Justice? Confidence in UK Legal System?
One of Britain's most senior judges 56years old married has been cleared of exposing himself twice to a woman on packed commuter trains.
After hearing the evidence, Senior District Judge Timothy Workman said the case came down to Sir Stephen's word against the woman's.
However, he said the woman, a City worker in her 20s, gave "clear, dignified and truthful evidence".
The CCTV footage is wiped clean after 5 days and the British Transport Police failed to seize the footage which would have supported her case.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Justice?....probably not. On the balance of probabilities - guilty. Without reasonable doubt - unfortunately not.
What would a 20 year old city worker have to gain from making and following this allegation through to court?.... nothing.
Confidence in UK legal system?.....generally up to the point that they go to court.
There must have been some genuine reason BTP did not salvage the tapes. It certainly wouldn't have been to save the judges skin. No way.
I think you have misinterpreted what the judge said.
I've read the BBC website report and my understanding is that the absence of the CCTV footage meant that there was insufficient evidence as to the identity of the person who flashed the woman. The witness could have been "clear, dignified and truthful" about the fact that in incident took place but still have been mistaken as to the identification of the offender. The trial judge did refer to the possibility that the CCTV evidence would have exonerated the accused man.
The justice system depends on the production of evidence. Where that evidence is not available, the principle the system is founded on demands that an accused person is acquitted. It's what "Innocent until PROVEN guilty" means.
My answer was turning into a ten page essay. I will just say I have no confidence in the legal system. I think a lot of those people invented the game " Lie, Cheat and Steal. " When justice is served.. it gives me a heart attack, but also makes me wonder if someone had an interest in making sure that happened.
If what you have stated it true, then it is the British Transport Police who have screwed up the case.
The Judge can only reach his conclusion based on the evidence before him.
In these sort of cases, the media reports contain only brief extracts of the proceedings, because of time constraints in broadcasting.
The only way you can authorititively comment on a case, is if you are present in court for the whole trial.
It's not just the UK - the same thing happens everywhere. We had a case here in Ireland a few years ago, have a look at the link for a case in point, a particularly nasty one, and he wriggled like mad and fought the case at every stage, and was unbelievably arrogant throughout, despite the evidence against him - he genuinely couldn't see why he couldn't hear cases!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Curtin
There was not enough evidence to convict him, and that sounds about right. I think it was fair as the burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. They couldn't do this as the identification of the assailant was unclear.
Correct result.
What gets me, why is there so many perverts around. Why on earth don't they pay a prostitute for an escort if they are that much perverted. I feel so sorry for innocent decent women of what they fear. Rape and forced sexual acts is beggars belief. What also annoys me is when girls are out on the town on a weekend wearing skimpy skirts, and low cut tops, then people say they deserve to get raped, but why? It is a free country and you should be able to wear what you want to wear. If a man went out wearing a T-shirt and a thong, would he get raped by women...I doubt it. This world is crazy. These judges are too lenient on the perpetrator, and too hard on the victims.
You sound surprised.
You obviously haven't ever served on a jury or else you would know what a complete shambes the UK criminal justice system is.
There must be many guilty individuals walking the streets and also by implication many innocent people rotting in jail, usually the black, the poor and the dispossessed.
Time to face up to reallity. Its staring you in the face!
But you have to wonder at the implications - if he is innocent, she is lying. But why would she lie about this when she doesnt even know the guy? No grudge to bear or anything. If it happened to me, I think Id dispense my own justice there and then with a swift kick in the bo**ocks, (and claim I slipped).
That's about right ,
As for having faith in the legal system , forget it
The system no longer is about justice , but power