SAFARI, c/o 170 Poplar Road South, London, SW19 3JY (Letters are forwarded to us from here)

Issue 94 eMail: [email protected]

(October 2013) Website: http://safari-uk.org

IN SEPTEMBER 2011, MICHAEL LE VELL (48) (Real But then she went on to say: “Put those things Angela Lonsdale, who played Emma Watts on name Michael Turner) - known for his acting out of your mind. Concentrate on her evidence. Coronation Street said: “When is this trial by role as Kevin Webster on Coronation Street - If you are sure she was telling the truth, you can media gonna stop! So pleased for him.” was accused of a sexual offence, which he and must convict, even if it was only the strenuously denied. In January 2012, the Crown evidence of one person. Bear in mind, when it TV presenter Philip Schofield said: “It’s bloody Prosecution Service dropped the case against comes to deciding if this was possibly a lie, ridiculous a man’s life & reputation can be so him, citing insufficient evidence. On what she has put herself through over a long comprehensively trashed in this way.” 14th February 2013, Alison Levitt QC, principal period of time - not just telling people, not just legal adviser to the Director of Public telling police, but a physically intimate And so the allegations – against celebrities and Prosecutions, stated that she had reviewed a examination - she has remained hell bent on his others – continue… decision not to prosecute Le Vell following downfall.” But this is what happens – and, in On the day Michael’s not guilty verdict was allegations made against him in 2011, and she point of fact, it is much harder to admit you’ve given, Deputy Speaker of the House of then authorised Greater Manchester Police to been lying than just to let things take their Commons, Nigel Evans, resigned after being charge Le Vell with offences allegedly course. Very hard to call a halt once it’s all accused of one count of rape, two counts of committed between 2001 and 2010, including begun. It is clear from Ms Laws’ argument that indecent assault and five counts of sexual rape of a child, indecently assaulting a child and in the absence of real evidence, all she can do assault. Like Michael, Nigel states that he is sexual activity with a child. is try to persuade the jury to believe one innocent. person’s word over another’s. On Tuesday 10th September 2013, Le Vell was found not guilty of all twelve charges against …and Scottish former BBC radio presenter, Of course, there are many real victims of sexual him. Michael Souter, denies 18 sex offences against assault. But in the atmosphere of today, it boys, as well as a charge each against a man The days of being innocent until proved guilty remains far, far too easy for innocent people to and a woman. The allegations date back to have been over for some time (despite what the be convicted. The bandwagon is all too visibly between 1979 and 1999. Government states) and cases like this there to be jumped on. demonstrate why so many people are wrongly …and media personality Simon Warr has been convicted of sexual offences. The defence barrister, Alisdair Williamson, charged with a total of seven sex offences again without any evidence to work with, also against three schoolboys. Take away the allegations - true or otherwise - had to play the ‘point-scoring’ game. In his and there is no proof that Michael committed closing argument to the jury he asked jurors to …and Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning has been the crimes alleged. Or even that any crime find the prosecution’s “killer point” to convince rearrested by detectives into allegations of occurred. them the defendant was guilty. “There was sexual offences. nothing, whatsoever,” he told them. “Nothing to The closing arguments by both prosecution and …and entertainer Rolf Harris has appeared in defence barristers are very telling. As no real support this girl’s inconsistent, incoherent and unbelievable account. Welcome to the court charged with nine counts of indecent evidence is available, they have to score points assault and four of making indecent images of against each other. prosecution’s hall of mirrors where up is down and left is right. Where is the consistency, the children. In her closing argument to the jury, Prosecution solidity of evidence on which you are going to So who’s next? When will the madness end? barrister, Eleanor Laws said: “What has she got be sure? Not there, simply not there.” Mr to gain from all that? Nothing, absolutely Williamson said: “He is a man, not a character, If the law worked perfectly, we wouldn’t need nothing, unless this is the truth and she just a weak man, a stupid man, a drunk man, but court cases or juries in cases like these. Judges wants to tell you the truth, and if she is telling nothing in this case has taken you anywhere would just look at the evidence and make a the truth then it is your duty to mark her near the level of certainty that you would need decision based on that evidence. That’s what courage with a conviction”. Well, what a facile so that you can look in the mirror in the days convictions are supposed to be based on and deceptive comment to make. Almost that come and say, ‘I was sure’. Without anyway. It’s because we have juries – juries everyone knows, now, that in fact there is forensic evidence, without blood, without injury, whose decision cannot generally be questioned usually compensation money running into without consistency. I suggest you can’t be. On – that we have this crazy system requiring thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, to each of these counts the only fair verdict the prosecutors to try and convince them of gain. only right thing to do, is ‘not guilty’. It’s a someone’s guilt. strange case of rape with no blood, no semen, A clever actress making a false allegation can no injury, no trace - almost, you may think, as if earn more for one performance than an And there’s something else we need to work it didn’t happen.” established actor ever can. on: public attitudes. When someone is convicted (rightly or wrongly) of committing an Referring to the sudden increase in allegations Thankfully, Michael Le Vell was lucky. Lucky offence, the public, who don’t understand how against celebrities following the Jimmy Savile that the jury believed him over his accuser. the legal system works, assume their conviction affair, she rightly said: “There have been lots of Lucky that they gave more weight to the was correct and that person’s life is destroyed prosecutions of celebrities. You may wonder if defence barrister rather than the prosecution as a result. It’s time everyone realised – there is some kind of witch-hunt going on, if the barrister. But our legal system shouldn’t be especially nowadays - that being convicted of world is going mad. That may make you feel about luck. It should be about real evidence. an offence doesn’t make you automatically very uneasy indeed.” And innocence unless proved guilty. guilty of that offence.

