You can run but you cant hide.

[Buddy]

The Wearside taunter who alleged he was the Ripper has apparently been charged today.(I know innocent etc).Had he not had diverted police time there is the potential 3 lives could have been saved.Where I live in Scotland a man from the sth of England has been charged with the murder of a 21 yr old girl 25 yrs ago.It must be bittersweet for the families involved DNA has evolved so much but very heartening for us.Do you think the law will be such an ass as to charge the hoaxer with 'Wasting police time'? 

[arty7774]

He would be charged with Perverting the Course of Justice. A somewhat more seroius offence.

[Miss Zippy]

He did a a bit more than merely "waste police time".  He seriously interfered with the course of public justice and, as a result, has been charged with perverting the course of justice; a very serious offence which carries a life sentence.

[Buddy]

Thanks for your clarification - thats the reason I posted the question as it wasnt specified on the news.I am glad it is treated as seriously as it should be.

[Buddy]

BTW - Miss Zippy I did say in my question would the law be such an ass etc.I can almost (given this is AB) safely say we are all singing from the same Hymn Sheet on this one.

[andy hughes]

Innoncent until proved of course, but surely the police would not have released the name of this individual without being more than reasonably sure they can convict? We shall see.

[Buddy]

Youre right Andy.

No-one has picked up on the advances in DNA-which I am surprised about - considering the impact on all the families concerned.

I am actually surprised at the lack of response to such a major breakthrough in forensics.This is major and hopefully it wont affect us all but that is why I headed it 'You can run but you cant hide'There must be people cacking it now.Lets face it these guys have lived a lie -fathered children and thought they had got away with it.Be afraid-  be very afraid!!!

[Buddy]

Where is jan-bug when you need the clarification of the legal issues?

[january_bug]

I'm  here - but you have to ask WM - he did the memory test CPE and is thus a greater source of knowledge than me! :-p

What clarification do you need Buddy?  You seem to have it all worked out between you! :-)

I was just thinking how it's like "Waking the Dead" but in real life.  (I know - shallow thing to think!)

Anyway - on criminal law I'm no authority and I did the module 4 years ago so the law may well have changed since then.  I'm afraid what I studied was the academic discipline of law.  There are somethings I've used a fair bit since that I can clarify facts on.  However, for these sorts of things, I'm about as much use as expecting a geography graduate to know the height of every mountain and the population size of every country!! :-p

But I like your quote work Buddy! :-)

[Ward-Minter]

***********************************

Surely the person who hindered his arrest should be given a medal not a charge.

[ianess]

Don't you think your post was just a wee bit over the top Ward-Minter?   Sounds almost as if you're approving of what happened to those young women, not all of whom were "low-life" as you so quaintly put it?
Please reply telling us that you were misunderstood.

[Buddy]

WM is either attention seeking or stirring us up.Fair do's but what if some of the families perchance read your comments?Did you think of that!

Anyway regardless of your circumstances or profession - that does not allow someone to extinquish your life.

Jan-Bug thanks for your reply - I just got confused what your forte is but I think this particular charge if it becomes a conviction could be a minefield,e.g do you take into consideration the 3 women who were murdered whilst he diverted the police.I think there will be a lot of worried men waiting for the knock on the door thinking that its all been forgotten about.Hell mend them.

[january_bug]

I think, the "best" one could hope for would be a conviction for 'perverting the course of justice'.  I think the maximum sentence for that is actually life, although nothing more than 10 years has been handed down in the past.  Maxine Carr's sentence would be a good example here.  The link below is the source of my information.  If the link doesn't work, please google uk "Perjury and perverting the course of justice Susan Edwards" and take the pdf file (2nd option)

here 

WM - I can tolerate most things you say on here by gritting my teeth.  But celebrating and glorifying the murder of young mothers is absolutely SICK in my opinion.  I'm sure you'll say the same of me, but there REALLY are times when you should perhaps consider keeping your opinion to yourself!

[Buddy]

Thank you for that jan bug.In Carrs case she couldnt have prevented what happened.This person could have.I suppose that was what I want clarified. - it is confusing.

I did read your thread and it was enlightening.- thanks.

[january_bug]

Well, I'm not entirely sure that the guy could have prevented more happening - he was totally independent of the case until he CHOSE to get involved.  Carr was involved from early on, even if after the crime was committed.  A better, though by no means perfect equivalent would have been if Huntley had killed again. 

Although I still feel that Carr has been unfairly witch hunted, but that is definitely something for another day.