Trial by trickery or how Scott was stitched up

**KATWYN** · 19th April 2007, 14:03

Originally Posted by Lias

but I'd personally rather have innocents locked up every now and then than criminals possibly let loose.

:-P

...except of course if it was yourself or a family member that was one of the innocents?!

**candor** · 19th April 2007, 14:35

Originally Posted by KATWYN

...except of course if it was yourself or a family member that was one of the innocents?!

Nah. I like Lias approach. I'd rather have 5 Graham burtons and me or the innocent jerk next door locked up

than....

Me or the neighbour free and only three or 4 of the Burton types outta sight and outta mind.

We do tend too far to caution. But on the other hand, when a juries verdict is clearly worthy of a panel of dunces its a real pity nothing can be done.

Watsons verdict was not safe. Not saying hes innocent but hell there was reasonable doubt. Why do Police feel they have to get A guy in cases like this at any cost. Other Police forces bide their time if they haven't got shit and then often after 10 yrs a cold case comes alive when people blab about the true offender given different circumstances.

Its egg on face when the wrong guy was first convicted. I think it just may have been some sick rich pervs on that other boat - professionals.... CR types etc. Theres not just one area that casts doubt but a few here. Too many just to be meaningless 'glitches'

**spudchucka** · 19th April 2007, 15:15

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

No, there would be none of those if the book was about a convicted killer, who everyone knew was guilty, and the book detailed events of why he was guilty. No one, well not many, would buy that book. So your dollars argument falls flat.

Anyone ever write a book about Charles Manson? I wonder how many copies sold?

**Forest** · 19th April 2007, 15:40

Originally Posted by Finn

Finally after 9 long years, the truth comes out and it took a Prison employee to solve the crime. Will he get a badge?

From what I've seen, working in the prison service turns you into a pretty good judge of character. So I'm happy to go with my mate's assessment of Watson's guilt.

**SPman** · 19th April 2007, 17:44

His guilt in general- as has been said, he was no angle (sic), or his guilt in this particular case. I know a few guys who are shifty toerags, petty thieves etc, but its a big jump to say, that, because a person is guilty of petty crimes, by his demeanour, he is guilty of a major crime.

**onearmedbandit** · 19th April 2007, 17:52

Originally Posted by spudchucka

Anyone ever write a book about Charles Manson? I wonder how many copies sold?

Yeah, because Scott Watson ranks right up there with Manson

. I expected you'd understand what I'm saying, obviously I'm wasting my time.

**Hitcher** · 19th April 2007, 19:59

Watson. Scott Watson.

**Finn** · 19th April 2007, 20:02

Originally Posted by Forest

From what I've seen, working in the prison service turns you into a pretty good judge of character.

And a great Vodafone reseller.

**spudchucka** · 19th April 2007, 20:21

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Yeah, because Scott Wilson ranks right up there with Manson

. I expected you'd understand what I'm saying, obviously I'm wasting my time.

Of course I understand what you are saying. However, the point I was trying to make was that authors won't write books about murderers unless there is a strong public interest in the case. So, they will either write about cases like Watson's & Bain's where there is a cloud of doubt over the conviction or they will write about notorious cases like Manson's, where there is also a large public interest even though there is no doubt as to his guilt. Either way, publishers won't touch it unless they are sure they will sell sufficient copies in order to achieve their desired financial rewards.

**onearmedbandit** · 19th April 2007, 23:32

Exactly. Without public interest the books go nowhere. In the case of Scott Watson the public interest lies in whether he is guilty or not, not how he 'masterminded' the murders.

**spudchucka** · 20th April 2007, 05:56

So there has to be money in it for the book to get published in the first place, right?

**Patrick** · 20th April 2007, 13:55

Just wondering here folks....

Was this thread started because of the half hour tv show aired recently, where a mock jury decide the case, all in the space of a half hour, where the actual case was heard over months of hearings in courts???

Half hour tv verses whole court casde?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm..................