Dlt Verdict

[hc4361]

Not Guilty. Hurrah!

[ChillDoubt]

Restrained but dignified statement. I wonder if the CPS will be making a statement?

[anotheoldgit]

I bet Rolf Harris is now feeling a little more hopeful.

[murraymints]

What a palaver.....this witch hunt has to stop !

[mikey4444]

A successful prosecution in any of these cases was always going to be difficult, given the huge time span of which the alleged offences took place.
The best witness in the world would find it difficult to stand up to a good defence counsel, if they were being asked about events that took place 30, 40, or 50 years ago. In all of these cases, there hasn't been any other kind of evidence, like DNA for instance, so it relies on witnesses having total recall, and being strong and resolute on the witness stand.

Lets not forget the Stuart Hall is only in prison because he made a last minute confession.

[sir.prize]

A complete police farce

[viv38]

It does make me wonder if Stuart Hall hadn't confessed, would he have been found not guilty too !

[chrissa1]

It's not the Police, it's the CPS who decides whether to prosecute or not.

[mikey4444]

But the Police are the ones that make the initial investigations, on which basis the CPS have to make a decision if it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution of not. If the Police had made it clear to the CPS that they didn't think the case should go ahead, then it is unlikely that the CPS would have proceeded.

Where is Fred when we need him !

[ChillDoubt]

Lets not forget the Stuart Hall is only in prison because he made a last minute confession.
---------------
.....doubtless made in light of the weight of compelling evidence against him, relating to far more serious charges. The accusations against Hall no doubt showed a regular MO, with his accusers in all probability as to point out VDM's about his person.
The DLT allegations whilst serious were not in the same ball park as Hall's.

[sir.prize]

Yes chrissa, it is the CPS. But the initial inquiry and report is by the police.

The Police, The CPS and most of the Judges have failings by handing down many ridiculously short term sentences. The judicial system is becoming more of a joke every day.

So now we have a situation where the CPS have another 10 days to decide whether to prosecute DLT again. Didn't Plod do their homework? Didn't the police produce all the evidence - or are they now going out to seek some more?

And the Freddie Starr saga - well.

There is no excuse. It is farcical. 'Carry on Constable'.

[pixie373]

Why are you cheering, hc? Have you got any way of knowing whether the verdict was right?

[sir.prize]

I cannot understand people who, after a not guilty verdict, still question whether perhaps the verdict was wrong. A guilty or not guilty outcome is to be abided by. No questions asked.

Or have you got any way of knowing differently, pixie373?

[ChillDoubt]

That should read 'able to point out', not as to.

[EDDIE51]

I have changed my mind, now I am starting to believe that many of these 'victims' did think that if they complained it would not go to court and they would just collect a nice compensation cheque.

[pixie373]

Nobody knows, sirprize, that's why I'm surprised people are pleased. Not enough evidence to convict after this length of time. Who knows whether it happened or not?

[New Judge]

Just to clarify, it is the Crown Prosecution Service that makes the charging decisions. They have a two stage test: firstly they must decide whether there is sufficient evidence to provide "a reasonable chance of a conviction"; if there is they then go on to decide if a prosecution is "in the public interest".

[viv38]

But don't you think sir.prize that whilst remembering the actual attack, other memories of the attack become blurred after so long and this is where a clever defence can make a victim, who is probably already stressed out, look like a liar maybe ? Surely these women, and the same for William Roache, can't all be lying ?

[sir.prize]

viv38 - Why can't they be lying?

So far there have been four cleared after appearing in court to answer historical charges. How many more . . . .

[pixie373]

I find it hard to believe that 100% of the allegations have been completely made up. Enough evidence to take to court, but not enough to convict. I have no pleasure or displeasure in the verdict, as there is no way of knowing.

[viv38]

Because, like I said, they can't ALL be lying surely? I remember reading after Roache's trial that one of the women was devastated because she claimed she knew she wouldn't be believed which is why she never came forward at the time.