(We strive to ensure the accuracy of all articles, but accept no responsibility for errors) All our earlier newsletters are available (and printable) online at http://safari-uk.org

ONE READER HAS RECOMMENDED the following POLICE INTERVIEWS – make them work for you. If DANNY TIPLADY (26) AND HIS FATHER Martin publication by Michael Naughton (founder and you are arrested on suspicion of committing an Tiplady (47) have been jailed for 10 months and director of the Innocence Network UK (INUK)): offence, you will generally be interviewed by the 15 months respectively after perverting the “Claims of Innocence: An introduction to Police and that interview will be recorded course of justice by falsely accusing Danny’s ex wrongful convictions and how they might be (usually audio only, but occasionally video too). partner of stabbing Danny in his leg. Following challenged” which can be found online at The police will intend using what you say during forensic investigation, she was released without http://tinyurl.com/ClaimsOfInnocence. that interview as evidence at court if it helps charge after it was established that Danny had them to convict you but remember you can use actually stabbed himself. Danny Tiplady th REMINDER: UNITED AGAINST INJUSTICE’S 12 it too. Anything said by either side is recorded pleaded guilty to the offence, and his father was National Miscarriage of Justice Day is due to be and transcribed and available to prosecution found guilty following a trial at Maidstone Crown held at the Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount and defence. So, for example, if the Police Court. Detective Sergeant Martin Davies said: th Street, Manchester, M2 5NS on 12 October break any rules (such as not allowing you a “This was a crude attempt to frame an innocent 2013 between 10am and 5pm. Entrance is free solicitor), say so during the taped interview to woman for a crime that she didn’t commit. although donations will be welcome. DNA get it on record. Mobile phone data from Danny Tiplady’s phone expert Professor Allan Jamieson is one of the supported the theory that this was a pre- planned speakers. The contact eMail is THE SAFARI WEBSITE (http://safari-uk.org) is planned event, and both men were arrested. [email protected] (include “MJD 2013” changing. It has always been a place where Perverting the course of justice is a serious as the subject). See their website at you could find all our newsletters (dating back offence and this has been shown in the court http://www.unitedagainstinjustice.org.uk. to issue 1 in December 2003!) but several of passing a custodial sentence.” the links we’ve provided to other support FEMALE VICTIMS OF FALSE ALLEGATIONS are much groups, etc. are no longer working. So in the IN R V TURBILL (MAXINE) & Anr [2013] EWCA rarer than male ones. This is unsurprising and coming months we’re planning on changing all Crim 1422, Maxine Turbill and Gail Broadway’s can be seen by the very few number of female that. The updated web site will have all non- convictions for wilful neglect of a resident of the subscribers to the SAFARI newsletter. Having working links removed and will be regularly care home in which they worked were quashed. said that, though, it is important that female checked to ensure links remain current. We It was decided that the judge at trial had failed victims are given the same level of support as also plan to include some links to sites that to properly direct the jury in relation to the true male victims. Please do ask any falsely support individuals who state they have been meaning of the term ‘wilful neglect’. He had accused women you know to join the SAFARI falsely accused so if you already have a web used words like “reckless” without defining it. mailing list. As more join, we will be able to site yourself (or set one up), please do let us He had used the words “careless” and gain a better understanding of their situation know by eMail on [email protected]; “carelessness” and “grossly careless” as if they and be better able to address their problems. eventually we’ll provide an online form to necessarily equate to a “couldn’t care less” complete to submit new sites for consideration. attitude, which they do not. Even “gross ANGELA ENGLAND (42) HAS BEEN JAILED for 20 carelessness” would not, of itself, be sufficient months after she falsely accused a taxi driver of We realise that many SAFARI readers are in to amount to wilful neglect. It was decided at raping her. Ms England pled guilty in July to prison and cannot access the Internet. So we appeal that Ms Turbill and Ms Broadway had perverting the course of justice. The taxi driver will, of course, continue to send out the 2- not intentionally done anything to cause harm had collected her and her partner and then monthly newsletters to anyone who does not to the resident in question. Fortunately the asked for the fare, which was £16. They only