Six and forty years ago today--8 August 1963--a brazen gang of 15 thieves attacked and held up the London-Glasgow express train, stealing 2.6 million pounds of booty. In the United Kingdom, this crime is known to this day as "The Great Train Robbery".
Ronnie Briggs, a member of the gang responsible for this crime, is being released from prison in England on compassionate grounds. He is now eighty years of age, and suffering from severe pneumonia--probably terminal pneumonia. His release, granted by order of Minister of Justice Jack Straw, has ignited controversy in England.
I was inspired to post this after another thread emerged in the "Hot Topics" forum regarding Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, member of Charles Manson's family who herself attempted to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford on 5 September 1975. Fromme herself did not participate in the Tate-LaBianca murders--the signature crime of the Manson "family"--but became Manson's most loyal disciple after this.
Should either of both of them stay in prison till the day they die? What say you?
I am inclined to let them stay in prison until they die. I don't see the point of releasing them and their crimes are rather despicable. That is the price one should pay for those choices.
First, the name is "Biggs". Second, he has NOT been in prison for the last 40+ years.
He escaped and lived in Brazil for 31 years.
He never killed anyone. Yes, he robbed a train. Why is he so "despicable" that he deserves to die in prison?
The train driver was brain damaged and never recovered, never worked again after the crime. That is despicable. He wasn't in prison as long as he should have been due to his escape. Allowing him out now sends a very bad message.
