# Mother sets fire to her daughter's gloating rapist **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363 "2009-02-25T14:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/81 "2009-02-25T18:04:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Really? So if somebody said, “rape that woman there who’s tied to the bed, or I’ll set you on fire,” you’d choose option B? There’s a difference between what I’d have the BALLS to do and what I think I SHOULD do. Although my life history seems to indicate I’d pick the stupid option and do it purely out of rage. Anyway–I think that **I** , Skald, should, in that case, say “bring on the napalm, asshole.” Only if faced with the choice would I be able to know for certain what my decision would be. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/82 "2009-02-25T18:06:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > No, she needs to be arrested, prosecuted, convicted and pardoned. I can go with this; perhaps best of all, convicted with a slap on the wrist. 30 days in jail and a couple 2 years of probation seems fine. Christ knows I’d happily take that trade were it my kid. Problem is: if I’m a juror, do I trust the system to administer what I think is justice? ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/83 "2009-02-25T18:11:50Z")
In my mind, this is no different than Bush’s argument for torture. “They did something to us, so we need to torture them re-assert control.” Unfortunately, doing this means that you no longer have any moral high ground to talk about right and wrong because you just engaged in a mindless, instinctual tit-for-tat. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/84 "2009-02-25T18:12:55Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > If you feel so strongly that this man must die for his crimes, then you should be willing to be jailed for killing him. Exactly. There’s a price for murdering somebody. And sometimes, the price is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/85 "2009-02-25T18:15:41Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Anyway–I think that **I** , Skald, should, in that case, say “bring on the napalm, asshole.” Only if faced with the choice would I be able to know for certain what my decision would be. I’ll be right over with an unwilling volunteer. This is a joke, I am not in any way suggesting or threatening that I will set Skald on fire, I like kittens. _evil laugh_ _Soon you’ll be **Skalded the Rhymer**!_ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/86 "2009-02-25T18:18:43Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’ll be right over with an unwilling volunteer. > > This is a joke, I am not in any way suggesting or threatening that I will set Skald on fire, I like kittens. > > _evil laugh_ > > _Soon you’ll be **Skalded the Rhymer**!_ Just because I’m not plotting to conquer the world any more doesn’t mean I didn’t keep a couple of the velociraptors around just in case of such an occurence. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/87 "2009-02-25T18:19:06Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > I am reminded of the case of [Ellie Nesler](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellie_Nesler), who shot to death the man accused of molesting her son and several other boys **in the courtroom during the trial**. She was tried and served 3 years of a 10 year sentence. She later went back to prison for unrelated crimes and was released after developing breast cancer. Her son is also now in prison for 25 years to life, after stomping a man to death. > > I have no idea how fucked up these people were before the alleged molestation, but their subsequent behavior is scary. > > But IIRC, she didn’t try to get out of being tried for her own crime. 5 shots to the head, BTW- nice shooting, Mom. :eek: I grew up near Sonora and remember this case. From what I recall she had a lot of community support. I knew she went back to prison for dealing meth but had not heard about her son. What a fucked up story all around. ETA: WTF? He has a [MySpace Page](http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=73895813). With friends!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/88 "2009-02-25T18:24:10Z")
When did this attack happen? The article says his sentence was for nine years, imposed in 1998. He should have been two years out of jail, not out on a pass. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/89 "2009-02-25T18:27:04Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > While I don’t want the penalty for violent rape to be execution, my objections are purely practical: making it so would likely increase the proportion of rapes that end in murder. But violent rapists certainly deserve to be killed. Well, I have a feeling we aren’t going to agree here, but out of curiosity, do you believe all people who commit assault should die? Or only the ones that include rape? Is rape the factor that makes it a capital case for you? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/90 "2009-02-25T18:36:49Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > When did this attack happen? The article says his sentence was for nine years, imposed in 1998. He should have been two years out of jail, not out on a pass. 1. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/91 "2009-02-25T18:37:50Z")
