David's Daily Diversions

Burglars Need Protection, Too After

Burglars Need Protection, Too

After farmer Tony Martin’s conviction for murder was downgraded to manslaughter, and his life sentence was reduced to five years, the Parole Board refused to grant him early release in January. The Board ignored psychological reports indicating that Martin was a model prisoner and should be released because he showed no contrition for shooting the burglar who had broken into his house.

I doubt that I have an American reader who is not shocked that the idea that Martin was convicted at all. Even the vast majority of Brits thought he should have not have been charged. Personally, I would have given him a medal for removing a menace to society and improving the overall gene pool. Rather than having arrested him, the Norfolk Constabulary should have given him an award for saving them the time and expense of investigating Fred Barras’ future felonies.

Martin’s legal team are challenging the Parole Board’s decision before the High Court. It has been reported in the broadsheet newspapers that Parole Board lawyers will be opposing the challenge with the argument that burglars are members of the public in need of protection from violent householders.

Egging Him On

Merseyside Police have released without charge a 41-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy who threw eggs at George Galloway. The always-dodgy Mr Galloway managed to avoid being hit.

The ovum-hurling pair was initially arrested for conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. Perhaps the police realised that when apprised of Galloway’s conduct of late, it was an entirely reasonable and rational reaction.

Doing Violence to History

The home of Henry VIII’s last wife, Katherine Parr, is to undergo a £2 million redevelopment to include a restaurant, shops, visitor centre, and car park. The problem is that Sudeley Castle is adjacent to the village of Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. The new development is designed to bring in lots and lots of visitors. The street of Winchcombe are not. I’ve been to Winchcombe more than once and Mrs Holford and I have visited Sudeley Castle in its present state of development.

The surprising thing is that the redevelopment has been shelved. The owner of the castle, film producer Henry Dent-Brocklehurst spent three years getting planning permission for the venture. The council had received 800 letters of objection when the application was filed. Now that castle has the go-ahead, it seems the economic climate isn’t right at the moment.

I’m sure as soon as climate changes, everything will go ahead as planned.