Manslaughter for scientists.

[kentuckybandit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...aughter-charge

This is slowly creeping up here and there on news sites. Scientists are being charged with manslaughter for not giving sufficient warning for the L'Aquila earthquake in 2009. This can't possibly be serious?

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

Italy...

[Exarch]

stupid ing idiots;

do they really think scientists wanted these earthquakes to happen??

this'll hopefully die down when ppl get over the shock and blaming stage of grief

[boofhead]

Ridiculous. A travesty of justice.

[GrnEyedDvl]

That is by far the dumbest thing I have heard today, and I have heard quite a few.

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

That is by far the dumbest thing I have heard today, and I have heard quite a few.

Been reading the Q&S again?

[GrnEyedDvl]

Been reading the Q&S again?

Obviously lol It takes up at least 50% of my daily TWC time. Sometimes more, which is why I dont participate in Pit discussions that often.

Back on topic, lets assume that they win this case and send these guys to jail or whatever. They do this enough times, and pretty soon one of two things will happen.

1. Scientists will decide its no longer worth the risk to work in Italy.

2. Scientists will decide everything is an "immediate danger". Some people will listen to this and then make huge changes in their lives. Then after a few months when nothing has happened they will sue the scientists for damages because they lost money selling their house because they thought they were going to die, or whatever.

This is completely ridiculous. Science is rarely exact, especially on something like this.

[Incesticide]

That is by far the dumbest thing I have heard today, and I have heard quite a few.

Then again, it is the Guardian we're talking about.

On a more serious note. As I mentioned in a similar thread about manslaughter charge being brought against Harold Camping's doomsday prediction, I doubt a manslaughter charge will hold. The scientists made a public prediction. Whether their predictions were contradictory or not does not really matter as long as no evidence of negligent work is found (which I doubt).

Again, as I mentioned in a previous thread, for an act to be considered manslaughter (in the UK) the following points must hold:

• The defendant must do an unlawful act, and this must be a criminal offence involving intention or recklessness.
• The act must be dangerous.
• The act must directly cause the death of the victim.

A public prediction of an earthquake is neither of the above. The people acted/ failed to act on the knowledge that was given to them, and that ultimately was the cause of their being affected by the earthquake. That said, if anybody has any knowledge of Italian law, it would be interesting to see what it says on the matter.

Quite probably, however, the courts will throw the case out lock, stock and barrel.

[Copperknickers II]

Depends, we don't know the details.

[(s)AINT]

LOL that's stupid

[Pyrich]

I thought they got rid of Mussolini?

[MathiasOfAthens]

I thought they got rid of Mussolini?

What? Sounds more like something Nero would do.

[Basil II the B.S]

You will now understand why Berlusconi gets plenty of support and votes whenever he claims that judges are Italy's cancer.

I'd still wait to jump to conclusions anyways.

[Caesar Germanico]

You will now understand why Berlusconi gets plenty of support and votes whenever he claims that judges are Italy's cancer.

I'd still wait to jump to conclusions anyways.

what the hell are you talking about?
berlusconi does nt get any more support when he rants about judges,he just does it to confuse people and make it seem like a fight for power between the executive and judiciary branches
there is nothing really extraordinay or strange about judges in italy,they are the same as other western nations

the laws which they must apply are a different story,those are made by mad men like berlusconi

[Basil II the B.S]

what the hell are you talking about?
berlusconi does nt get any more support when he rants about judges,he just does it to confuse people and make it seem like a fight for power between the executive and judiciary branches
there is nothing really extraordinay or strange about judges in italy,they are the same as other western nations

the laws which they must apply are a different story,those are made by mad men like berlusconi

I suggest you to calm down, leave aside your political hatred, read my statement again and then maybe come back. Otherwise I'll just ignore you and move on.

[bushbush]

basic legal fail. There is no causation.

[removeduser_487563287433]

This is truly disgusting.

[Salvatorel]

Total Idiocy,since no science can predict anything,obviously including eathquakes with 100% accuracy and being aware of this is a matter of common sense,something Italian political elite lacks. Anyway I hope for their acquittal.