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An Innocent Man - For Contest

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Poem written about teenager Derek Bentley who was hung for murder in 1953 – the words ‘Let him have it Craig’ were his downfall – he never fired the gun. He was posthumously pardoned in 1998. Christopher Craig who actually fired the gun escaped the death penalty as he was a juvenile and spent 10 years in prison.

Misconstrued meaning Bentley said ‘Let him have it’ Meant hand him the gun Innocent man hung Those words will always haunt him Posthumous pardon Poem based on the sad case of teenager Derek Bentley who was hung for murder in 1953 - his words convicted him - he did not actually fire the gun Contest:-Senryu of Being Misjudged – Marvin Celestial 07~12~15

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Ralph Sergi

Date: 7/28/2015 7:36:00 AM

Hi Jan: A very meaningful poem based on a sad history. Congratulations on your win!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/28/2015 8:59:00 AM

Thanks so much Ralph:-) hugs Jan xx

Dr. Upma A. Sharma

Date: 7/28/2015 12:29:00 AM

Awesome senryus Jan n a superb win ! Big congrats!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/28/2015 4:26:00 AM

Thanks Dr Sharma:-) hugs Jan xx

Paul Callus

Date: 7/25/2015 4:36:00 PM

I'm afraid that posthumous pardon can never bring him back to life! Justice is blind at times! Congratulations on your top win, Jan! Hugs // paul

Jan Allison
Date: 7/25/2015 4:38:00 PM

Thanks Paul it is such a sad story - I just wish his mother had lived to see his conviction overturned:-( hugs jan xx

Alexis Y.

Date: 7/24/2015 10:45:00 PM

Jan, thanks for bringing attention to his story. Great job. Congratulations on your well deserved win:-)Alexis

Jan Allison
Date: 7/25/2015 3:25:00 AM

Thanks as ever for your support:-) hugs jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/24/2015 10:34:00 PM

GLAD to see you high on the list, Jan. YAYYYY

Jan Allison
Date: 7/25/2015 3:25:00 AM

Thanks Andrea I was pleased to place in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx

Pandita Sietesantos

Date: 7/24/2015 10:05:00 PM

The irony of this excellent clever piece! Congratulations, dear Jan, on you well-deserved high win! Pandita

Jan Allison
Date: 7/24/2015 10:09:00 PM

Thanks Pandita it is a terribly sad story:-( hugs jan xx

Skat A

Date: 7/24/2015 4:49:00 PM

Jan, congratulations, awesome senryu. SKAT LOVE

Jan Allison
Date: 7/24/2015 4:50:00 PM

Thanks Skat:-) hugs jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 7/24/2015 11:24:00 AM

I am back to congratulate you on your win hugs Eve

Jan Allison
Date: 7/24/2015 12:51:00 PM

Thanks for your support Eve:-) hugs jan xx

Marvin G. Celestial

Date: 7/24/2015 10:12:00 AM

Congratz Jan!!!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/24/2015 12:51:00 PM

Thanks so much for such a thought provoking contest Marvin:-) hugs jan xx

Kp Nunez

Date: 7/24/2015 9:31:00 AM

You really gave justice to the story with this senryu, Jan. Back to say Congrats! hugs! :-)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/24/2015 9:43:00 AM

Thanks so much Kim:-) hugs jan xx

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 7/21/2015 7:49:00 PM

So nice to read your poetry this evening that is why I am always against the death penalty! Light & Love

Jan Allison
Date: 7/22/2015 3:59:00 AM

This is such a a heartbreak story I just wish his mother had lived to see the miscarriage of justice overturned- By the way I submitted the rain poem for consideration for the 3 line poetry as you suggested - will let you know if it is accepted:-)Debbie Thanks for all your support :-) hugs Jan xx

James Fraser

Date: 7/18/2015 2:03:00 PM

Terrific capture of a deed done, and the one so young was never hung, for it was he whom fired the gun. Wishing this fine poem all the best in Marvin's contest, hugs//James xx

