Justice - NSW Style

A teenager accused by police of being one of the main offenders in the Cronulla riots was refused bail yesterday after turning himself in to police. Murray, an air-conditioning mechanic of Bardon Ridge, appeared in Parramatta Bail Court yesterday, charged with two counts each of riot and affray.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Rebbecca Becroft, in asking that bail be refused, said the police photographs "clearly depicted" Murray "assaulting a male and striking him on the head with closed fist". She said other photos clearly depicted Murray "damaging property by kicking it", described his actions as "shameful and disgraceful", and said Murray was facing a "real likelihood" of a long custodial sentence.

I have no problem with the justice system coming down hard on people who break the law, beating up people and damaging property should not be tolerated and must be punished severeley.
However, the credibility of the justice system is eroded when the law is not applied consistently, like the following case, which to me appears a lot more serious. Then again I could have just flown in from a whole different dimension and hence have no clue.

The 28-year-old unnamed Sudanese man, believed to be a recently arrived refugee, remains critically ill in Westmead Hospital. He was found unconscious and with serious head injuries in Harrow Road, Auburn, in Sydney's west, about 11.40pm (AEDT) yesterday.

Police were called to the scene after reports of an assault by a number of people on the father of four from Granville. A 17-year-old North Parramatta male today was arrested and charged with one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.

He appeared in Lidcombe Children's Court and was granted conditional bail to reappear in the court on March 15.

Was it because the attackers were described to be of middle eastern appearance? Can the public be blamed for having little faith in the justice system?

An update, the victim, Ruol Agang, died over the weekend from his injuries.

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