Our thanks to Steve for this. He writes:
“Hi Mike
Was this trial really necessary? The evidentiary bar should have been much higher before he had to pay £30-40,000 for a good solicitor while she gets to have a punt for nothing.
Coercive and controlling behavior legislation should be repealed. It’s controlling free speech in your own home.”
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“You have been found not guilty. That is the end of the case. You will hear no more about it and you are free to go.”. Sadly this won’t be true. The allegations and reporting of the trial will haunt him.
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Thanks Nigel, agreed. The process is a punishment in itself., which is why we’ve always called for anonymity of those accused of sexual offences, until and unless found guilty.
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Yes. From 1976 to 1988 defendants did have this protection until conviction. So it has precedent. Of course the reason for the change in 1988 was to “increase convictions” by getting more witnesses or accusers. Of course revealing the complainants name (as was the case prior to 1976) also might get witnesses for the defense! As might have been the case in the Ched Evans case for instance, where social media and detective work found witnesses wo cast doubt on the “story” told by the complainant, the new evidence leading to his exoneration. It is possible the complainant’s lies would have remained unchallenged had her identity not been “leaked” on social media. Overall Parliaments have repeatedly made law to get more convictions rather than practice justice.
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Shabana Mahmood rejects sentencing changes after ‘two-tier’ claims – BBC News Interesting that she rejects two tier sentencing based on race when the Gov. (and the previous one) have official policy of lenient sentencing based on sex. With an aim that no convicted woman will be imprisoned!
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