Rape trial

[Aggers]

There is something wrong with our criminal justice system when an innocent woman is driven to suicide
due to the way she had been treated in Court when giving evidence, don't you think?

I think lawyers should be held to account for the way they treat witnesses in court. I also think that the
way Courts function should be radically changed, the emphasis being, by everyone concerned, on
arriving at the truth, not scoring points. A reasonable defence is one thing, but endeavouring to get a guilty person
acquitted is another. It would perhaps be better if Judges were appointed from sources other than the legal profession.

What do you think?

[KateLMead]

It's the system, it stinks Aggers, lawyers can and will lie though their teeth if they are paid enough whether their client is guilty makes no difference, how can the perpetrator's lawyer plead that an abuser (the dirty *****) should have his good works considered, and the fact he was a church warden, and he had strayed???? We had a similar case with a vicar in our area and his wife who fortunately was jailed..
These lawyers work with each other!! and can virtually predict the outcome nine times out of ten when these cases come to court..
Nothing has changed, I knew of a case when I was a child in a children's home where an individual had been abused and terrified by the abuser with what would happen to her if she every told anyone, the child was troubled and was placed into care, she ran away with regularity and made it known what had happened to her as a small child and was taken before court where the Uncle appeared who stated that "she was troubled and suffered with a vivid imagination" and he got away with his cruelty and abuse..
There are good decent lawyers and one can only pray when and if one is needed they will work with honesty and compassion for the individual who has suffered at the hands of these perpetrators whatever the case and crime..

[Rodo]

The fact that it was a woman lawyer who did that to her seems to make it worse too.

[KateLMead]

The fact that it was a woman lawyer who did that to her seems to make it worse too.

Terrible Rodo, poor woman what a terrible waste of a life and talent. her poor family must be bereft.

[Workingman]

The case of the violinist, Frances Andrade, which appears to be the one under discussion, is a strange one.

It was not the victim who brought the case it was a third party, Jenavora Williams, after a conversation between the two. We do not know what pressure Ms William put on Ms Andrade to allow the complaint after thirty years. Williams went to the police without the knowledge of Ms Andrade who wanted to have the issue dealt with in-house.

Ms Andrade tried to commit suicide three times over the years - a cry for help? Nobody knows, however, it is assumed by the media that it was because of the abuse.

It is said that she was advised by the police not to receive any form of therapy until the end of the case, even though it was obvious that she had problems, but nobody can discover who might have given that advice. The CPS said a dedicated witness care officer was assigned to explain the trial process to Mrs Andrade and that she had restated her willingness to give evidence on several occasions.

She insisted on giving evidence in full view of the defendants and the court even though she could have done it from behind a screen.

Brewer defended himself, as is his right, the barrister was representing his ex-wife. Both were found not guily of rape by a jury of six men and five women, but were guilty of abuse.

It is all very unsatisfactory.

[KateLMead]

More than unsatisfactory Frank, it is a disgrace.. Sexual abuse can affect the individuals for the rest of their lives, whatever their age these memories can haunt them and affect them emotionally as we have seen with respect to so many cases that have come forward recently, this applies regardless as to whether that abuse is ongoing or one of those frightening memories..Some can come to terms and live with the abuse and the fear it instilled within the individual, others find it more difficult and remain disturbed beneath the surface of normality for the rest of their lives.

[cromwell]

Being called a liar and a fantasist is pretty awful. I know barristers have on occassion to defend people they don't like, and even people they believe to be guilty, and try and get them off, but even so.
The woman barrister in this case seems to have gone beyond defence and attack, and moved on to personal abuse. Why did the judge allow it?
I'd just like to add that I hope Mr Brewer gets that clever, sniggery little smile of his well and truly wiped off his face in prison. It probably won't happen, but I live in hope.

[Workingman]

Rape is such a personal crime - in mind and body - that it should not be treated in the same way as other crimes, imo.

For example: the names of the accused and the victim should remain secret from the public until a verdict is reached as even to be named as accused, or as a victim, can ruin lives.

It is right, in general, for an accused to be able to defend themselves against their accusers. In rape, however, this allows the accused to interrogate in person the one they may have committed a crime against. Why a victim should be subjected to that is beyond me.

In this case it was not the victim who made the complaint, it was a third party. Things may have happened to a person in the past, but it is their choice in how they deal with them. It is not for someone else to be offended on their behalf as it is not known what their motives are... It could be genuine concern for the victim, bit it might be revenge against the accused. It is a dangerous game to play.

[KateLMead]

I agree Frank, however we have seen how the victims from the children's homes were groomed and abused by the gang who thankfully are now doing time.. However the childrens accusations were totally ignored primarily by the police and authorities... As for the third person making the complaint I agree with your comments however if the woman told her friend what had happened, and the man was still involved with children in the church or else where
should she have remained silent?

[pederito1]

The wisdom of grassing is often in doubt. Would it not have been better for all concerned if Monica had kept her mouth shut about her dalliance with Bill Clinton?