That’s the argument as I understand it - they hope to generate sympathy from the public and I assume legal system…”looks at that frail, harmless old man”. It’s a charade that I experienced while in a jury pool - defendant was in a wheelchair and looked like a weak, sick elderly man…accused of stabbing and nearly killing a much younger, healthy woman. I doubt she just stood there as he slowly rolled up.
It works the opposite way too.
My one and only court appearance I was the only sentencee wearing a suit. Everyone else was wearing casual/pajama type clothing to the point the judge even brought it up himself.
“Well you look very nice Mr. Weirdguy. I wish more people realized this is supposed to be a formal occasion”
He then gave me the absolute minimum sentence possible for what I was there for.
I was the only well-dressed person in court in a po-dunk town. I got singled out by a judge because I stuck out compared to the low-rent population of the town. He seemed to hate me for it.
It was for driving on a suspended license. The only reason he didn’t give me jail time was because I was a college student and would miss classes. Wow, that was forever ago.
Whenever a politician is indicted for corruptions or other crimes in the Philippines they suddenly show up on a wheel chair and wearing a neck brace.
This was a former president being charged with plunder
How they hell someone that supposedly fucked up manage to get into he pleather pants?
You’d be surprised.
I have a friend who is a disability lawyer, and he’s constantly telling his clients not to dress nice or wear makeup.
Someone who looks good instantly appears more capable, no matter what the facts are. These “feeble old men” couldn’t possibly be capable of over powering someone! Or at the very least, their sentence may be reduced if “grandpa doesn’t look like he can handle prison”.
It works. There’s no denying it.
The same reason companies have marketing and PR: perception matters, a lot.
It might work. Sentences can be subjective, and it probably isn’t going to hurt. Why not try. Same reason people dress up for court: suit, tie—everything they wouldn’t normally wear
Because they get away with their crimes for decades and then they’re old by the time there’s an attempt at accountability.
Remind me if I get pulled over to come out with an oxygen mask. And I will rent a wheelchair and just roll into court.
Stress and anxiety often manifest physically, best-case-scenario is it’s just the metaphysical weight of their wretched deeds literally destroying their bodies.
Yea but before going in they can walk right up with no canes or walkers. But then they get to trial its all pathetic looking.
