Kids burn down Slovak castle

[Murazor]

From MSN

Kids burn down Slovak castle but won't go to Slovak juvie
5 hrs ago

A couple of Slovakian boys aged 11 and 12 had a weekend they'll long remember. Seems the mischievous duo were trying to light up cigarettes when they set some grass afire, and before they knew it, a castle in the eastern Slovak region of Kosice was in flames. The Krasna Horka castle dates back to the early 14th century. According to the Slovak National Museum, the castle's roof was completely destroyed along with the new exhibition in the gothic palace, and three bells in the bell tower melted. Some 84 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Fortunately for the young smokers, children under the age of 15 cannot be prosecuted in Slovakia.

Posted mostly because of the impacting photo. Shame about the cultural and economic losses caused by this accident, but at least it seems that there have been no injuries. Still, one can only hope that the kids will give up smoking after this shit.

[K. A. Pital]

Fortunately for the young smokers, children under the age of 15 cannot be prosecuted in Slovakia.

And unfortunately for everyone else.

[LaCroix]

As I heard from a friend at work, they were poor Gypsies, so it's not as if there would be any hope for even a slight recourse. (And let's be honest, the value destroyed would need a millionaire to file against.)

The rest, it was an accident - kids do play with fire and at this time of the year, the grass is dry as straw.

[Simon_Jester]

I'm a little dubious of not even having something like juvenile hall for children under fifteen. Thirteen and fourteen year old kids can still do a lot of harm if they're wild enough about it and they're... well, not so much 'old enough to know better' as old enough that there should be some clear expectations about standards of behavior, and some kind of meaningful consequence for breaking them.

Not setting important buildings on fire is part of 'standards.'

Then again, I'm not sure I trust my judgment here- when I think about it, I'd probably be less hard on them if they'd started a forest fire that eventually burned down several buildings than I am about this one particular building, so maybe I'm just wrong about this.

[PeZook]

I am fairly certain the bit about kids under 15 not being prosecutable in Slovakia is bullshit.

[Thanas]

No, that may be true. Most nations in Europe have 14 as the age at which one can be criminally prosecuted.

[Aaron MkII]

That doesn't exclude counselling does it?

[Thanas]

That doesn't exclude counselling does it?

I don't know, not being an expert on slovak law. If they follow the rest of Europe it should not exclude counselling (though not prescribed as a criminal sanction), nor should it exclude civil liability.

[Simon_Jester]

OK, if it's good counseling then I can see it. I could wail and moan about extreme cases- "what if they murder somebody!!!" but those are so rare that making all your decisions based on them makes for bad law.

[Scrib]

Fortunately for the young smokers, children under the age of 15 cannot be prosecuted in Slovakia.

And unfortunately for everyone else.

I don't see why they should be prosecuted though. It was an accident, one caused by their stupidity sure, but not a deliberate crime. There is nothing to gain from locking them up. They can't rebuild the castle, it would just be punishment for the sake of punishment.

As for crazy, under-15 Slovak kids, perhaps they can enforce mandatory counseling and institutionalization? Surely the law doesn't cover dealing with the crazy fucking type of person that would kill someone before 15?

[PeZook]

No, that may be true. Most nations in Europe have 14 as the age at which one can be criminally prosecuted.

Yes, criminally. Other sanctions do exist though, and IIRC the courts can make exemptions for particularly heinous crimes like murder and have the teenager tried as an adult.

But the article tries to somewhat dishonestly imply there will be no consequences for the kids, which is almost certainly untrue.

[K. A. Pital]

Yeah, the article is completely bullshiting on that point. I mean, there's always a host of consequences when you do something like that, even if you're not adult. Criminal prosecution, perhaps not, but there's administrative and civil prosecution for juvenile offences, which can be quite severe both for the kid and, if the State wants to make a case, his family via fines, possible separation and/or forced courses etc. Not sure on the exact mechanisms in Slovakia, but that sort of stuff isn't "get out scot-free after doing whatever you want as a kid".

[Thanas]

No, that may be true. Most nations in Europe have 14 as the age at which one can be criminally prosecuted.

Yes, criminally. Other sanctions do exist though, and IIRC the courts can make exemptions for particularly heinous crimes like murder and have the teenager tried as an adult.

But the article tries to somewhat dishonestly imply there will be no consequences for the kids, which is almost certainly untrue.

I know, as evidenced by me pointing out the possible sanctions.