Was the murderer, Fred West, a man of very limited intelligence ?

[sandyRoe]

Why else would the police have thought it necessary to have an 'appropriate adult' present during his interviews?

[Postdog]

I got the impression from last night that it was because they had had dealings with him before and felt it beneficial to their case and investigation (and the ultimate outcome) to ensure that he had representation that way from the outset to avoid any misconstruing of facts when it mattered in court. Simply, having someone else there to prove he was treated fairly.

[dotty.]

inbreeding I guess does that to a person

[netibiza]

Hi dotty, long time no see. Yes he was slightly intellectually challenged.

[sandyRoe]

'Slightly' may be an understatement. And why was she needed, where was the duty solicitor?

[Postdog]

OK, don't believe me...

[ABerrant]

The role of the Appropriate Adult is to support and advise a young person or vulnerable adult in police custody and to facilitate communication between them and the police. This person is different to a solicitor and does not give legal advice.

[smurfchops]

Vulnerable adult ? What about the vulnerable victims ?

[TWR]

Although West did not show it, I'm sure he had L.D.

[Mosaic]

I reckon he was cunning enough to give all the signs of being a dimwit, so that when he had dealings with the police he could claim to have been exploited / made to sign things he didn't understand.
Being able to plot as he did is not a characteristic of someone with learning difficulties.

[boxtops]

I see the role as a sort of advocate, the person from last night said that Fred would say things to her when they were alone about his crimes that he wouldn't say publicly to the police. tTe advocate is a person who the prisoner comes to trust - they dont have a role like the solicitor, it's quite different.

[TWR]

I was working at a Mental Hospital that housed people like West Mosaic, it was forensic & some of the service users are very clever.

[Mosaic]

That's interesting TW - but does that constitute 'of limited intelligence'? I think what we're agreeing on is you can be really very clever but also really very unbalanced mentally.

[TWR]

I feel like that when I answer some Qs on here Mosaic.

[TWR]

Some that I have cared for know how far to go with Intelligence then the deviousness kicks in, believe me, Ive seen it.