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Utterly touched reading about Kazemi: remarkable that one of her (alleged) murderers was charged with and later acquitted of "semi-intentional murder." What doe
by iamjeff 10y ago
Utterly touched reading about Kazemi: remarkable that one of her (alleged) murderers was charged with and later acquitted of "semi-intentional murder." What does that even mean? Is it even possible to "half intentionally and half accidentally" murder someone in your care/custody? I gather that this is a concept operational within Quranic law and is generally intended to apply to deaths that resulted from an action that would not threaten a life, but that definition cannot be reconciled with the fact that Kazemi had been so violently assaulted and horrifically murdered (and the unapologetic cover-up and sham trial that ensued). As a Kenyan youth, I hardly know anyone that has not been arrested by the police at one point in their lives (and this is, sadly, the case for many other young men in other parts of the country as well). As such, I have personally heard horror stories from women that I know who have endured unspeakable treatment at the hands of the almighty Kenyan Police Service- it seems that justice touches all races and all countries, except, if you believe it, North Korea, the Land of Human Achievement, Love and Joy. A lot has already been said about such circumstances and a lot more has to said to fight this particular form of injustice. One wonders how many Kazemis and Malekpours and Njoroges it would take to succeed.
- smnrchrds 10y agoTo expand on your explanation of semi-intentional murder: in Iranian law, instead of first degree and second degree etc, murders are categorized as: 1. Non-intentional murder: when the defendant did not intend to harm the victim in any way. This is almost equivalent to manslaughter. The penalty includes financial compensation for the victim's next of kin and potential prison sentence. Example: vehicular manslaughter 2. Intentional murder: when the defendant knowingly and intentionally kills a person, whether premeditated or not. This is the closest to fist and second degree murder in US law. The penalty can be up to and including death sentence. 3. Semi-intentional murder: when the defendant did intend to harm the victim but did not intend to cause death. The penalty includes financial compensation and prison time and is more severe than non-intentional murder. Example: a person pushing a man during a fight, inadvertently causing him to fall from a balcony to his death.
- serge2k 10y agoSounds reasonable.