Every day, unknowingly, our actions affect other people. Mostly they are unintentional, mundane actions, but the action of the individual, more than often, has an impact on someone else.
There are certain types of people in the world who I
encounter on a daily basis, who drive me slightly crazy with their actions. They
probably get on your nerves too. From the unwitting tourist in London, who
doesn’t know which side of the escalator to stand on and makes everyone stop in their tracks, and the charity volunteer
with a clipboard trying to get us to sign up to something. How about the nuisance cold sales calls we didn't ask for? Not forgetting the
people who walk along the train platform with their smart phone in their hand
getting in everyone’s way and slowing everyone down. Or the person who knocks into you at the bar, spilling your drink and not apologising? These actions affect us and can easily blow up out of all proportion if someone involved is a certain type of person.
But much worse than those people you encounter with unintentional actions, are the people who think
they are above everyone around them, and the laws of the land. These people do
not give a shit about their actions. They are the ones that make my blood boil.
We have all encountered these people in our lives. And in my opinion, there
seems to be a plague of these types of people in our society. The type of
people who do not think twice about breaking the law, attacking people, committing crime,
sexually assaulting someone, just because they think they can get away with it.
Last weekend, a young man, Oliver Dearlove, was killed in
Blackheath, London, as he waited for a taxi with friends after a night out.
He was killed after
being punched just once, by a man who quickly exited the scene. A man who thought he could punch someone and get away with it. However instead of just assaulting someone, the attacker killed him.
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| Police in Blackheath after the attack |
In my opinion, the attacker is synonymous with an alpha male type of
knuckle dragger mentality. A culture within a generation of men not really giving a f**k about the
consequences of their individual actions. The type of person who is desperate to
be feared, and respected amongst his peers. The type of person who swaggers
around with bravado and an attitude of not giving a shit. The sense in his life that he is
untouchable. I cant stand these types of people.
For whatever reason, the attacker found it acceptable to
punch the victim, not caring for the implications that single punch would have.
Sure, his argument in court will be that he didn’t mean to kill the victim. But
he still thought that he could punch an innocent person and get away with it.
Earlier today,
a 31year old man was charged with murder. The accused pleaded 'Not Guilty' to the charge, on the basis
that he did not intend to kill or cause serious injury to the victim. It
makes you wonder how many other people has he attacked over the years, who
haven’t ended up losing their life? We just don’t know. What we do know, is
that the accused’s brother is serving life in prison for brutally murdering
someone over ten years ago. It indicates to me, that if guilty, the accused
comes from a background where violence is common, and there is no fear for the consequence of your actions.
What drove the attacker to do this is unclear, but there was
a clear disconnect about his action, the consequences, and the implication that could have on so
many people. Part of the problem in my view, is just how slack our judicial
service is. There is no real deterrent for crimes in this country, as the
courts are simply too soft. We offer ridiculously small jail sentences for
awful acts of crime or violence. In my opinion prison is supposed to be hard
time. It should be a hell on earth. It should be there to scare people into not
wanting to commit crimes and violence. Also in my opinion, a life sentence
should be mandatory for anyone who kills another in an act of violence. Even if
the attackers intent wasn’t to kill, he did just that. Kill. Therefore life imprisonment is
what the verdict should be if found guilty.
Assaults and fights are far too common in our society. Go to
any town or city in the UK and there will be something for emergency services
to handle. A fight could easily lead to far worse than intended, which makes you question, is it actually worth it?
The implications of the attack were not on the attackers
mind at the time, and who knows why he decided to attack Mr Dearlove’s group
that night? But the attack would have huge implications. And not only on the
victim, but his family, his friends, his colleagues, the emergency services,
medical staff and passers- by who tried to save him, and other people in the
local community left completely horrified by the nature of the attack.
The outpouring of emotion and heartbreak has spread far and
wide in the local community, with the shock of what has happened to someone who
was known and loved by so many people. He was in a good career, with a loving
partner who he was planning his future with. He had a large loving family and
had recently become an uncle twice to two baby boys. He was living his life the right way. And now
he is no longer with us. His parents have lost their son, siblings lost their
brother, partner lost her boyfriend and nephews and nieces have lost their
uncle and so on... All because, one man, decided to punch another man in a
senseless, needless and tragic attack.
I was heartbroken when I realised who the victim was, the
step brother of an old friend of mine. I cant begin to imagine what he and his
family are going through. To everyone who knew and loved Oliver Dearlove, my
deepest condolences and thoughts are with you. I can only hope that you can be
there for one another and get through the tough times ahead.
I sincerely hope that there will be justice for this attack.
RIP Oliver Dearlove - gone far too soon.
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