What's your alibi?

**Ixion** · 9th April 2006, 20:56

I agree with Mr Jantar. So I've moved it back

**Qkchk:Me** · 9th April 2006, 21:01

Sitting at home watching the Dukes of Hazard. I remember the episode, its the one where they jump over the river and write-off the general lee 10 times!

**Maha** · 9th April 2006, 21:03

Originally Posted by Patrick

That fella who said he was in Rotovegas getting ready for a big night out... was that Clints alias?.....

Word for word......... straight from the courtroom transcript......BUSTERD

**Lou Girardin** · 10th April 2006, 12:21

Originally Posted by Jantar

You have just been accused of a serious crime.

Where were you and what were you doing at 7:45 pm on Saturday 9th April 1988?

Where was the offence?

**Fishy** · 10th April 2006, 12:33

I was 10 and was trying to get the 2 sisters across the road naked.

Was trying to copy the photo's from the stack of porn I got caught with when I was 6.

**Two Smoker** · 10th April 2006, 13:22

I was 1 and a half.... So i can garuntee i was home and sleeping... Im waiting for someone to say "I wasnt even thought of for the next couple of years" to make me feel old...

**enigma51** · 10th April 2006, 13:31

Originally Posted by Jantar

So of the 23 people who have replied, only 3 have been able to an alibi that is verifiable. Those who were babies, or not even born obviously couldn't have been guilty of a crime like rape, but as far as proving their actual whereabouts at the time, even they can't do it.

Most have said things like "I was probably..." or "I think i may have been..." then given accounts that aren't checkable. The ones who have made positive statements like "I was in hospital.." obviously have a good reason to remember where they were, and I made it easier by choosing an easter weekend. In my own case I can say with some confidence, that I was in the bar at the Taupo Gliding Club, but had I have given a date one week earlier, or one week later then i would have no idea where I was or what I was doing.

The whole point of this thread is to show how unfair it is to make accusations of events that have happened 18 years ago. The human memory just isn't that good. That is one of the reasons why the three cops in the Nicholas rape trial had to be aquitted. When it comes down to purely one person's word against another's then memory alone is a poor witness after so many years.

A pity this thread has been moved to PD, but I assume the other Nicholas rape thread will be soon as well.

You have a point but like you said you remember it cause it was significant to you where you where so dont you think it would have been the same for her?

**Jantar** · 10th April 2006, 13:38

Originally Posted by enigma51

You have a point but like you said you remember it cause it was significant to you where you where so dont you think it would have been the same for her?

Yes, it may have been for her, but what about the accused? It is almost impossible for their memory to be quite as sharp unless they were in fact guilty and charged with the offense at an early stage. Anything else removes the presumption of innocent until proven guilty.

I am not saying that they are innocent, nor would I say that they are guilty, but I am saying that relying on memory as evidence could not be sufficient to detrmine guilt or innocence.

**enigma51** · 10th April 2006, 13:44

Originally Posted by Jantar

Yes, it may have been for her, but what about the accused? It is almost impossible for their memory to be quite as sharp unless they were in fact guilty and charged with the offense at an early stage. Anything else removes the presumption of innocent until proven guilty.

I am not saying that they are innocent, nor would I say that they are guilty, but I am saying that relying on memory as evidence could not be sufficient to detrmine guilt or innocence.

Thats why i say you have a point.

**Smorg** · 10th April 2006, 13:45

Masturbating................................

**Rosie** · 10th April 2006, 14:07

I've been trying to figure out where I was for every easter of my life, but '88 is a bit hazy. I was 8 and we would have been camping somewhere. Probably with the Nelson 4WD club. Kahurangi lighthouse perhaps. Mum and dad's 4WD photo album would likely show exactly where we were.
Since we were camping, and I wasn't terribly old, I guess I was asleep by 7.45pm.

Interesting thread. Especially being close to easter.

**Colapop** · 10th April 2006, 14:12

I was in Wairoa getting pissed. I'd finished basic training and gone home on leave. Then Cyclone Bola hit and I watched the bridge float away. Got a call from my CO wanting to get a sitrep and I thought it was a mate giving me shit. I 'played' along and got him really pissed off when I called him Col. Boolocksworth! Stayed in Wairoa helping to mop up for about 6 months after that. So, yeah I was in Wairoa getting pissed for free!

**Jackrat** · 10th April 2006, 19:34

You have a good point here Jantar.
One of the standard dirty tricks lawyers use when questioning a witness in court is "how good would you say your memory is"
When The witness inevitably says "pretty good",the lawyer then tears them a new arsehole by proving just how poor most peoples memory really is.
They normaly only have to ask what was on the news last night,or a similar question to get the point across.
An thus, discredit the witnesses testimony.
I was warned about this and a few other similar things when I did my investigation training in OZ,Plus I've seen it in action,,,,really ugly.

**Dafe** · 10th April 2006, 19:56

I was learning about burglary.

I figured that the combination of being a kid and having a labour government meant that there was no better or easier time to start obtaining a few riches.

I was also stockpiling on fish, rice and veges. Coz the Labour led doors to asian immigration were being opened.
Unfortunately for us, a few years later - The Bitch got in and she realised that if she offered a free lifestyle to refugees, that she wouldn't have to get off her ass, as the huge influx of refugees would bust the down down for her.