British teen gets 12 years for 'vampire' killing.

Communist News Network ^ | August 2, 2002 | some CNN hack

[BlessingInDisguise]

LONDON, England -- A British teenager has been jailed for 12 years for murdering his elderly neighbour and drinking her blood in a vampire ritual.

Vampire-mad art student Mathew Hardman, 17, cut out Mabel Leyshon's heart after stabbing her 22 times at her home in Llanfairpwll, North Wales, last November.

[BlessingInDisguise]

Out for good behavior in 5 to kill again.

Personally, I believe a 'wooden stake through the heart' type of sentence would have been the appropriate one.

[B Knotts]

Well, it is four years more than Traficant!

[BlessingInDisguise]

Why'd you have to bring up ol' rugtop?

[ValerieUSA]

http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=0LAHTV3DVDLNOCRBAELCFEY?type=humannews&StoryID=1286103

Man Found with Human Heart Gets Witchcraft Rap


LUSAKA, Zambia (Reuters) - A Zambian man has been jailed for witchcraft after a human heart was found in his possession, and police are investigating a possible murder, state radio and prosecutors said Thursday.

Moses Chisambo, 60, pleaded guilty to charges of witchcraft and possession of various items used in the trade, including a "witchcraft gun" -- a gun-shaped piece of wood believed to be used by witches to kill people at night.

"A fresh human heart wrapped in a chitenge (wrapping cloth) and a witchcraft gun ... used in mysterious killings of people were found in Chisambo's possession," said the radio.

Chisambo, from the Kabompo district, 590 miles northwest of the capital Lusaka, was jailed for 18 months.

Witchcraft is a criminal offense in Zambia, an officially Christian country where black magic is widely practiced in deeply superstitious rural communities.

Zambia's director of public prosecutions Mukelebai Mukelebai said Chisambo had not been charged with a serious more offence because police were still trying to find out how he got the heart.

"If it is found that murder was committed, then such a charge will follow," Mukelebai told Reuters.

[Dakmar]

Hardman put the heart into a saucepan containing the pensioner's blood and drank the blood -- believing the ritual would make him immortal, the jury heard.

I would be willing to help him test that theory.

[Psycho_Bunny]

A British teenager has been jailed for 12 years for murdering his elderly neighbour and drinking her blood in a vampire ritual.

12 years? 

Are you kidding me?

This guy will see the light of day again?

The British legal system is out of it's flipping mind.

[B Knotts]

Well, just pointing out that he has been dealt with quite harshly, in comparison with violent criminals that actually pose a threat to society.

Besides, an environmental impact statement should be needed before imprisoning Traficant, because his head is likely a habitat for endangered species.

[Mulder]

There's nothing wrong with a vampire that can't be solved by Buffy and a wooden stake.

[Guillermo]

Since it's Britain, I'm surprised he got this sentence.

I'm also surprised that they didn't charge the old lady with locking her door and putting up resistance. But after all, she's dead.

[Steely Tom]

All right, listen up. It's a new day in Britian, the status quo just isn't quo any more.

As of right now, today, we're getting serious about pure evil. Here is how it's going to be, satin-worshippers.

From now on, you cut the heart out of an old lady and drink her blood, you're going away.

For up to TWELVE LONG YEARS.

So next time the urge put yourself and your immortal soul in service to the Dark One, I have just one piece of advice for you:

THINK IT OVER.

(steely)

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I wish I had a Kryptonite cross, because then you could keep both Dracula AND Superman away.
-Jack Handy

[EBUCK]

Guess the UK should consider banning knives and fake vampire teeth. Yuh know, because like, banning firearms is appearantly not too darn effective in cutting down murder.

EBUCK

[EBUCK]

Wanna guess how long he'd get sent up if he'd killed the old lady with a 'GASP' gun?

EBUCK

[Gritty]

Vampire-mad art student Mathew Hardman, 17, cut out Mabel Leyshon's heart after stabbing her 22 times

My Gosh. TWELVE YEARS!!?? Are they crazier than he is? This guy will be at the most aged 29 when he gets out and gets to do it all over again - this time without all the mistakes that got him caught!

On the other hand, this guy could have done the deed in Massachusetts and gotten a suspended sentence for an apology.

[tracer]

Young Matthew clearly is a hemosexual.........

[Tallguy]

This guy is going to be a big hit with the rest of the inmates. Hope he doesn't ever get out.

[BlessingInDisguise]

I read this on a site from drudge:

"Hardman had kept his cool throughout the 13-day trial but wept uncontrollably when the guilty verdict was read out after three-and-a-half hours of deliberation by the jury."

What a little punk....

[wallcrawlr]

Boy gets life for "vampire" murder

A vampire-obsessed teenager has been jailed for life after being convicted of butchering his elderly neighbour and drinking her blood. Baby-faced Mathew Hardman, 17, who denied murder, broke into the home of frail widow Mabel Leyshon and stabbed her to death before removing her heart and draining her blood into a saucepan. The art student, of Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, used pokers and candlesticks to create the trappings of a Black Mass before drinking the blood in a macabre ritual, a jury at Mold Crown Court heard. Hardman was found guilty after the court was told of his "obsession" with vampires and the concept of immortality. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommendation to serve at least 12 years. The jury's decision was unanimous. The teenager wept uncontrollably as Mr Justice Richards told him: "You hoped for immortality but all you have achieved is the brutal ending of another person's life and the bringing of a life sentence upon yourself. "The horrific nature of this murder was plain to all. It was a vicious and sustained attack on a vulnerable old lady in her own home, aggravated by the mutilation of her body after she had been killed. "Why you should have acted in this way is difficult to comprehend but I am drawn to the conclusion that vampirism had indeed become a near obsession with you." Hardman had kept his cool throughout the 13-day trial but wept uncontrollably when the guilty verdict was read out after three-and-a-half hours of deliberation by the jury. His mother, Julie Hardman, screamed "No! No!" from the public gallery and sobbed throughout the sentencing. While her son was being led away, the smartly-dressed nurse called out: "I love you, son."

[Billthedrill]

Hmm...well, "The Vampire of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch" sure does have a catchy ring to it...

I'm not one to rag on the Brits for their firearms possession laws, I figure it's their business, but about 12 years from now I'm thinking even Sarah Brady would be reconsidering...

[xJones]

Wanna guess how long he'd get sent up if he'd killed the old lady with a 'GASP' gun?

Well, that is true. Would that he had shot her to death instead of stabbing her twenty-two times. His murder sentence would have been much longer.