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).