He is a juvenile hence the jail jerm

I agree… The sentencing is somewhat lenient. However, what is a life sentence in Ireland?

Actually it was decided from the beginning of the trial that he would be trialled as an adult! This verdict is laughable and doesn’t correctly represent the severity of the crime!

Lenient? With the greatest of respect he should be strung up. He added insult to injury with his testimony at the trial. That sentence is an insult.

He is still a minor in the eyes of the judiciary

That’s the second time you’ve come up with that comment.
Anything original to say?
You seem to think the Irish public have some say in the matter? WE DONT.

Laura, don’t be so naive…. Though the democratic process is questionable, every Irish citizen can make changes to the judicial process by pressuring our elect officials. Being that our upper level elected officials appoint persons to the judicial system… We can press our elected officials to influence the judicial system to 1) push for longer jail terms for certain crimes 2) Standardize sentencing.

The fact that you feel that the Irish tax payers have no ability to influence laws or the judicial system… Is a testament of how our government has hoodwinked the public and secured their position.

I, like most other reasonable people, is absolutely disgusted by lenient sentences handed down for crimes however one positive can be taken from this is, he will feel every day of that sentence. Apparently Japanese jails are awful, there will be no sitting back watching tv, playing video games etc! It may give her family some comfort regarding his sentence.

This happened in Japan.

Get real! if you think you can make any elected official do anything the people tell them then your the one who has been hoodwinked!

The Japanese should be approached diplomatically now, and asked for the sentence be the max ten. Lord have mercy on her..

There is no point ripping Simon McGrath head off. He didn’t say that they should be lenient with the murderer, he simply said that In the eyes of the Japanese law that guy IS a minor. That’s why they decided to trial him as a juvenile. It’s a simple cold fact.
Yes it’s horrible to think that he might be out in 5 years, but let’s hope he will get the 10 years now with labour.
The Japanese prisons have the reputation of being quite hard core and worse than the army in terms of how you are expected to behave.
I also hope that this a***hole will be surrounded by people who cannot speak English.
That sentence is also going to follow him the rest of his life. Good luck finding a job in the music industry or any job at all when he is out.
Serves him right. I imagine that like his mate, it was not his first rape, considering how prepared they were for it. You’d think that good looking guys like them wouldn’t have a hard time getting girls into bed. So they must clearly get off on some power trip when their victim is completely defenseless.
Sick bast**ds!

So many red thumbs for Simon who is just stating fact. It just goes to show some people’s emotions way over-power their logic. @Amy Farrell are you sure?

@Amy Farrell do you have a link whee it says he would be trial as an adult? It might be wong, but this is not what this aricle seems to imply …

This guy will offend again, there is no doubt. He showed a savagery and disregard for a young life that is totally repugnant. Will he go on the sex offenders register when he returns home or will someone else suffer because of this leniency towards him?

Hopefully when he is inside he will bump into some Yakuza type that will “straighten” him out.

Hopefully he gets himself a nice big hairy boyfriend in prison.

He couldnt get life, hes a minor.

Yeah leave him to a pack of legion dogs,

People are just very emotional right now, saying extreme things to express they’re anger. I think your right, I can only see him getting the full amount but we’ll have to see.

The mitigating factors resulted in the sentence. He was a church goer, he tried to revive her, a juvenile, a first time offender of any crime and the ability to be rehabilitated. Hence his sentence. It’s a shame they have confirmed the max. Considering his time is with hard labour… The sentencing isn’t completely bad.

Regardless, it’s not going to bring Nicola back to her family.

He showed no remorse. That speaks volumes. Church goer ???

Marlin. Seriously, get back in your box.
A church goer? Tried to revive his victim?
Are you for real?

Marlon- I’m not sure those mitigating factors would mean anything to you if that poor girl was your sister or daughter. Especially given how he attempted to besmirch her memory during the trial. I think the mitigating factor was that the accused was American.

A church goer? Run along now Marlon, that kind of nonsense isn’t needed here.

