Thursday, January 09, 2014

Arsonist released from jail because he's a dwarf

An Australian man convicted of torching his neighbour’s home after a dispute has been released from jail because the prison cannot meet the special needs of his dwarfism.



Adelaide man Aaron Scott McLean, 42, started a fire which caused $85,000 damage to his neighbour’s property in October 2012 following a dispute over a shared carport. He was jailed for three years in September last year with a non-parole period of 14 months after pleading guilty to one count of arson.

But he successfully appealed against the sentence to a higher court, which found his dwarfism and consequential ill health and disabilities led the court to the conclusion it would be ‘unduly harsh for him to serve time in prison’. Despite the Correctional Service Department denying that it could not meet McLean’s needs, he was released from jail and sentenced to just six months home detention.


YouTube link.

McLean had previously spent time in jail, and Correctional Services spokesman said prisons continually meet the needs of disabled inmates. The grandmother whose home was burnt is outraged that McLean has been released. He is not allowed to "assault, harass, threaten or intimidate'' his victim.

2 comments:

Brixter said...

The potty must be too high

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out what special needs a person with dwarfism needs. They live in a world that is normal people sized, so they have to adjust. I'd be pissed if I was the neighbor, too.