Jeremiah 'I swear he is a girl' Smith (smiting) wrote in blurred_media, @ 2009-07-12 23:00:00 |
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WIZENGAMOT PASSES VERDICTS FOR STATE TREASON TRIALS SENTENCES INCLUDE REHABILITATION AND IMPRISONMENT IN AZKABAN Jeremiah Smith LONDON - After three days of deliberation over the cases of suspected traitors to the state Tabitha MacFusty, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Chloris and Hephaestus Burke, the Wizengamot finally passed verdicts and sentences earlier today. Tabitha MacFusty (née Bagnold), 20, was found guilty, but will undergo rehabilitation rather than serving a sentence in prison. The Wizengamot took into her account her husband, Ioan MacFusty, who has been a loyal citizen, and her young age, deeming it possible for her to understand the error of her ways and change her attitude and behaviour if she were to be separated from the poor influences in her life and given treatment. Aberforth Dumbledore, 96, was found to be of unsound mind and therefore considered to lack the ability to judge his own actions. Rather than being punished, he will undergo an evaluation at St Mungo's rehabilitation centre, after which he will either be transfered to a hospice for the mentally invalid or offered rehabilitative treatment. Chloris Burke (née Lestrange), 29, was found to be guilty of high treason. However, the Wizengamot considered the possibility that her mental instability may have been caused by her fear for her children's lives, and therefore deemed her temporarily unfit for imprisonment. As such, she will also undergo treatment at the rehabilitation centre until she has been judged fit to serve her sentence in Azkaban. As for custody of Mrs Burke's four children, the court approved for their care to be undertaken by Mr and Mrs Marius Lestrange. Mrs Burke herself, as well as any immediate relative on the Burke side of the family, has had custody rights removed. Hephaestus Burke, 50, was found guilty of all charges of treason. He will serve no fewer than ten years of imprisonment in Azkaban, if not more should the Wizengamot decide to extend his sentence. The Hogsmeade Herald interviewed several Wizengamot elders after the sentencing for their opinions regarding the convictions. 'These sentences show that the Wizengamot is nothing but fair,' stated Madam Cornelia Ackerley. 'Those who decry the Ministry of Magic of giving undue preferential treatment to Pure-bloods can see now that we will not tolerate criminal behaviour from even those of the oldest and most respected families in the country. The Burkes, bless them, have arguably received the harshest sentences of all for their crimes against the state, though as members of a family of such status, they should have known better and set a better example for all of wizarding society.' Elder Vitulus Gamp added, 'We on the Wizengamot have once again shown that we too are capable of compassion, rather than merely seeking to punish those who break the law as harshly as possible. As grave as Mrs MacFusty's crimes are, for example, we understand she is a terribly young woman who has grown up with poor role models and peers who have shaped her behaviour and attitude. Rehabilitation, rather than imprisonment, will give her a second chance at leading a life as a responsible citizen, even if some may argue we are being too generous.' 'Not harsh enough, if you ask me,' said Madam Adelaide Macmillan. 'Treason is one of the gravest crimes any witch or wizard could commit, for it is an act against the entire state rather than any one individual alone. I would personally have liked to see all four of them in Azkaban, just as they deserve, but I suppose my honourable colleagues are right that some consideration must be taken into account for poor external influences and mental instability.' A few members of the Wizengamot, however, disagreed with the severity of the sentences. 'I do not disagree with the guilt of all four suspects,' noted Madam Elizabeth Stebbins. 'Obviously, I was there and heard all of their testimony, and their treasonous activities are what they are. But I must admit I can't help but feel a little sorry for them all. Mrs MacFusty is an impressionable young girl, after all, and Mr Dumbledore is an old man. And the Burkes have four young children. They certainly must be punished in some way for their treason, but perhaps Azkaban for so long is rather harsh - it saddens me these children will grow up not knowing their father, and even their mother once she has been successfully treated for her mental instability.' On the more extreme side, Tiberius Ogden, the Wizengamot elder who claimed the Wizengamot had been Imperiused by Death Eaters in a fit of delusion, hysteria, and paranoia last month, shouted, 'This is an outrage! This is clearly a conspiracy by the government, or even Death Eaters again, to show they are even-handed and fair when they are absolutely [expletive removed] mad! There is no justice here when relatives of the late Madam [Millicent] Bagnold and Albus Dumbeldore, as well as two parents, are considered traitors.' Mr Ogden was then taken away for treatment at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. His assistant apologised for the outburst and stated that Mr Ogden was currently undergoing sessions with Healers for the stress and other issues that have been the cause of his erratic state of mind. The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot was not available to make a statement himself at the time of publication. |