HISTORICALLY, our laws were made by the landed gentry, people of property, to protect what they had from the rest of us. The bias toward possessions remains.

Regarding sentencing – as discussed in your Comment column (Echo, Aug 3) about the five-year sentence imposed on Michael Ridley for the manslaughter of Army sergeant Chris Chacksfield compared to the eight years handed to Shakespeare First Folio case offender Raymond Scott – it is the interpretation rather than the guidelines that needs examining, which will happen on appeal.

Scott committed a carefully planned crime. There was ample time to come to his senses, rethink his scheme and put things right.

Ridley committed an inexcusable reprehensible act.

As an amateur boxer he would be aware of the dangers of striking a blow at a person caught off guard.

Premeditated crime on one hand; spontaneous nasty moment of spite on the other. In one, the intention is clear with no thought for others on whom blame may have fallen; in the other, death wasn’t intended.

There is more to justice than kneejerk reaction. As I have often been told, justice has nothing to do with the law, which may be “an ass” administered by donkeys, but which can be altered. Justice must be tempered with mercy.

Gerard Wild, Richmond, North Yorkshire.