Ronald Ryan / Capital Punishment Flashcards
Who, when and where was Ronald Ryan born?
born Ronald Joseph Ryan
21 February 1925
Carlton, Victoria
What was Ryan’s family background like?
- he had an alcoholic father who ultimately died.
- multiple siblings
- mother who found it difficult to cope and sometimes was neglectful
Was Ronald Ryan a compassionate person?
Yes, after he was placed into a family home, he worked tirelessly to earn money so he could take his sisters back home.
What were Ronald Ryan’s prior convictions?
non violent crimes: breaking and entering, forgery and possession of a pistol.
When did George Hodson die?
December 19, 1965
Where did George Hodson die?
outside the grounds of Pentridge Prison.
What offence was Ronald Ryan charged with?
felony murder
What was the main factual issue in the case?
whether or not Ronald Ryan had actually murdered George Hodson.
What was the main legal issue in the case?
whether or not the escape from gaol had actually finished or not.
Who was Ryan’s accomplice?
Peter Walker
Who was Ryan’s lawyer?
Dr Phillip Opas QC
What were the problems with the evidence presented at trial?
- The trajectory of the bullet, which correlates with the height difference of both men.
- The final cartridge was never located.
- The witnesses each had different version of events.
What are the arguments for capital punishment?
deterrence
- prevents other people from committing the same crime in fear of punishment or retribution.
closure and vindication
-family and the victim deserve closure for lass or harm against the.
punishment should fit the crime
retribution
- punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
rehabilitation
- prior, to the punishment, it allows the offender to put perspective on the gravity of what they have done.
What are the arguments against capital punishment?
human dignity
- all human life is valuable, offenders should not be deprived of the value of their lives.
execution of the innocent
- the offender may be innocent, there is no possibility of the ‘undoing’ the punishment.
trauma
- brutalises those involved in administering it.
community safety
- the community can be kept safe by imprisoning the offender.
high economic cost
- the sheer number of appeals and legal applications made on behalf of the offender come at a high cost to the community’s legal system.
What are the purposes of criminal sanctions?
- public safety
- deterrence
- rehabilitation
- retribution
