England – Judge Goldstone Responds to Death Penalty Story

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    England – The England based newspaper The Jewish Chronicle asked Judge Goldstone to confirm the report in Yediot that as a judge in the South African court of appeal, he sentenced 28 people to death. Here is what he had to say:

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    I have seen a translation of today’s “preview” in Yediot. The facts relating to the death penalty are:

    1. During the nine years I was a trial judge from 1980 to 1989, I sentenced two people to death for murder without extentuating circumstances. They were murders committed gratuitously during armed robberies. In the absence of extenuating circumstances the imposition of the death sentence was mandatory. My two assessors and I could find no extenuating circumstances in those two cases.

    2. While I was a judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal from 1990 to 1994, all executions were put on hold. However, automatic appeals still continued to come before the Supreme Court of appeal. We sat in panels of three and again, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, some of those appeals failed.

    3. It was a difficult moral decision taking an appointment during the Apartheid era. With regard to my role in those years I would refer you to the joint public statement issues in January by former Chief. Justice Arthur Chaskalson (the first CJ appointed by President Mandela) and George Bizos, (Nelson Mandela’s lawyer and close friend for over 50 years). The statement was published in full by the South African Jewish Report on about 23 January…

    Finally, I would say that these events took place 25 – 30 years ago. At that time a number of democracies had not abolished the death sentence. I do not understand why my actions as a judge im those years precludes me from campaigning today against the death sentence or precludes me from judging war crimes whether committed in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda or the Middle East.

    Other of the Yediot allegations are either false or distorted.


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    29 Comments
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    Now it hurts
    Now it hurts
    13 years ago

    So Mr. Goldstone,

    How are you enjoying these ‘false or distorted charges’ when they are on YOU?!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Finally, I would say that these events took place 25 – 30 years ago. At that time a number of democracies had not abolished the death sentence. I do not understand why my actions as a judge im those years precludes me from campaigning today against the death sentence or precludes me from judging war crimes whether committed in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda or the Middle East.

    So because it took place 25 – 30 years ago, what does that mean? Should we excuse germans who killed Jews because that was the law of the land in germany 65 years ago?

    Judge Goldstone should retire from public life.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    בן ק כבן כ
    that’s why it’s important – any role at 20 shows your personality at 80 –
    LEAVE ISRAEL ALONE
    people in glass houses should not throw stones.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    So basically he’s a dirty opportunist.

    mayim
    mayim
    13 years ago

    oy l’roshoh oy l’schainoh

    doesn’t make a diffrence how man shvartzes you killed
    your still a soneh yisroel

    Hezy
    Hezy
    13 years ago

    Do you deny you enforced Apartheid laws? Of course you dont you monster!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Frankly, I do not care a bit about his track record as a judge, not the death penalty issue, not the apartheid. I am focused on the blatant lies, distortions, and false conclusions of his report on the Gaza War. He disqualified any evidence that indicated that Hamas used civilian shields, and he fabricated war crimes against the only country in the world that risks everything to protect civilians anywhere (yes, more than the US). I think that such dishonesty is damaging and dangerous, and that he should have nowhere to walk on this planet where he will encounter anything but solid ridicule and distrust. I would not trust a liar like this to lend him a dime.

    a Pushite yid
    a Pushite yid
    13 years ago

    So if it does not matter what happened 25 yrs ago why does it matter what Israel did 2-3 yrs ago what’s the cut off time that it if you murder someone or you commit atrocities they no longer matter?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Clearly Goldstone had no problem EXECUTING black africans who were criminals at the direction of his SA Government Handlers, and he would similarly do the same against Israeli soldiers for protecting Israeli civilians from Hamas Rocket and mortar fire since it was against the decree of his UN Anti-Semetic Handlers. Said Goldstone: “You must DIE. It is the Law!”

    JJ
    JJ
    13 years ago

    mr goldstone- why did you sentence a black man to 7 years in jail for watching a vido of a nelson mandella speech.

    mr goldstone since you are a racist your opinions are null and void.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Well reading all these postings all I can do is quote Rosalind Russel in Gypsy, “How do you like those egg rolls Mr. Goldstone?”

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    IMHO He got paid to do the report! The gig was to find Israel at fault and that’s what he did. Why blame him for doing his job? Twenty years ago he also did his job!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Sounds like he is saying, in far too many words, “I am guilty as charged.”

    OnlineSpeedDating
    OnlineSpeedDating
    13 years ago

    Have you considered the fact that this might work another way? I am wondering if anyone else has come across something
    similar in the past? Let me know your thoughts…