Off with their heads!

[Goofball]

Scientists jailed for six years for failing to predict an earthquake. Good luck ever getting a scientist to offer an opinion about anything again in Italy. This is scary:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/23/world/...html?hpt=hp_t3

[rvg]

Idiots.

[Kralizec]

I read about that earlier today.

Absolutely mind boggling.

I'm also confused that the news articles talk of "manslaughter". Even if you accept that these scientists did something wrong I don't see how it could be construed as more than negligent behaviour that resulted in deaths. Italian law might have different legal concepts of manslaughter and other crimes so it could be a mistranslation I suppose.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Yeah, the whole thing sets a bit of a scary precedent.

Although for what it's worth, the scientists aren't being jailed for failing to predict the earthquake, supposedly it is because they underplayed what they believed to be the risk to the public. They aren't on trial for their science, it is because they are alleged to have been irresponsible in their duty to the public.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Yeah, the whole thing sets a bit of a scary precedent.

Although for what it's worth, the scientists aren't being jailed for failing to predict the earthquake, supposedly it is because they underplayed what they believed to be the risk to the public. They aren't on trial for their science, it is because they are alleged to have been irresponsible in their duty to the public.

Hmm that's at least plausible negligence but it seems to me like it's not really their job to accurately report the risks every day, they have to assume that when they say publicly that there's a significant risk people will leave town and if that happens often enough without an earthquake people will stop paying attention.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Hmm that's at least plausible negligence but it seems to me like it's not really their job to accurately report the risks every day, they have to assume that when they say publicly that there's a significant risk people will leave town and if that happens often enough without an earthquake people will stop paying attention.

Well it's the BBC article I read on the matter, and it says they were all members of the "National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major Risks", so I guess if that's a form of public office then negligence of duty could be grounds for a manslaughter case.

Not sure on the specifics so it's hard to form an opinion, somehow it doesn't sit well with me though I have to say.

[SoFarSoGood]

Some Italian Magistrate is also prosecuting Fitch raitings agency... ironic it's regarded as 'Anglo Saxon' (which is bad) and actualy owned by a French company.

[HoreTore]

Well it's the BBC article I read on the matter, and it says they were all members of the "National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major Risks", so I guess if that's a form of public office then negligence of duty could be grounds for a manslaughter case.

Not sure on the specifics so it's hard to form an opinion, somehow it doesn't sit well with me though I have to say.

Most outrage-cases turn out to be perfectly reasonable once the actual facts of the case has been presented properly.

[Kralizec]

Hmm, the judge even passed a harsher sentence than the prosecution wanted - they suggested 4 years.

[drone]

The best part of this story goes back to before the earthquake:

Italian researcher Giampaolo Giuliani said he had forecast a major quake in the area by measuring emissions of a radioactive gas, radon.

But the head of Italy's civil protection agency dismissed the claim.

Other scientists have also cast doubt on the possibility of predicting earthquakes with any accuracy.

Shortly before Monday's earthquake in and around the city of L'Aquila, Mr Giuliani was reported to the authorities for spreading alarm when locals apparently took fright at his warnings.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

[Ronin]

why have a court room?
just thrown them in a lake....then you'll know for sure

[Major Robert Dump]

I think they deserve to go to prison.

People have a right to be free from earthquakes.

I hope they prosecute God next.

[Beskar]

He was too busy dealing with a farmville status update whilst on watch. Now that would be a gross negligence case.

This case sounds too politically motivated.

[Papewaio]

This must be a first for Italy in prosecuting scientists.

[drone]

This must be a first for Italy in prosecuting scientists.

[Fragony]

Rediculous, you can just be simply wrong. Mistakes happen. Poor guys.