Nicholas rape trial outcome discussion

[Pixie]

Ah, not quite Lou. That is the populist belief but it isn't supported by the facts. There never has been any proof of any nature that the shell casings (not bullets) were planted.

Except that the casing that was "found" in the flowerbed was a nice shiney brass one.
They were too stupid to even try to weather the casing

[scumdog]

All out-
apart from waiting for twenty years to do something about it when finally the complaint could be ignored no longer.

See my last post.

IF the Police were 'closing ranks etc then the case would NEVER have come to light, don't go the 'could be ignored no longer' route, it could have been so easily buried forever.

But it wasn't and now people are quick to slag-off the investigation instead of saying "about time, good on them for finally sorting it"

The court outcome is possibly not the ideal one but thats juries for you.

[scumdog]

Except that the casing that was "found" in the flowerbed was a nice shiney brass one.
They were too stupid to even try to weather the casing

And so too apparently was everybody else that saw the case....

[Pixie]

And so too apparently was everybody else that saw the case....

Never trust a jury to have any brains

[MSTRS:Me]

Why has this case caused you to believe that police close ranks when one of their own is accused? The cops have gone all out to get this guy. Many of the detectives who worked on the case would undoubtedly have know the accused personally to some degree. Sure the investigation all those years ago looks like it may have been as you describe but this one has been utterly professional.

The public have long memories and their high expectations of the Police have been sadly battered over the years. Regardless of the jury's interpretation of the evidence they were presented with, if they had come up with "Guilty" then the public (us) would have been of the opinion that these cops were bastards (we still think that) but at least there can be no question that the 'Boy's Club' was somehow protecting them (which is what we have now).
Kinda the old "It's not paranoia if they really are out to get ya"

[scumdog]

The public have long memories and their high expectations of the Police have been sadly battered over the years. Regardless of the jury's interpretation of the evidence they were presented with, if they had come up with "Guilty" then the public (us) would have been of the opinion that these cops were bastards (we still think that) but at least there can be no question that the 'Boy's Club' was somehow protecting them (which is what we have now).
Kinda the old "It's not paranoia if they really are out to get ya"

Kinda no-win situation - if they kept it under wraps and somebody found out the cops would be arseholes, if cops expose it themselves (like this one) they're still arseholes 'cos it happened.

What would have made a happy outcome for some of you? (apart from the obvious that Lousie never had to undergo what she did).
A change of justice rules so the cops can be convicted in a situation where everybody else would be acquited??

C'mon people, you moan about a (alleged) double standard for Police when it suits you..now it seems like some of you expect one in your favour against the cops????.

[MSTRS:Me]

Kinda no-win situation - if they kept it under wraps and somebody found out the cops would be arseholes, if cops expose it themselves (like this one) they're still arseholes 'cos it happened.

No-win alright. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. The length of this thread would suggest that there is no 'right' answer to this. The only thing that occurs to me is that those three (etc) should have lived up to the standards expected of them as cops AND KEPT IT IN THEIR PANTS. That fact that they didn't should be enough to see the one left given a dishonourable discharge (assuming the other two have already)

[Scouse]

See my last post.

IF the Police were 'closing ranks etc then the case would NEVER have come to light, don't go the 'could be ignored no longer' route, it could have been so easily buried forever.

But it wasn't and now people are quick to slag-off the investigation instead of saying "about time, good on them for finally sorting it"

The court outcome is possibly not the ideal one but thats juries for you.

Oh I thought that it was the Media that brought the case to light witch in turn put presure on the Police to bring the case to court

[yungatart]

...., if cops expose it themselves (like this one) they're still arseholes 'cos it happened.

.

Thought that Louise Nicholas did the exposing via the media??

[The Stranger:Me]

The defendants were found not guilty because evidence was suppressed. Police investigating police will always have the same outcome.

I don't agree with the supression in this case, but I have to agree with Spud here. The police did investigate and did prosecute the alleged perpetrators.

I would venture to say the only reason that there was a trial at all is because the accused were policemen and the allegations of police cover up would have been huge.

So I think it fair to say that the police did do their job and did it properly. You can't blame the police for the supression of evidence nor for the not guilty verdicts. I would doubt sincerely if the police force, either individuals or as a whole had anything to do with that.

[The Stranger:Me]

Remind me again, please, as to why this thread has become yet another "bash the Police" thread?

No hitcher it is not a bash the police thread.
There is the odd bash the police post but the posts are for the most part quite lucid.

The issue here is more that the vast majority think it wrong that prior convictions may not have been revealed.

The police are just as vocal in their defence of that position.

[Patrick]

No hitcher it is not a bash the police thread.
There is the odd bash the police post but the posts are for the most part quite lucid.

The issue here is more that the vast majority think it wrong that prior convictions may not have been revealed.

The police are just as vocal in their defence of that position.

No, we are just pointing out that that is the law of the land, for all, be it cops, paedophiles, burglars or car thieves...

The pamphets are going against what is equal for all, wether you are a Policeman on trial or a repetitve paedophile. It suggests that there be different laws for Policemen.

But no one is right, no one is wrong... and the thread goes on...

[Dafe]

This case is just dragging. Remove the Suppressions and lets be done!

Does anybody remember two years ago, when all the evidence went missing after a break-in at the Police Complaints Authority in Wellington.
That was probably the evidence that would have screwed the high ranking officers good and proper.
Unfortunately, this case had to be trialled after the loss of much vital evidence.
The only files the PCA hold are based on complaints against Police members.
Therefore, some officer didn't want the truth being unveiled!

[Patrick]

This case is just dragging. Remove the Suppressions and lets be done!

Does anybody remember two years ago, when all the evidence went missing after a break-in at the Police Complaints Authority in Wellington.
That was probably the evidence that would have screwed the high ranking officers good and proper.
Unfortunately, this case had to be trialled after the loss of much vital evidence.
The only files the PCA hold are based on complaints against Police members.
Therefore, some officer didn't want the truth being unveiled!

Removing them for the cops means removing them for everyone... will never happen.

Nice story about the PCA breakin... did you read that somewhere? What evidence would that be, since it was one word against the other...

[Dafe]

Removing them for the cops means removing them for everyone... will never happen.

Nice story about the PCA breakin... did you read that somewhere? What evidence would that be, since it was one word against the other...

http://www.peterellis.org.nz/people/...ileMissing.htm

Bizarre, this is suggesting that in 2002, files went missing.

I know for a fact that about 2004, the whole file and only that file, was stolen during a break-in to the PCA.