quantum wrote:I think you've sumed his situation up well, ex-l, and his level of long term trauma is very distressing to say the least.
I think you are right Quantum, I think there is more going on here than meets the eye and I am concern with the current fad for political correctness and fear of "offending" religious minorities, he might end up with a far more serious judgement than otherwise.
He is, after all, the victim in the equation.
My concern would be he was out of his mind. On one hand, it's clearly not a rational thing to do; but, on the other hand, it's also a highly self-destructive and somewhat impotent way to express one's loss and pain.
Mr Green mentions he was a highly dedicated BK who was forced to leave after suffering abuse. Who know what crises, both personal and of faith, he was going through? Of course, he would receive none from the BKs. Nor would they compensate him for all he had given them under the influence of their skilled but deceptive manipulation.
Xmas is a hard time for those who have been detached from old friends, family, and normal relationships. It amplifies feelings of aloneness. The short daylight hours also tend to make people depressed.
I wonder what the spray painted messages said? There must have been something in them for the police to think it was connected to religion.
Mr Green, you're local and knew him, can you find out more, e.g. where he is being held and who his solicitor is?
What will be interesting to watch is how the Kirpalani Klan responds ... will they be forgiving and accept this as being caused by the Essex centre leader's karma, or will they demand he is punished?
Given the history, and that this is now the second serious incident at that centre, and many BKs have left, will they now wake and accept there is something wrong going on there and with their practises? What will it take for them to wake up?
I was going to ask, "will it take some's dying before they stop?" but then, of course, there have been a number of highly shocking deaths/suicides at BK centres - including Madhuban, Mount Abu - and they have just carried on as usual. In one case - New Delhi - it was reported that a BK committed suicide in the centre and the center-in-charge just locked the door and carried on serving breakfast with the corpse still in the room. In another - Panipat - a Sister died we believe through self-immolation (fire) and the BKs dumped the body and cleaned up all the evidence. Mount Abu was a hanging. In another case, one Brother stabbed a domineering other Brother.
So much for Om Shanti and living values. The BKs are out of control and these cases are just the unfortunate tips of the icebergs. The police will just look at it as it is ...
arson which is a serious crime carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. However, psychiatric reports should be obtained before sentencing.
He's probably looking at 7 or 8 years sentance in prison. Hopefully it's not a prison Steve Willis teaches Brahma Kumarism at.