picture for tomorrow as opposed to being vengeful and concentrating on what happened yesterday.
This will not be popular but it is reality.
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John
bcb is right, you should be ashamed of yourself.
I imagine you meant to say that the victims would be “scarred for life” rather than “scared for life”, although sadly they will likely be both.
And as for your comment about 60 years in prison being “far worse” than the victims’ suffering – presumably you haven’t been raped nor spent 60 years in prison, therefore you are in no position to make that judgement. Even if the prison sentence is deemed to be worse, which I doubt, he brought it upon himself by attacking these women. The women did not bring their suffering upon themselves.
It never ceases to amaze me how people can defend a rapist and have no compassion for their innocent victim(s)!
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