I’m reminded of Samuel Jackson’s outburst in “A Time To Kill”: YES HE DESERVED TO DIE, AND I HOPE HE BURNS IN HELL! Part of me agrees with the sentiment, but the responsible side of me says no decent society can allow vigilante justice to rule the day. We have due process of law for a reason, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/92 "2009-02-25T18:52:18Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I’m reminded of Samuel Jackson’s outburst in “A Time To Kill”: YES HE DESERVED TO DIE, AND I HOPE HE BURNS IN HELL! \ “Yes, they deserved to die, and I hope they burn in hell!” \ ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/93 "2009-02-25T19:05:23Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I am pretty much against vigilante justice. > > Having said that, once the system fails ya, I sure as hell aint gonna judge you if you go postal from the results. The system didn’t “fail,” the man was convicted and sentenced to prison. I guess I would have to agree with those who think, regretfully, the mother should be punished in some way. But note to self: Never piss off a Spanish mother. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/94 "2009-02-25T19:08:32Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > The system didn’t “fail,” the man was convicted and sentenced to prison. I guess I would have to agree with those who think, regretfully, the mother should be punished in some way. But note to self: Never piss off a Spanish mother. I believe those who see the rapist’s being out on a weekend furlough regard the system’s response as a failure. That is, they see the response as entirely inadequate: not as big a failure as it would have been if he had never been incarcereated, but still a failure. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/95 "2009-02-25T19:09:23Z")
I think that the mother should not have taken the law into her own hands. And she should be tried, and probably convicted (just judging superficially) and if so, she should accept her punishment. On the other hand, I don’t give two shits about the crispy rapist. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/96 "2009-02-25T19:13:12Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Well, I have a feeling we aren’t going to agree here, but out of curiosity, do you believe all people who commit assault should die? Or only the ones that include rape? Is rape the factor that makes it a capital case for you? I specified violent rape, don’t forget that. I’d say that adding rape to the mix of a violent assault makes the assailant guilty of death, in theory. But only in theory. I have practical objections that outweigh my kneejerk bloodthirsty response. Executing violent rapists would not be a deterrent to rape, but rather an incitement to adding murder to the mix. Moreover, there’s always the issue of erroneous convictions and the inability to offer any sort of reparations after an execution that should not have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/97 "2009-02-25T19:15:28Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > **I specified violent rape, don’t forget that. I’d say that adding rape to the mix of a violent assault makes the assailant guilty of death, in theory.** How do you figure? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/98 "2009-02-25T19:19:22Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > How do you figure? I mean that some assaults, even if they do not end the death of the victim, are so vile that the perpetrator needs to be removed from the population. I used to date a woman whose granddaughter, at the age of 2, was savaged by her mother’s worthless boyfriend. She survived, but only barely, and still has developmental issues. My best friend from high school was, a few years back, the victim of a home invasion that included multiple rapes, a kidnapping, robbery, and more. My gut feeling is, in both cases, the criminals involved deserve execution. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/99 "2009-02-25T19:21:15Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Now that I can agree with. If I were picked to be on a jury for a case like this, I’d be hard put to vote for conviction. If the facts of the case are as stated, and if Spanish law defines that as murder, then it is your duty to vote for a murder conviction. It is then up to the judge to decide on the sentence, and if there are any mitigating circumstances. Your personal opinion on the rights and wrongs of the situation shouldn’t affect your decision on whether or not a crime has been committed. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/100 "2009-02-25T19:27:45Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > If the facts of the case are as stated, and if Spanish law defines that as murder, then it is your duty to vote for a murder conviction. It is then up to the judge to decide on the sentence, and if there are any mitigating circumstances. Your personal opinion on the rights and wrongs of the situation shouldn’t affect your decision on whether or not a crime has been committed. Bullshit. My duty is to what is right, not to what the law says, as sometimes the law is an ass. A juror is not the same as a judge, and the law cannot be right in every circumstance. If I were, say, on an American jury in the 1800s, faced with deciding the guilt of a person charged with theft of property for helping an fugitive slave, my ethical and moral duty is to vote for acquittal and to campaign for it in the jury room, because the law itself is unjust and must be opposed. And yes, I am quite aware that this argument can be used to justify letting persons like [Byron De La Beckwith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_De_La_Beckwith) off the hook. But that doesn’t change my position. _My obligation to do what is right is absolute._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363.md?page=6)