Judge warned jury against sympathy in shooting trial

Article Abstract:

Mr Justice Hidden told the jury after a four-day trial not to permit sympathy to cloud their judgement of whether the defendant, Stephen Owen, was guilty of an offence. Mr Owen shot Kevin Taylor, who had killed his twelve-year-old son by reckless driving. Mr Taylor, who had no driving licence and only one sighted eye, received an 18-month prison sentence but was released after a year, which Mr Owen considered 'totally inadequate.' He said that when he saw Mr Taylor he wanted to make him feel the same hurt his family had, but did not intend to murder or wound him. He said that he felt out of his mind at the time. The jury at Maidstone Crown Court cleared Mr Owen.

Cases, Traffic accidents, Revenge

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Trial may advance demands for legal euthanasia

Article Abstract:

A proposal to legalise 'advance directives,' in which passive euthansia is requested in advance by people too ill to express their wishes, may be brought before parliament in autumn 1992. The London Linacre Centre for Health Care Ethics feels that it would lead to voluntary euthanasia. The Voluntary Euthanasia Society believes advance directives extend the patient's right to refuse treatment and clarify the law. An anti-euthanasia group, Alert, believes in the importance of protection by the state from doctors having the power to kill the patient.

Laws, regulations and rules, Practice, Physicians, Medical professions, Euthanasia

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Tugs rescue beached ferry

Article Abstract:

Stena Sealink's 18,500-ton ferry 'Stena Challenger' has been towed off the beach just outside the French port of Calais, where it had been stranded for 23 hours. Little information is known about the cause of the accident, but it is thought most likely to be the result of engine failure of a navigational error. There were no casualties, but the company made considerable efforts to ensure that the almost 250 passengers aboard remained comfortable.

Safety and security measures, France, Stena Sealink, Ferryboat disasters

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