Background: I've discussed the kid gloves treatment the criminal justice system gives women on numerous occasions. The most recent example is the Lisa Nowak case--to learn more, see my co-authored column Scott Peterson in a Space Suit  (Philadelphia Daily News, 2/26/07) and also click here and here.

Both the man and the woman in the story Lovers' 30-year murder sentence (BBC, 5/18/07) deserve severe punishment, but I can't help but notice the gender bias in sentencing here.

The husband and his lover plotted to kill the man's wife. The husband urged his girlfriend to commit the crime, but physically played no role in the murder. The girlfriend stabbed the man's wife 16 times with a knife. Yet the husband got an 18 year sentence and the girlfriend--the one who actually committed the murder--got only 12 years, partially because she cooperated with prosecutors, but also because she's a woman, and women are treated with kid gloves by the criminal justice system.

Also, when a man and a woman commit a crime together, the state is more likely to offer a deal to the woman to testify against the man than vice versa.

Lovers' 30-year murder sentence
BBC, 5/18/07

Stephen Marsh, 36, was sentenced to 18 years for persuading Rebecca Harris, 30, to stab his wife Jaspal to death at the marital home in Gorseinon, Swansea.

Harris was given a 12-year sentence for carrying out the July 2006 murder.

Passing sentence at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Roderick Price said: "It was a well-planned killing - I'm tempted to say an execution."

He told Marsh: "You are manipulative and devious and persuaded Rebecca to kill Jaspal."

Turning to Harris, he said: "You were influenced by him. No doubt you knew full well what you were about.

"It is chilling to think of you - a young mother - driving to Gorseinon to carry out a murder in a manner that was so violent."

She ran crying from the dock as shouts and screams came from the public gallery as her sentence was announced.

Speaking outside the court Mrs Marsh's brother, Sukhdeep Rehal, 34, who lives with his family in the London area, said they were unhappy with the sentence.

"Whilst acknowledging that nothing will bring my sister back, the punishment handed out does not, in our opinion, fit the crime," he said.

"My sister was killed as a result of a planned and premeditated act.

"Whilst justice was done when the guilty verdict was reached, the sentence feels like a smack in the face to everyone involved with bringing the pair to justice, and we are all extremely disappointed."

Marsh had denied involvement in his wife's death, but his month-long trial heard evidence of text messages he sent to Harris on the night of the killing urging her to "do it".

Jaspal Marsh, 36, was stabbed 16 times with a knife her husband and Harris had used in sado-masochistic sex games.

Read the full article here.

Thanks to Malcolm James for sending me the article. As a side note, I'm opposed to the death penalty, even for this despicable pair.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 am and is filed under Crime/Criminal Justice System/Police, Sexism. You can trackback from your own site.