A laughable idea of justice
I cannot agree more with the letter of J Richards headlined, 'Rape sentence' (South China Morning Post, March 15), concerning the horrible rape of a Japanese child in Okinawa.
I am appalled, but not surprised, by the light sentences given by the Japanese court to the beasts who mauled an innocent girl.
The court, probably considering that the criminals were Americans, got weak knees and did not do its duty, which was surely to lock the trio behind bars for good.
Brazenly, rather than to say 'thank you', two of those rapists even had the gall to appeal against their ridiculously low sentence.
If they have any honour left I hope that the appeal judges will strike hard once and for all, at those who are a danger to society, in Japan or elsewhere.
Under those circumstances, it is hardly believable that the defence attorney was cynical enough to declare that 'Japanese justice is a joke'.
Yes, it is a joke, in the sense that to sentence criminals to a few years in prison, when they deserve a life sentence, is a joke.
JEAN MAURELLET Tai Hang Road
