There are several questions arising from the conviction of thug Aiden Bartlett and his unnamed 17-year-old cowardly pal for launching a brutal and unprovoked attack on Richard Boyd.
But the big one centres on the decision by Sheriff Christine McCrossan to order the 20-year-old to write an essay before he returns to court to explain why he thinks he shouldn’t be put behind bars.
You may wish to re-read that last sentence.
Then you’ll wonder if April Fool’s Day has come a little early.
Sheriff McCrossan assumes that there is at least a semblance of remorse in the heart and mind – does he have either? – of a young man who with his partner in crime perpetrated a heinous act.
It left disabled Richard motionless, unconscious, bruised and with a lump to the left side of his head where he had been kicked.
Understandably, he and his mother, with whom he was having a phone conversation when the assault took place in Aberdeen city centre, are horrified that a piece of writing may just sway the sheriff into being less severe in her sentencing than she might otherwise be.
How is it possible that, having heard that Bartlett and his fellow violent criminal had followed their victim, pushed him to the ground and repeatedly kicked him in to the head for no reason, the sheriff can even consider offering him a way out?
She told him: “I have to think about this person and his family and what they would expect.”
Well, Ms McCrossan, you got that one right.
And you will not be surprised to learn that they demand nothing short of the maximum sentence being imposed when these young men return to court to hear their fate.
The truth about empire
Game of Thrones actor Daniel Portman tells us: “If I could run the British empire for a day, I would give Scotland its independence.”
Someone ought to tell the Glasgow-born thespian the British empire disappeared a long time ago, something he clearly didn’t learn in his drama class.
We must get to grips with issue of teacher recruitment
It’s one life’s mysteries. Why are we not only losing teachers, but failing to attract new ones in sufficient numbers?
If you’re a parent worried about your child’s education, you would hope the Scottish Government would be able to answer those questions, then find the best problem-solver available before matters worsen.
And you’d be asking: “Does John Swinney, the Education Secretary, have a grip on this?”
This is as big an issue as the loss of North Sea oil jobs.
Finally, a tycoon who thinks about his employees
Alasdair Locke, once one of North Sea oil’s big hitters, has become £64 million richer thanks to the sale of insurance firm, Argenta, which changed hands in a £142.5m deal.
But, given that he is already fabulously wealthy, he made sure that 60 of his staff – from office workers to executives – will share in a £35.6m windfall from the sale to Hannover RE.
It’s a recognition that without those employees such success would not have been achieved.
Mr Locke, I like your style.
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