A woman who killed an 87-year-old Broadway vocal coach by pushing her to the ground in New York City pleaded guilty Wednesday and will be sentenced to eight years in prison, the district attorney said.

Lauren Pazienza, now 28, shoved Barbara Maier Gustern to the ground from behind in the Chelsea neighborhood on March 10, 2022, officials said at the time.

  • RealJoL@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    I always found the thought alone scary. Imagine losing one year of your life locked up. Everything around you would just ‘move past’ while you’re caged in. Now imagine eight years of your past life and how much happened in that time and what you would have missed.

    I don’t think any country should have lifelong (timely unlimited) sentences, they’re incredibly cruel, maybe worse than death.

    • SheeEttin@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, I think prison should be reserved for people who are an immediate danger to society. She probably qualifies, but I’d say that any continued imprisonment should be determined by a parole board, including a professional psychologist or something.

      • Neon@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        that’s exactly what i am saying lol.
        prison should be used much more conservitavely and be seen as a measure to protect the victim/public, not to punish the perpetrator.

    • HumbertTetere@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      We actually did have a ruling like that in Germany, so our highest available punishment, “lifelong” prison sentences aren’t what the name implies. They are long, always more than 15 years and usually above 20, but eventually you get out.

      There is another measure available to keep people locked up indefinitely, “Sicherheitsverwahrung”, which keeps getting extended if they are considered to remain a large threat to society. But it’s not supposed to be a punishment, so they get more commodities at least.

      • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        There is another measure available to keep people locked up indefinitely, “Sicherheitsverwahrung”

        Jesus, that word should get locked up indefinitely