BC Appeals Court reduces murder's sentence

The "gas and dash" dragging death we all heard about in BC a couple of years back is in the new once again... because some judges felt sorry for the murder/thief, they went ahead and reduced his sentence from nine years, to five years and ten months.

The family of the victim is outraged... and so is the provincial NDP justice critic disagrees as well. "[The new sentence] sends the wrong message to the public about the judicial system," said NDP public safety critic Mike Farnworth. "You either take things seriously, or you don't."

The man's crime(s)? "Grant DePatie, 24, was dragged to death underneath Pratt's stolen vehicle for several kilometres after being run over by the fleeing teenager." (who had just stolen a tank full of gas for his stolen car... three crimes in all)

Now, why on earth did the judges do this, you ask? The judges reduced the sentence "citing Pratt's young age, rough upbringing and aboriginal background". THIS is the kind of judicial activism that we, regular members of the law-abiding public, want stopped... NOW. This is why we in the CPC say that law-enforcement should have a seat a the table when choosing judges... to ensure that granting of these kinds of law flouting, crime encouraging sentences are ended, ONCE AND FOR ALL.