Well, I'd never have thought this ...

[Bruce Rioja]

Kevin Webster - Not guilty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-24032449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Annoyed Grunt]

Kevin Webster - Not guilty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-24032449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Comes up smelling of Rosie........

[Prufrock]

I can't believe the CPS would go near someone this high profile, in a case like this, unless they were absolutely certain of a water tight case. He's f*cked now. No matter the not guilty verdict, he'll never work again.

[Montreal Wanderer]

I can't believe the CPS would go near someone this high profile, in a case like this, unless they were absolutely certain of a water tight case. He's f*cked now. No matter the not guilty verdict, he'll never work again.

An ITV spokesman said: "We are looking forward to meeting with Michael to discuss his return to the programme."

You mean they'll sat "not a chancer, mate" in the discussion?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I can't believe the CPS would go near someone this high profile, in a case like this, unless they were absolutely certain of a water tight case. He's f*cked now. No matter the not guilty verdict, he'll never work again.

I find it incredibly depressing that you, of all people, come out with such bollocks like this.

[bwfcdan94]

Kevin Webster - Not guilty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-24032449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Comes up smelling of Rosie........

, brilliant that works on multiple levels.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Kevin Webster - Not guilty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-24032449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Comes up smelling of Rosie........

, brilliant that works on multiple levels.

And I find it incredibly depressing that you, of all people, are the one to find multiple levels on this joke.

[TANGODANCER]

I can't believe the CPS would go near someone this high profile, in a case like this, unless they were absolutely certain of a water tight case. He's f*cked now. No matter the not guilty verdict, he'll never work again.

I find it incredibly depressing that you, of all people, come out with such bollocks like this.

Have to agree. The verdict is not guilty and that means innocent. To even think of still decrying him, or anyone, based on rumours or untruths is crass.

[Prufrock]

I can't believe the CPS would go near someone this high profile, in a case like this, unless they were absolutely certain of a water tight case. He's f*cked now. No matter the not guilty verdict, he'll never work again.

I find it incredibly depressing that you, of all people, come out with such bollocks like this.

Have to agree. The verdict is not guilty and that means innocent. To even think of still decrying him, or anyone, based on rumours or untruths is crass.

Eh? I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here, the pair of you.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I can't believe the CPS would go near someone this high profile, in a case like this, unless they were absolutely certain of a water tight case. He's f*cked now. No matter the not guilty verdict, he'll never work again.

I find it incredibly depressing that you, of all people, come out with such bollocks like this.

Have to agree. The verdict is not guilty and that means innocent. To even think of still decrying him, or anyone, based on rumours or untruths is crass.

Eh? I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here, the pair of you.

I had the end of the stick where you were choosing a tree and getting the rope out, whereas I see now that I should have had the end of the stick where you are lambasting the CPS for shoddy work. I sincerely apologise for my mistake, and my faith in you has been restored.

[Prufrock]

Indeed, though as Monty has pointed out I may have exaggerated a bit. It's a tough one, mud sticks and all that, and it must be hard enough to get back to normal when its only your community that have heard you accused of this sort of thing. When it's the whole country...

That said they can't go around not convicting anyone who doesn't sign a confession to a crime witnessed by 500 people (well, actually, it seems a lot of they time they can, and do, and rightly get criticised for it) so it's a tough line to walk. The stigma of accusations like this makes them a little different though. Walked past the news yesterday to see them discussing how plans for anonymity of suspects had been jacked a few years ago. I think I'm for that.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Indeed, though as Monty has pointed out I may have exaggerated a bit. It's a tough one, mud sticks and all that, and it must be hard enough to get back to normal when its only your community that have heard you accused of this sort of thing. When it's the whole country...

That said they can't go around not convicting anyone who doesn't sign a confession to a crime witnessed by 500 people (well, actually, it seems a lot of they time they can, and do, and rightly get criticised for it) so it's a tough line to walk. The stigma of accusations like this makes them a little different though. Walked past the news yesterday to see them discussing how plans for anonymity of suspects had been jacked a few years ago. I think I'm for that.

...or, in the cases where the accused is unanimously found not guilty, lifting the anonymity of the accuser. That might balance out and possibly filter out a few of the ones (that must exist) who falsely accuse people [for reasons entirely opaque to me].

[Prufrock]

Not sure about that. I'm don't think it's a binary divide between 'he's a rapist' or 'she's an attention-seeking liar'.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Not sure about that. I'm don't think it's a binary divide between 'he's a rapist' or 'she's an attention-seeking liar'.

I don't think there's much gray to be had in the Kevin Webster trial. Either he had or he hadn't. The Not Guilty verdict says he hadn't, therefore the girl/woman comes out very much sounding like she is lying.
In another way of putting it: I don't think you can be guilty of a little bit of rape and equally, although it is possible to tell a little biddy lie, I don't think it's possible to be genuinely mistaken about whether you were raped or not.

[bobo the clown]

...or, in the cases where the accused is unanimously found not guilty, lifting the anonymity of the accuser. That might balance out and possibly filter out a few of the ones (that must exist) who falsely accuse people [for reasons entirely opaque to me].

Well ... I agree that this case is pretty much one of he is lying, or she is. As said above, there's not too much grey here.

He was found innocent on all 12 charges, unanimously, after only 5 hours in consideration. That's as clear as these things get.

And now she should now be charged with wasting police time & perjury. All her, doubtless considerable, legal aid should be recovered and she should be open to a massive damages law suit. Doubtless she has nothing to sue for, but the principle stands.

[Il Pirate]

And now she should now be charged with wasting police time & perjury. All her, doubtless considerable, legal aid should be recovered and she should be open to a massive damages law suit. Doubtless she has nothing to sue for, but the principle stands.


It was the CPS who decided that there was enough evidence to warrant prosecution, not her Bobo....................

[bobo the clown]

... against her statements which, as we've established, must be considered to be lies.

[Montreal Wanderer]

... against her statements which, as we've established, must be considered to be lies.

I don't know the details but surely no one would be prosecuted on the unsupported word of another individual. There would have to some supporting evidence. One word against another can never be "beyond reasonable doubt".

[Prufrock]

What Monty said.

He hasn't been 'found' innocent, he's been found not guilty. That's not a distinction without a difference. The question the jury was asked was whether they were satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he did it. Now they may have thought she was lying, or they have simply decided they couldn't tell.

I do a bit of volunteering for a domestic violence charity. They help people get civil injunctions because in so many cases there is no point going down the criminal route because the nature of domestic violence means there often aren't witnesses and so it's one person's word against another. That doesn't mean that those women are all liars.

Whilst of course some people do lie, it is not as simple as saying that every time a man is found not guilty of rape the woman (or man) 'accusing' him is a liar.

[TANGODANCER]

And now she should now be charged with wasting police time & perjury. All her, doubtless considerable, legal aid should be recovered and she should be open to a massive damages law suit. Doubtless she has nothing to sue for, but the principle stands.


It was the CPS who decided that there was enough evidence to warrant prosecution, not her Bobo....................

But it was the woman who brought the charge against La Velle to their notice. If her allegations were true in the first place, surely she should be screaming the place down right now about injustice and the system. What exactly did the "evidence" consist of? Seeing the other side of Pru's point ( apologies for misunderstanding) the CPS should have some real explaining to do here, surely? Without a backtrack from the woman the stain, as Pru was saying, remains in people's minds or maybe imagination. Evidence?