Laura… Bak in your box… I’m only stating what the news coverage has stated. Your ignorance isn’t bliss!

I think Marlon is referring to the mitigating factors that the court is required to take into account. I don’t believe that Marlon has said he believes in the mitigating factors, however, he is pointing out what the court has to take into account.

sorry my good man Marlon are u for real with that comment you posted . he choked the girl too death and you think it was ok in some sort of a way cos he tried to revive her. And if ur going to spout on about that he was a church goer get a grip i seem to remember something about Thou shall not kill ,. And that man is far from a minor so should of not been treated like one . and whats hard labour in japan putting stickers on boxs in the prison workhouse . he did not show one bit of remorse to the family of Nicola. so if his church thinks thats fine dont associate them with the church and religion i was brought up too

Those of you have given my comment a Thumbs down…. Clearly your reading comprehension is quite poor. I in mo way was agreeing with the sentencing. I was stating why the Japanese judge gave such a lenient sentencing based on news reports.

I think your comment regarding the church muddied what was an otherwise reasonable comment.

Please note… Just like HERE in Ireland. When a judge is in the deciding mode of sentencing process. The judge takes in consideration all factors related to the guilty party. Just like in this country (Ireland), the judge takes in consideration, past offenses, education, family up-bringing, mental state and community. Just like here…. parish priests and even local government officials gives statements to influence lienency.

So, the church and the American government could have been a mitigating factor in the judges final sentence.

It may not be right… But it is how it is done… Even in this country.

For what this man (not juvenile) did to this young lady he should be treated like a sick animal and put down as that is what he is – a sick animal.

Marlon,the Japanese judge did not base his sentencing on news’ reports…….

Kevin Shaw…. being an American had little to do with the fact. Japenese law works differently than our law and American law. In fact, this case weighed little in news coverage in Japan being that both parties were forigeners.

By way… If it waere so… Pereferential treatment happens every day. Look how it has affected Ireland… Nepatism is an art in Ireland.

Daaa Dominic! I am aware of this…. My comments are based on news reports! Not the judges decision. His sentencing was based on facts he known be true and Japenese law.

Marlon, I read and understood your comment perfectly. Don’t mind them.

Hitler was a church goer too.

Thanks Penelope!

Maybe I should not have commented, Marlon,for you are quite sincere regarding this tragic event.Your statement that follows led me to making a negative and unnecessary point:”I was stating why the Japanese judge gave such a lenient sentencing based on news reports.”Apologies.

Thanks Dominic.I appreciate your comments. Especially, if they are heart felt, honest and passionate. For these are attributes that build healthy families, communities and nations.

These attributes must prevail in all of us if Ireland is to pull itself out of its current state.

Of course the sentence doesnt seem to bad for hinds 5years to 10 years for taking a young womans life and yet if i illegal download music in japan i could get up too 5 years jail time for that , something seriously wrong there. Was this girls life not worth more than a CD

Japanese prison for a foreigner is no party.

@John. I hope you’re right

Well saidn

Arent you a great contribution to intellectual discussions.

Thanks Amy … This is a bit strange indeed :-/

Has he done this before Nicola?

I heard somewhere that there were pictures on his phone of another girl in a similar state? Is this true?

Hang him and his name would live on, not hers.

I believe in 3 eyes for 2 eyes!! Sometimes 4.

what exactly is Jesus type counseling, how would you go about consoling a family where their little girl has been raped and murdered and the perpetrator is going to be walking free and going home in a maximum of 10 years. honestly man think about this for a min. do you have a child? what would you do to the person who harmed it. would “Jesus type counseling” be enough to assuage your need for vengeance.

That’s exactly what we should rely on it to do. It’s called “the justice system”

A comment like that suggests you must be as green as ivy!

Very true, the law is an ass no matter where in the world you live but looking at some of the comments here the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about

I think people are entitled to make comments here . It’s all part of showing support to Nicola’s family . Your post irritates me as it sounds sanctimonious, telling others what they ” should ” be doing .

Clearly it is at teaching simple spelling.