Crime and Punishment
Theories of Punishment
The punishment for robbery in the 1960s was imprisonment. For the crime of robbery, Ronald Ryan was imprisoned with a total term of 8 years, with no minimum or parole. Ryan was imprisoned due to retribution and removal. The authorities believed that he needed to be punished for committing the serious crimes he committed. He was also imprisoned so that society was protected from Ryan and his crime for a “very long time”. This is evident in the primary source said by Judge Read, he believed that Ryan needed to be punished for his crimes.
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“First of all you have got to be punished for the very serious crimes you have committed. Secondly, the community have got to be protected against a man like you for a very long time.” – His honour Judge Read. |
Ryan’s major crime of murder had only one punishment in the 1960s, and that was the death penalty and this type of punishment was the capital punishment which can be seen in the following primary source. However it was traditional practice for the last 35 death penalty cases since 1951 that the convicted was commuted to life. This meaning the sentence would be reduced from the death penalty to a punishment of lesser severity such as life imprisonment. The death penalty was used for retribution, deterrence and removal, often in history and even in modern times used as an example to others. It was also a way of removing a dangerous criminal from society and often society would be satisfied that a criminal was gone and has in a way paid for the crime he or she had committed.
"Gentlemen this charge is murder and the only penalty provided for our legislature is death."
- Phillip Opas, appearing for Ryan, OC, on the leading figures at the Victorian Bar, who had defended many murderers.
The Punishment
After Ryan and Walker were caught, a twelve day trial that involved 41 witnesses ensued. It was revealed during the trial that another prison guard fired a shot, thus it may have been that shot that killed Hodson. However all parties agreed that there was only one gunshot that was heard, and that was Ryan's. Ryan himself argued that he did not fire a gunshot, however the court still found him guilty, even without examining his rifle or looking for any bullets.
The punishment given out to Ronald Ryan for his murder of George Hodson was death penalty through hanging. This punishment was given out by the judge of the Third Court of the Melbourne Magistrates Court who founded Ryan guilty of the murder and sentenced him to death, without being commuted to life, like so for the last 35 death penalties since 1951. After the verdict was given, Opas was still uncomfortable with the thought that Ryan may have been innocent.
Ronald Ryan was hung at 8:00 am on 3rd February, 1967 in Pentridge gaol gallows. His final words to the hangman being "God bless you. Whatever you do, do it quickly."
The punishment given out to Ronald Ryan for his murder of George Hodson was death penalty through hanging. This punishment was given out by the judge of the Third Court of the Melbourne Magistrates Court who founded Ryan guilty of the murder and sentenced him to death, without being commuted to life, like so for the last 35 death penalties since 1951. After the verdict was given, Opas was still uncomfortable with the thought that Ryan may have been innocent.
Ronald Ryan was hung at 8:00 am on 3rd February, 1967 in Pentridge gaol gallows. His final words to the hangman being "God bless you. Whatever you do, do it quickly."
“You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God rest your soul.”- Judge Stark