Kate LeaverShould the rabbit mutilator go free?
October 31st 2006 01:59
We are quick to rush to the defence of our young drug smugglers, caught in the seemingly barbaric legal system of the Asian countries where they have been caught and tried, some of them facing death, in the western view the crime hardly fits the punishment, but when we hear about the crimes committed by people using drugs it puts things in perspective.
Brendan Mcmahon is one of these people - addicted to methamphetamine (Ice) he was charged and convicted of aggravated cruelty against eighteen animals(17 rabbits, 1 guinea pig), and one act of bestiality against a rabbit in July and August 2005. In magistrate Ian Barnett's view this is one of the 'worst-case scenarios of aggravated cruelty to animals', a sentiment echoed by the RSPCA.
What is disturbing about this case is not only McMahon's lack of remorse but the blatant manner in which it occurred, he committed these atrocious acts not in the privacy of his home, or an isolated place away from prying eyes, he murdered these animals in his York Street office in downtown Sydney, only his carelessness in disposing of the bodies led to his arrest, he dumped one of the bodies in a bin in the men's toilets where he worked, only to be found by a worker in the building who alerted the police, was McMahon so high on 'ice' that he didn't care about where he left his victims, or did he, like so many of his murdering ilk, want to get caught?
History tells us that murderers and serial killers have started their killing rampage abusing animals in their childhood, one of the reasons they haven't been caught is because these crimes against animals are easily hidden and rarely discovered.
Surely our justice system can see the warning signs with McMahon, it is not a big leap to see him progressing from helpless animals to helpless humans to satiate his homicidal cravings.
On October 26th at McMahon’s appeal against his conviction, his lawyer Douglas Marr argued that the defendant had an underlying mental illness, irrespective of the psychosis bought on by the drug 'ice' at the time of the offences.
On November 3rd when his appeal for judgement is heard, can we afford to let this man back into our society? Surely his own testament to his mental illness should see him put in a secure mental health facility indefinitely.
Can we say that this man is unlikely to reoffend? The highly addictive, insidious nature of the drug 'ice', his premeditation, prolonged torture, length of offending, and the number of animals mutilated and killed suggests otherwise, Mcmahon even managed to outrage the most unforgiving element of our society - his fellow inmates, this in itself speaks volumes.
Brendan Mcmahon is one of these people - addicted to methamphetamine (Ice) he was charged and convicted of aggravated cruelty against eighteen animals(17 rabbits, 1 guinea pig), and one act of bestiality against a rabbit in July and August 2005. In magistrate Ian Barnett's view this is one of the 'worst-case scenarios of aggravated cruelty to animals', a sentiment echoed by the RSPCA.
History tells us that murderers and serial killers have started their killing rampage abusing animals in their childhood, one of the reasons they haven't been caught is because these crimes against animals are easily hidden and rarely discovered.
Surely our justice system can see the warning signs with McMahon, it is not a big leap to see him progressing from helpless animals to helpless humans to satiate his homicidal cravings.
On November 3rd when his appeal for judgement is heard, can we afford to let this man back into our society? Surely his own testament to his mental illness should see him put in a secure mental health facility indefinitely.
Can we say that this man is unlikely to reoffend? The highly addictive, insidious nature of the drug 'ice', his premeditation, prolonged torture, length of offending, and the number of animals mutilated and killed suggests otherwise, Mcmahon even managed to outrage the most unforgiving element of our society - his fellow inmates, this in itself speaks volumes.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The rabbit mutilator is one seriously screwed up individual .... "Cruelty to animals"? well, yeah, but more specifically he was ... ahem ... well, bestiality is the operative word here ... on all of them, not just one. It makes the skin crawl .... A horror movie!!!!
Comment by Jane Doe
and Christian Bale could play the lead!!!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Anonymous
I just hope he'll get a taste of his own medicine in prison.
Comment by rabbitlover