Operation Yewtree

[Osem]

Legal definitions and technicalities aside, surely the extent to which someone can be deemed innocent depends how 'insufficient' the evidence is. Zero, almost no evidence or even concocted evidence as opposed to not quite enough evidence to meet CPS prosecution criteria.

In the case of people accused of abuse and the like, the fact that they've not been prosecuted is cold comfort if there are large swathes of the public, potential employers, sponsors, family friends and the like who (because there's been no explanation given to the contrary) assume 'no smoke without fire' and act accordingly.

Of course there's no perfect way in which to handle these matters but I feel immensely sorry for those whose lives and/or careers have been permanently tarnished because no effort has been made by the authorities to explain their decision making and thereby limit any damage to the accused's reputation.

Where cases proceed to court I believe Judges can and do qualify their reasoning and have highlighted where, for example, there's been a lack of any credible evidence to support a prosecution or even a malicious element to the allegations made. It seems harsh therefore that people who don't go to court seemingly don't have a similar opportunity to have their names officially cleared of any supposed guilt. I'm sure it's a minefield but somehow it just doesn't seem right.

[MalteseFalcon]

Rolf Harris charged with 9 counts of indecent assault and 4 counts of making indecent images of a child in 2012. IF TRUE, I hope he rots in hell.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ges-child.html

[Gary L]

Well, I'm not eating at KFC anymore.

[richard s]

Well if found true.. he should be sent back to Australia to serve his time.

[Sirius]

Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has been cleared of raping a child.

Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has been cleared of raping a child.

Mr Le Vell, 48, of Hale, Greater Manchester, denied 12 charges in total, including five of rape.

Manchester Crown Court heard the girl, who cannot be named, claimed she was abused from the age of six until she was 14.

Mr Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap for 30 years, was tried under his real name Michael Turner.

The jury of eight women and four men took four hours to return verdicts of not guilty on all counts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-24032449

[Osem]

It'll be interesting to read more about what went on in this case over coming days. Four hours seems a remarkably short period for the jury's deliberations so you have to wonder about the robustness of the prosecution's case.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Osem

It'll be interesting to read more about what went on in this case over coming days. Four hours seems a remarkably short period for the jury's deliberations so you have to wonder about the robustness of the prosecution's case.

I seem to remember that the CPS did not want to proceed with this because the evidence was so weak and it was only that she came back with more evidence when asked to that made them prosecute !!!!.



*****EDIT*******


found it

http://news.sky.com/story/1139838/le...tatus-in-court

After the CPS decision not to go ahead with Michael Le Vell's case his alleged victim came forward with more evidence.

It might have been enough for the CPS to overturn its original ruling but it was not enough to convince the jury.

Michael Le Vell is now free - and wants to return to the role for which he is best known - the flawed, the imperfect but ultimately innocent Kevin Webster.

Originally Posted by Sirius

I seem to remember that the CPS did not want to proceed with this because the evidence was so weak and it was only that she came back with more evidence when asked to that made them prosecute !!!!.



*****EDIT*******


found it

http://news.sky.com/story/1139838/le...tatus-in-court

i'm looking forward to the public apologies from the twitter and facebook mob that had him guilty and strung up by his nads before the trial began .

Shall we start a book on how long we have to wait ?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by martyh

i'm looking forward to the public apologies from the twitter and facebook mob that had him guilty and strung up by his nads before the trial began .

Shall we start a book on how long we have to wait ?

Never going to happen, they have crawled back into their holes and they will only come out again when they can spew more crap and rubbish from the big mouths. What it needed is for them to be found and sued massively by those they have libeled

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24722248

A former BBC driver accused of sex offences has been found dead.
David Smith, 67, from Lewisham, south-east London, had been due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court for allegedly abusing a boy, 12, in 1984.
A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday after he failed to attend court.

Smith was charged with two counts of indecent assault, two of indecency and one of a serious sexual offence as part of Operation Yewtree. The cause of his death is not yet known.
Smith was the first person to be charged under the investigation into historical cases of abuse, which was originally set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal

Originally Posted by martyh

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24722248

saved a few quid

[Osem]

Originally Posted by martyh

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24722248

Don't suppose he'll be the last. I just hope some innocent lives aren't lost in the pursuit of 'justice'.

Originally Posted by Osem

Don't suppose he'll be the last. I just hope some innocent lives aren't lost in the pursuit of 'justice'.

Agreed ,in this case though i think the probability of him being guilty is greater since he has already been to jail for child abuse

[alanbjames]

i can never understand how people can find a child attractive. The mind boggles when i think about it!

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by alanbjames

i can never understand how people can find a child attractive. The mind boggles when i think about it!

I'm with you alanb, it is totally beyond me what they find is sexually arousing about a childs body.