I have pretty much been an advocate of the adage ‘Do the crime. Do the time’. But I just believe that works ONLY if justice is blind. For many African Americans, justice must be peeking! This is a story that really broke my heart. Punishment is deserved for any crime, but there is a such thing as going too far, in my opinion. Such as in the case of 20 yr old Shareef Tawwab Hakim.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Mr. Hakim approached a teenage victim from behind outside of his Bellmeade Drive apartment, put him in a headlock and took his iPod.
In Cobb County Superior Court, Assistant DA Jaret Usher told Judge Robert D. Leonard II, “He is violent, and this is all a joke to him…His demeanor demonstrates that.”
Mr Hakim was sencenced to a term of 20 years, with 12 years to serve in prison and the rest on probation.
Does the penalty fit the crime? You decide.