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To the editor:
On Sept. 15, Brooklyn bodega workers Kelvin Melo and Mukel Shaibi defended themselves against a neighborhood troublemaker, Gerry Hill. Shortly after the scuffle, during which one of the workers struck Hill on the head with a baton, Hill died.
Hill had 26 prior arrests. Once again, the question is why was this guy even walking free? One thing Mayor Eric Adams is right about is when he complains that while cops do their job and arrest those responsible for violence, judges keep freeing them.
In some cases, the problem is the law. Not only do murderers often get released after serving 25 years of a "life sentence," but many others get light sentences that have them tormenting the public again.
Another problem is the law doesn't consider the nature of the crime. Now I won't go into any cases I heard while serving a month on grand jury duty since those proceedings are rightly confidential. But I will say there is something wrong when someone guilty of a vicious, unprovoked beating of a disabled person is charged with only second-degree assault (the beating has to put a person near death to qualify for first-degree assault).This carries a sentence of two to seven years and potential fines up to $5,000. Such a person should never be released.
One writer argued that no one should get life for what they did on their worst day, no matter how bad that day was. What about people who have a lot of worst days, including serial killers.
The Legislature needs to pass a "life means life" bill to guarantee that not only those who commit or attempt to commit murder, but anyone who commits a truly heinous crime, is never released.
Richard Warren
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namrogm
I completely agree that minimum sentences should be clear and nothing should reduce that sentence unless new evidence- not good behavior- mitigates or exonerates the convict’s crime. A primary purpose of prison is to protect the public from those convicted of murder, attempted murder or a violent assault causing serious injury. No room in prisons? Build more prisons. Too expensive? Raise taxes to build more prisons. Protect the public from dangerous and deadly criminals.
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