For an assault in which no one was hurt?
So what does the mass-murder of 2 million or so get you?
Applause at a State of the Union speech?
Bleeeeeech!!!!
Up came my coffee!!!!
"Armed robber sentenced to life in prison; Previous felonies had role in term" by John R. Ellement, Globe Staff | January 29, 2008
A formerly homeless man was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday after the woman he robbed at knife-point pleaded for a long prison term to protect her Boston neighborhood.
Michael Benjamin, 52, was convicted of armed robbery and of being a habitual offender Friday and was sentenced yesterday by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Patrick Brady. His lawyer condemned the sentence as too harsh.
The victim, who asked Suffolk prosecutors not to publicly identify her, said in a statement that Benjamin took her purse at knife-point, inside the vestibule of her Heath Street apartment building on Jan. 31. She said that she asked people for help after the robbery, but that no one would assist.
So COMPASSIONATE, we Americans!
Howdy, neighbor!
Yesterday, she demanded justice for herself and her Jamaica Plain community. "The Michael Benjamins in our city have made our neighbors silent witnesses of crime," the woman said, according to a copy of her statement released by Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley's office. "Michael Benjamin stole a huge chunk of the faith I had in my community."
George W. Bush and his Iraqi invasion destroyed my faith in my country -- and every single one of its institutions!!!
Every single one!!!!
The woman said she considered not testifying, but ultimately decided it was her duty. "I believe that if I fulfill my responsibility as a citizen, that will encourage other to fulfill theirs," she said.
Benjamin's lawyer, Rebecca J. Kratka from the Roxbury Defenders Committee, questioned why prosecutors targeted him as a habitual offender.
She acknowledged that he has an extensive criminal history but said prosecutors had to reach back to 1976 and 1985 for two major felony convictions needed to consider Benjamin a habitual offender.
Hey, WHATEVER WE NEED to JAIL YA!!!
Sig Heil!!!!
She also said the case was not as violent as other robberies, including one she learned about in the Suffolk courthouse recently. There, a man pleaded guilty to robbing a victim who had to beg for his life, but that defendant only got 10 years and one day in state prison.
"To my mind, those facts seem much more horrendous," she said. "That guy is doing 10 years and a day, and my client is doing life."
AmeriKan "justice" is ARBITRARY, don't you know that, lawyer?
AmeriKa now has lie-believing Kangaroo Kourts of "justice!"
She said Benjamin has been abusing drugs since he was 13; has held a variety of jobs over the years, including ambulance driver; and has only his elderly and housebound mother interested in his well-being.
Benjamin will appeal his conviction, she said. He becomes eligible for parole in 15 years.
Under state law, the judge was required to sentence Benjamin to the maximum for armed robbery, and he was given the life sentence as a result, Kratka said.
In a telephone interview, Conley said two previous long state prison sentences were not enough to deter Benjamin's actions.
"He still has not changed his behavior in any other way," Conley said.
That's why George W. Bush deserves the same treatment as this guy.
And this poor soul DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY, huh?
Used a KNIFE, not an AERIAL ASSAULT of AIR BOMBS?
Wow!!
Conley thanked the victim for her role in the sentencing of Benjamin. "This is an example of what we need in Boston," he said."
And in Washington D.C.
You know, for Bush, Cheney, Rice, et al....