Jan Allison
Date: 7/18/2015 2:13:00 PM

Such a tragic miscarriage of justice James such a shame his mother never lived long enough to see him pardoned:-( hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 7/17/2015 8:31:00 AM

:"( This one made me very sad. My husband is always getting on to me over the use of words he knows I mean one thing but like he says to others it might mean something else. A winner and a 10 +++ poem. Hugs eve

Jan Allison
Date: 7/17/2015 12:13:00 PM

Hi Eve - I agree it is such a tragic thing and it is such a shame his mother died before the could be pardoned :-( hugs Jan xx

Arthur Vaso

Date: 7/14/2015 3:35:00 PM

This is the second worst case of a miscarriage of justice I Know of, of course the first is why I am not Poet of the Century!!!! :) Love poems that tell a story! Great write.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/14/2015 3:44:00 PM

I agree Arthur your talents should be globally recognised especially your Plato and Socrates poem :-) hugs Jan xx

Viv Wigley

Date: 7/12/2015 9:22:00 PM

One of the worst cases of miscarriages of justice in British legal history, Jan. Great Haiku- should do well. Viv x

Jan Allison
Date: 7/13/2015 5:08:00 AM

It makes me so sad to read about what happened Mr Viv - such a shame his mother never lived to see this decision reversed:-) hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/12/2015 5:34:00 PM

marvin should like this one, Jan. I think I saw this story as a movie. The guy was a bit retarded or something? It was so sad!!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/13/2015 3:02:00 AM

yes they did make it into a film called 'let him have it' Derek Bentley had a 'childlike mentality' - he should never have died for a crime he did not commit - so so sad:-( hugs jan xx

Bl Devnath

Date: 7/12/2015 11:27:00 AM

This is a real case that was judged on the basis of words and not on the basis of real fact. Sometimes in case of innocent person such things happen. I say it like our friend Maurice Rigoler. There are many cases such things already happened to unlucky victims. Thanks for sharing. Loved always my lovely friend,bl

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 11:36:00 AM

Such a sad scenario isn't it BL:-( hugs Jan xx

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 7/12/2015 11:09:00 AM

Yes, that is a shame. But imagine her having to live with the knowledge that they executed her son wrongly! How does one live with that? / M

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 11:11:00 AM

I don't think it is something you would ever get over - the whole story is so so tragic - it was made into a film called 'let him have it':-) hugs Jan xx

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 7/12/2015 11:02:00 AM

Well, that's human justice, isn't it? A posthumous pardon only helps the living not the dead. What a tragic miscarriage of justice! Thanks for reading me today and yesterday. Take care. / M

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 11:04:00 AM

It is such a shame his mother didn't live long enough to see him pardoned - she died the year before it was granted:-( hugs Jan xx

Nette Onclaud

Date: 7/12/2015 10:54:00 AM

what a sad yet dramatic story, jan... pulls at the heartstrings; well done!.. huggs

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 10:55:00 AM

Thanks Nette so sad that it is based on true events:-( Hugs Jan xx

Robert Stoner Jr

Date: 7/12/2015 8:52:00 AM

well done Jan, great tale in a difficult form. Loved it ,good luck in the contest.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 8:57:00 AM

Thanks Robert. Sadly it is a heartbreaking true story and it is so sad to think his mother died the year before he was posthumously pardoned. Hugs Jan xx

Kp Nunez

Date: 7/12/2015 7:36:00 AM

A winning senryu, Jan. You chose your subject well. This will have an impact on your readers. I expect this high up the list! hugs!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 8:04:00 AM

Thanks Kim for your lovely comment:-) Hugs Jan xx

Casarah Nance

Date: 7/12/2015 6:54:00 AM

Wow, I could see how the context of those words could go either way. What a story! and Jan, what a poem!

Jan Allison
Date: 7/12/2015 7:00:00 AM

My interpretation of the being misjudged theme may be a little extreme but sadly this is a true story - Bentley had a childlike intelligence and was convicted on the strength of the words he 'allegedly' used - it is a heartbreaking tale - his mum died in 1997 before his conviction was overturned - they did make a film about it called 'let him have it' Hugs Jan xx