One Death Four Lives Lost

It was on the national news.
"Homeless man murdered at local beauty spot".
"Senselessly beaten to death by three teenagers!"
Labelled them evil, feral, psychopathic.
They were right!

Weren't they?

We sat in judgement of such macabre horror.
Soaked it up with morbid fascination.
Revelled in our condemnation of these heinous monsters.
We were right!

Weren't we?

Blamed the parents, the schools, the government
for creating a generation of benefit dependant wasters.
Shook our heads, tutting disapproval as we continued on with our lives.
Consciences clear.
We were right!

Weren't we?

Their families said "It wasn't like that."
"It's being twisted by the media."
"They're just kids who lost control."
"They never meant to kill him."
They were right!

Weren't they?

One assessed as crazy.
Unaccountable for his actions.
Locked up indefinitely in a secure unit.
Agreement that no sound mind was capable of such callous cruelty.
They were right!

Weren't they?

Trial learnt of another.
Lifelong behaviour issues.
Medicated since childhood for A.D.H.D.
Single mother dying of cancer.
He was terrified, angry, struggling to cope.
"No mitigating circumstances." They said.
" Life !"
They were right!

Weren't they?

The last, about to become a father.
Wanted to break the cycle of crime.
See his child grow up.
Take responsibility for the first time.
He was excited!
"No mitigating circumstances." They said.
" Life! "
They were right!

Weren't they?

The victim's mother watched from the gallery.
Wanted them punished for the death of her homeless son.
Needed them to pay for his brutal murder.
To know he didn't die in vain.
She was right!

Wasn't she?

One death, four lives lost.
Justice was done!

Wasn't it?