General Chat

I heard a report about this on the radio and the chap said Stuart Hall gave the performance of his life saying he was innocent so all the people who knew him felt sorry for him and believed him and they were shocked when he decided to suddenly plead guilty and embarrassed that he fooled them too. I don't think any of the perpetrators will have much support when the truth gets out. Fame obviously went to their heads and they thought they were above the law all those years ago, now they find that the truth will out and they will have to take their punishment. I have no sympathy for any of them, famous or not who abuse young people.

A local Catholic priest of 29 years has been rebailed on charges of abusing children years ago. It isn't just the famous who get caught up with years later.

Lizx

Its not just the police who are involved either, the DPP has to be satisfied that the case is robust too.

I remember back in the 1980's when as part of my job I had to attend court cases as an observer. The way cases are run bear little resemblance to what you see on the telly and there is more time spent hanging around waiting than there is in the actual court.

We got to knew the ushers quite well and I remember one in particular who was due to retire after 40 years of service. He had seen it all and maintained that less than one in a thousand brought up before the court was truly innocent of the crime. Unfortunately far more than that managed to dupe the jury and got off.

Bob why did he plead gulity then ? for refusing ? I dont think so

My daughter is a court usher local and crown IGP....and still gets amazed.

Being a court Usher does not qualify you to be a judge and jury,

To be a court usher, you should have good communication and people skills. You must be able to deal with people in difficult situations. (And you must also be tolerant and not judge people.)

Roy

Well Bobtanian - obviously celebrities have to watch out for those 9 to 17 y.o. groupies. I am sickened by your post.

What Bob says could hold true for some celebrities I suppose but I would not have thought it would apply to those currently in the news.

I doubt many under-age hearts were a-flutter at the thought of Stuart Hall or Rolf Harris. William Roache probably didn't have much of a problem with groupies either.

PP an usher sits though all the case/s,so hear first hand.


I dont think any said they are judge and jury,but can afterwards have the right to a silent opinion.as can the general public who sit in.

Absolutely, Kay. Yes it was his private opinion but then there wasn't much he hadn't seen or heard many times before.

A Court Usher may well have information that wasn't presented to the Jury.

When the Jury OH served on convicted someone at a re-trial, their Usher told them afterwards that the Accused had been suspected of at least 3 other murders in other parts of the country but with insufficient evidence to Charge.

Even when the behind-the-scenes information isn't shared, an Usher would have heard the same evidence as the Jury and drawn his/her own conclusions.

you post some excellent jokes Bob, but cases like this are no joking matter - thank your lucky stars you have never been a victim of sexual assault

Or,indeed ,of being maliciously accused of anything.

Bob had a very valid point.There is always more than one facet to everything.

I know somebody who was accused of sexual assault by a young girl who was seeking attention. Complicated story where her friend had been abused and she cottoned on to it.

I have seen how ill that man became in the lead-up to the trial and the devastation it caused his family and the girl's mother who did not know what to do for the best.

The newspapersreported his arrest andthe date of the trial.

What they did not ever bother to do was to report that he had been totally exhonerated.

.......don't tar all females with same brush!!
Groupies or not they are also encouraged by the stars, not all of them l'm sure, but a hell of alot of them do/have....and as AnnC says this no joking matter and you obviously have not had to endure being in court as a victim of rape/assault!!
Think before you speak next time!!

jude

I can't see how anybody would think he was joking.

He was just stating another angle.

Kay, I no what a court usher does, They have other duties to carry out whilst the court is in session so will never hear ALL the evidence unless they are neglecting their other tasks.

Det, When you are on trial for an offence in this country then their are certain things kept from the jury, These things are not disclosed in open court because it could/would likely prejudice the decision of the jury (so not considered a fair trial)

They are on trial for the offence they are charged with and not any previous allegations, offences or crimes.

Roy

Bobtainian is entitled to her opinion, as is everyone else.

She has a valid point. In those days, groupies followed their idols everywhere, waiting outside houses etc.,

I think people like Stuart Hall, Jimmy Saville and the rest, were people with alot of power and were above suspicion, as also members of any church woulld possibly be. This now we know is a load of rubbish. In the sixties, women were not regarded as in any way equal to men, and would be brushed off with something like 'dont be silly, just a bit of fun'.

Now, they have their chance, as things are different. I say all power to them, and am happy to see these sick people behind bars, where they should be.

Sue

:-) :-)

Sorry l though Bobtanian is a male??

Anyways...yes of course he/she is allowed an opinion, but its the way he/she did it, making what l thought was a joke..."He said"..."She said" etc
Groupies and non groupies are out there all the time and yes they do follow celebs about and yes some are probably asking for trouble but a 9yr old?????

I agree with Bobtanian about groupies,

I have seen groupeis as young as 14/15 but I fail to see how that would apply to a 9 year old

Roy

Ok..... if we are saying Stuart Hall had groupie followers in his youth, would a 9yr old be considered a groupie??

l did'nt say l did't agree with Bobtanian, but the way he put it in his post was more of a joke!! Its not the sort of thing to joke about. l'm not the only one who feels this either.

jude

I was on a plane to the Isle of Man in the 1980's that he was on and he was so full of himself.Being a so called celebrity goes to their heads.

I can agree with Bob about groupies flaunting themselves at celebs and musicians and they are flattered..doesn't excuse behaviour,but some girls are beyond belief.
I witnessed a lot of this when I played in a band and some well known musicians were targeted by young girls...and this was in late 50s early 60s.

Think there could be a lot more keeping their heads down!