have access to the Internet. We do advise you, resident had suffered no significant or obvious had £10 on them. The taxi driver was keen for however, to get your friends and family to check injury. one of them to go and get money from a cash the website regularly on your behalf. machine; the result was that her partner got out NINE MEN FALSELY ACCUSED of rape by a teenage of the car and walked the short distance back to IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT MILITARY INTELLIGENCE is a girl have been found not guilty after messages their home. About 25 minutes later, Ms England contradiction in terms. It seems the same can sent by the alleged victim on Twitter cast doubt appeared at their home and made an allegation apply to attempting to put the words “common on her version of events. Desmond Agyei (23), that she had been raped. She claimed after her sense” and “integrity” into the same sentence Edward Kofi Edunya (23), Perry Murray (24), partner left the car the driver had driven away, as “Government”. In “Guards! Guards!” by David Sarpong (23), Adedeji Atitebi (21), Austin stopped the car near a school, got into the back Terry Pratchett, the Patrician says: “They Odisi (24), Justin Maynard (23), Olanrewaju and forcibly raped her before driving off. What accept evil not because they say yes, but Sonde (24) and Thamsanqa Sibanda (30) were because they don’t say no.” Way back in time, she didn’t know when making the claim was all discharged to loud applause from the public that the taxi company had tracking devices Matthew Hopkins was entitled “Witchfinder gallery. Prosecutor Samantha Cohen told the fitted to their vehicles so this could be General”; it was his job to execute innocent court that an old Twitter account used by the disproved. Ms England said that her claim was people, on the say-so of anyone who said: complainant, who was 14 at the time of the more about trying to make her former partner “She’s a witch!” Now it seems it’s the job of alleged offences, had emerged “through a side- feel guilty about getting out of the car and Prosecutors to hype a jury into believing in the wind”. “A review of the Twitter material has leaving her that night. That’s how small the guilt of a certain segment of the community who been conducted at the highest level at the motivation can be for making false accusations, can’t conclusively and persuasively prove their Crown Prosecution Service and the police in which can destroy lives. innocence. “I was just doing my job.” That’s conjunction with trial counsel,” she said. “The the Nuremberg Defence, all over again. Isn’t it unanimous conclusion is that there is no CATHY RICHARDSON (26) HAS BEEN JAILED for a high time for people in Government, in the realistic prospect of conviction in respect of any year after admitting perverting the course of Judiciary, and everywhere in authority to say a defendant on any of the counts. For that reason justice by falsely accusing a man she knew of resounding “NO!” to a system which finds the Crown is offering no evidence across the raping her over several months. innocent and falsely accused people guilty, with board in this case.” Judge John Bevan, QC, all the horror and heartache involved not only SARAH LOPEZ (32) HAS BEEN JAILED for 10 MONTHS said: “It’s unfortunate this happened so late, it’s for themselves but also for their families and unfortunate some defendants have been in after she pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert friends? Isn’t it time that Prosecutors felt a the cause of justice by falsely claiming her custody.” It’s interesting in cases like this that twinge of guilt about hyping juries up to produce prosecutors still blather on about “realistic boyfriend, Russell Crowe (21), had attacked a guilty verdict when they know that if the same her. After the false allegation, Mr Crowe was chances of conviction” as opposed to cringing things had been said about themselves, they in horror that they would have gone all-out to charged with false imprisonment, making would probably be found guilty too? Isn’t it time threats to kill and assault. The proceedings convict the innocent if that evidence hadn’t that the Government and Judiciary tried to turned up. were eventually dropped when Sarah Lopez ensure that the innocent truly have nothing to withdrew her statement saying she had made it fear? But where are they, all those people of THE NEXT SAFARI NEWSLETTER is due online on up. Lopez was said to have previous honour and integrity who should be saying 1st December 2013 and postal copies are convictions for 23 offences, including “No!”? It seems there is not a high enough expected to arrive by 15th December 2013. shoplifting, assault, possessing drugs, proportion of them in either the Government or Deadline for submissions for consideration is 6th deception and harassment. the Judiciary to make the necessary difference. November 2013.