Albion Sinking, III: Colin Ross Guilty, Layman-Mendonca Recovering
Our coverage of the attack upon Vermonter Marty Layman-Mendonca while hiking in the Scottish Highlands has brought much new traffic to the site, and we have an update for those following the story.
We were the first on the web to break the news that her attacker, Colin Ross, was a repeat offender, having stalked, harassed, and threatened to stab his pshrink in 2003, according to a Sun article cited in our original piece. Our attempts to get this information wider publication were stymied: our local paper, the Valley News, refused to publish this information, and we received threatening emails and distraught comments from people claiming that our publishing this information online would somehow taint the jury pool in Scotland.
However, according to WCAX television in Burlington, VT, Mr. Ross has pled guilty to attempted murder:
It now appears that I was completely justified in calling this case Britain's Willie Horton. Advocates of self defense rights in Britain can and should use this case to drive out of office anyone who is soft on criminals and hard on victim self defense. Mr. Ross not only threatened and stalked his pshrink, but was caught in the act of preparing to enter a home to commit a violent felony, spent only 2 years of a 3 year sentence for attempted murder against another hiker in 2004, and reoffended less than a month after being released from prison. Colin Ross is a walking poster boy for the justification of a 3 Strikes Law being passed in Britain, perhaps even sentencing reform.
No date has been set for Ross' sentencing, but he was to appear at another court hearing on Oct. 3. Should Ross receive another light sentence, I predict that people will start to demand some reforms.
Meanwhile, Ms. Layman-Mendonca, who was predicted by doctors to never recover from the coma she suffered due to the extent of brain damage done by Ross, has shocked everyone by opening her eyes, has been able to hug a friend, but has still been unable to speak. Lets hope that she makes further recovery, and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family (note the comments to the article from folks in Scotland).
There is a fund to raise money for Marty's recovery and transportation back to the US. A James Murray of Aberdeen wrote a letter to the Press and Journal suggesting a fund be started to help return Layman-Mendonca home. He pledged £100 (about $189) to kick off the fund. Jane Candlish, a reporter with the Press and Journal, said a bank account has been set up in Inverness for that purpose. Another fundraising nexus is with Layman-Mendonca's friends at Christ Redeemer Church in Hanover, NH. If you would like to donate, simply make your check payable to Christ Redeemer Church and mail it to P.O. Box 5523, Hanover, NH 03755. Please put a note on your check indicating that it is for Marty. All money collected will go directly to help Marty and her family with the expenses surrounding this difficult event.
UPDATE:
BACKDATE:
We were the first on the web to break the news that her attacker, Colin Ross, was a repeat offender, having stalked, harassed, and threatened to stab his pshrink in 2003, according to a Sun article cited in our original piece. Our attempts to get this information wider publication were stymied: our local paper, the Valley News, refused to publish this information, and we received threatening emails and distraught comments from people claiming that our publishing this information online would somehow taint the jury pool in Scotland.
However, according to WCAX television in Burlington, VT, Mr. Ross has pled guilty to attempted murder:
Before the attack, Scottish police were so concerned about the risks that Ross posed to women that on June 29 _ six days before the Layman-Mendonca attack _ they were granted a sexual offenses prevention order banning him from approaching women or wearing a balaclava, The Scotsman said.
The order also banned him from leaving his home or the immediate area for more than 24 hours without police permission and from getting a job or voluntary work without written approval.
Police said they were powerless against lenient sentencing and that Ross should be kept in prison indefinitely to prevent him from attacking other women.
In July 2003, Ross was convicted of breaching the peace for being found near a woman's home in the city carrying a balaclava and written instructions about entering the house. The instructions contained the words "and now the fun begins," The Scotsman said.
In May 2004, while wearing a balaclava and gloves, Ross attacked a German tourist, Ina Bruns, 36, in a forest near Cawdor Castle, outside Inverness. When arrested, he was wearing her glasses, the paper said. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but was freed early on June 9 under a supervised release order.
The Scotsman said Ross had prepared the site where he ambushed Layman-Mendonca, hiding clean clothes, a sponge and a milk bottle full of Dettol disinfectant in the undergrowth alongside a remote path. When the teacher showed up, Ross followed her for 10 yards (meters), engaged her in conversation and then went into a frenzy, the paper said.
It now appears that I was completely justified in calling this case Britain's Willie Horton. Advocates of self defense rights in Britain can and should use this case to drive out of office anyone who is soft on criminals and hard on victim self defense. Mr. Ross not only threatened and stalked his pshrink, but was caught in the act of preparing to enter a home to commit a violent felony, spent only 2 years of a 3 year sentence for attempted murder against another hiker in 2004, and reoffended less than a month after being released from prison. Colin Ross is a walking poster boy for the justification of a 3 Strikes Law being passed in Britain, perhaps even sentencing reform.
No date has been set for Ross' sentencing, but he was to appear at another court hearing on Oct. 3. Should Ross receive another light sentence, I predict that people will start to demand some reforms.
Meanwhile, Ms. Layman-Mendonca, who was predicted by doctors to never recover from the coma she suffered due to the extent of brain damage done by Ross, has shocked everyone by opening her eyes, has been able to hug a friend, but has still been unable to speak. Lets hope that she makes further recovery, and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family (note the comments to the article from folks in Scotland).
There is a fund to raise money for Marty's recovery and transportation back to the US. A James Murray of Aberdeen wrote a letter to the Press and Journal suggesting a fund be started to help return Layman-Mendonca home. He pledged £100 (about $189) to kick off the fund. Jane Candlish, a reporter with the Press and Journal, said a bank account has been set up in Inverness for that purpose. Another fundraising nexus is with Layman-Mendonca's friends at Christ Redeemer Church in Hanover, NH. If you would like to donate, simply make your check payable to Christ Redeemer Church and mail it to P.O. Box 5523, Hanover, NH 03755. Please put a note on your check indicating that it is for Marty. All money collected will go directly to help Marty and her family with the expenses surrounding this difficult event.
UPDATE:
- Albion Sinking IV: British Big Brother Bullies Bronx
- Albion Sinking IV: British Big Brother Bullying Bronx
BACKDATE:
posted by Mike Lorrey at 4:13 PM
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