Fresh from the BBC --- Child sex accused found dead in River Orwell
- Thread starter sailorman
- Start date
pvb
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, second in 3 months.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Its never publicised on the tv / radio is it.
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
Tragic. Regardless of his innocence or guilt I expect people will think the worst.
Always two sides to a story, just will never now hear the accused side.
The son of a couple of long term family friends who used to help with Army Cadets was accused of similar offences which he denied and the build up resulted in him taking his own life.
Always two sides to a story, just will never now hear the accused side.
The son of a couple of long term family friends who used to help with Army Cadets was accused of similar offences which he denied and the build up resulted in him taking his own life.
pvb
Well-Known Member
By the time these things get to court, there's usually some significant evidence. It's surprising if innocent people jump off the bridge.
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
You'd be surprised at how the mind of someone accused of something they didn't do, can react when this sort of thing happens. Not saying he's guilty or not but it hit me hard when I got accused of something much less
bedouin
Well-Known Member
Sorry - I disagree.
I think going on trial for Child Sex Abuse would totally destroy anyone's life whether or not they are innocent.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Far be it from me to stop a debate but don't analyse this on the basis of the information available. He might have been innocent or he might have been guilty. I have had a paedophile commit suicide pre-trial on the anniversary of his arrest. You don't have to accept it from me but he had made significant admissions in interview. The trouble for paedophiles is that (I have been told) they cannot change themselves; it is 'normal' for them. Some have argued that it may be possible to teach them control a bit like a Roman Catholic priest being celibate (no intention at humour intended). The trouble for a paedophile who has been living a 'normal' life until discovered is that it is the court case is the end of that 'normality' amongst other things. Pretty bleak, you face conviction and unpleasant imprisonment, your family will have nothing to do with you so you have lost that and the only people who will want to associate with you in the future is other paedophile who no doubt will get you into trouble again. All in all pretty gloomy - of course for the victims there is also much to say.
Not much fun for the Lifeboat and other emergency services either even if it does go with the territory.
Not much fun for the Lifeboat and other emergency services either even if it does go with the territory.
pvb
Well-Known Member
OK, but the point I was trying to make is that the guy who jumped on Monday wasn't just being investigated for child sex offences, he had been formally charged and, after over a year, was in court for the trial. Cases don't usually go to trial unless there's some fairly robust evidence. In his case, the charges (apart from penetrative sex with a child under 13) included possession and distribution of indecent images of children, and I reckon there'd have been definite forensic evidence for that.
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
Afraid that's not entirely accurate, I took my case to crown court as the prosecution thought they'd have an easy win, not guilty verdict from all twelve jurors, and a slap on the wrist for the prosecution for taking such a lame case to court. If they can't get it right over a simple theft accusation .....
toyboy
Well-Known Member
I took a photos many years ago on the Orwell Bridge. It was of a mass of flowers stacked as a tribute to another poor soul. Unfortunately in the photograph there is a notice asking folks not to throw anything off the bridge:-(
alant
Well-Known Member
Where you indicted on child sex then?
pmagowan
Well-Known Member
Not that surprising. We have a justice system for a reason and the underlying principle is that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. I would not wish for anyone to take their own life, guilty or not. The correct place for guilty people is in prison.
Otter
Well-Known Member
Sort of yes and no. It denies the victim an opportunity to see justice done and robs society of a civilised form of punishment. But on the other hand, when my best mate from childhood - 30 years of friendship, threw himself off beachy head it was a huge relief. Two years before it had emerged that he'd lead a double life and in the process abused and used not just vulnerable adults in his professional care but also three children. He was deeply and profoundly screwed up, like most abusers he had been abused as a child. I honestly think prison would have robbed him of the last shread of humanity left in him. Somehow there was a scrap of dignity in him taking his own life; but in the process he gave trauma to attending RNLI and the police and with the trial due to start a few weeks later his brave accuser who'd waited 20 years for justice. Sometimes people are really, really messed up and they don't make it easy for others when they go, maybe it's their last act of violence toward others?
toyboy
Well-Known Member
No trial equals not yet guilty. Too many people wrongly accused of child pornography took their own lives and were subsequently found to have been wrongly charged. Too many people spend years in jail and are then let out because they were wrongly charged. No trial....no proof of guilt.
Otter
Well-Known Member
Yes I agree, though in my best mate's case he was guilty, he told me so. Jumping off beachy head saved me having to be a prosecution witness so maybe that's skewed my perception.
Otter
Well-Known Member
Yes I agree, though in my best mate's case he was guilty, he told me so. Jumping off beachy head saved me having to be a prosecution witness so maybe that's skewed my perception.
toyboy
Well-Known Member
That's a terrible situation to be in. I know of a convicted paedophile who runs an online political blog in Ipswich. Most of the people who contribute know he is a paedophile and yet they still contribute because it is good for them politically. I know he should be isolated and I expect his contributors do as well but they continue. I suppose you must have felt the same way about a friend of 30 years which of course is a terrible situation to find ones self in. I don't know if I could have reacted differently from you.