#robert crowley

In 1979, then-37-year-old Albert Flick stabbed his wife Sandra to death while her young daughter was nearby. He was convicted of murder, and spent 25 years in prison.

After his release, then-68-year-old Flick was convicted of assaulting two other women. Prosecutors and probation officials recommended a sentence of at least eight or nine years. Judge Robert E. Crowley disagreed, however, and sentenced Flick to less than four years, explaining his reasoning thus:

“At some point, Mr. Flick is going to age out of his capacity to engage in this conduct, and incarcerating him beyond the time that he ages out doesn't seem to me to make good sense from a criminological or fiscal perspective.”

After his release, then-76-year-old Flick stabbed Kimberly Dobbie to death while her two young sons were nearby. He was convicted of murder. Again.

Yep. This is where I'm at right now.

That's true, Robert is not the best man around and does have his (not so little) share of, um, questionable actions, to put it mildly. If you've read my tags you saw something along the lines of "I am actually agreeing with Robert, do you see what is going on?", which indicates that siding with him isn't something I normally do - and when I do, I find it alarming.

HOWEVER, the *specific situation* I was talking about was Branson leaving (a very pregnant) Sybil ALL ALONE in their home to answer for something HE HAD DONE (or at least was somehow part of), with which she had absolutely nothing to do, at least that we know of. I'm not discussing his reasons for burning that house. I'm talking about him leaving Sybil there and then running away to her family's home without her and I'm sorry, but YES, that was AWFUL. I am not getting into the subject of why he did what he did that made him have to run away AT ALL.

So while Robert indeed *is* the worst in many situations, in that particular case he was worried about his daughter being all alone and in danger while her husband was safe in his own home so again, I am sorry, but Branson all of a sudden ditching the scared expression on his face and smugly telling Robert "he doesn't know the real world" or something like that like he's so wise and magnanimous and better WAS a dick move. Specially because he had to leave this "real world" and go to Downton to be safe so he could tell Robert (but really, everyone there) how much they're worse than him.

Look, I saw someone saying that Branson is awfully written because Fellowes is a Tory and I can totally see that, but it is what it is and IMHO he is completely unlikable - though it certainly has to do with Allen Leech's choices for the character as well as the writing. I am VERY left-wing, but you know what? People who think that because of their political beliefs they're entitled to act all superior, like they're better than everyone, get on my goddamn nerves.