The Stephen Lawrence corruption allegations

**Russ B** · 26-07-2006, 19:56

Looking forward to watching this tonight. If it goes anyway to securing the prosecution of those 5 scumbags then I say it's worth investigating.

Chimaera · 26-07-2006, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Looking forward to watching this tonight. If it goes anyway to securing the prosecution of those 5 scumbags then I say it's worth investigating.

I agree - although they seem to have escaped justice for such a long time, I wonder if anything will be done now.

Nugget · 26-07-2006, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Looking forward to watching this tonight. If it goes anyway to securing the prosecution of those 5 scumbags then I say it's worth investigating.

Problem is, haven't they all already been acquitted at trial, so can't actually be tried again?

jtwn · 26-07-2006, 20:23

Blunkett's Criminal Justice Bill of 2003 abolished retrials of those aquitted if there is 'new and compelling' evidence.

**Russ B** · 26-07-2006, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwn

Blunkett's Criminal Justice Bill of 2003 abolished retrials of those aquitted if there is 'new and compelling' evidence.

Are you sure you've got that the right way around? I thought the Bill meant they can be retried is 'new and compelling' evidence surfaces?

Silent Wings · 26-07-2006, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Are you sure you've got that the right way around? I thought the Bill meant they can be retried is 'new and compelling' evidence surfaces?

Yes your right Russ they can

**Russ B** · 26-07-2006, 21:03

Surely something has to come of this now? The fact that the programme apparently blew massive holes in thier alibis sounds like compelling evidence to me.

I really really hope they nail those 5 brain donors.

smicer07 · 26-07-2006, 21:09

It's so clear they did it, it's embarassing. But the police won't do anything about it because that'd mean admitting they were corrupt. Oh, and also, what a gang of sad *****.

freezin · 27-07-2006, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by smicer07

It's so clear they did it, it's embarassing. But the police won't do anything about it because that'd mean admitting they were corrupt. Oh, and also, what a gang of sad *****.

If it's so clear why didn't the jury at their trial convict them? I find it a bit odd that these new allegations, from a tainted source, should have surfaced now so long after the original investigation.

Vlad_Dracul · 27-07-2006, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Looking forward to watching this tonight. If it goes anyway to securing the prosecution of those 5 scumbags then I say it's worth investigating.

Cant the system just fit someone up for the crime to placate the "black community"?

I agree that those accused seem to be scum but the law and justice are not the same thing. The law requires that there is close scrutiny of the facts and evidence of the case. If this is insufficient or does not stand up to examination beyond all reasonable doubt,then there is no case to answer. That MUST remain the case, regardless of the colour of the poor soul who was murdered.

Nugget · 27-07-2006, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by dooper786

Cant the system just fit someone up for the crime to placate the "black community"?

I agree that those accused seem to be scum but the law and justice are not the same thing. The law requires that there is close scrutiny of the facts and evidence of the case. If this is insufficient or does not stand up to examination beyond all reasonable doubt,then there is no case to answer. That MUST remain the case, regardless of the colour of the poor soul who was murdered.

Ignoring the irony in your opening sentence, what's the 'black community' got to do with anything? As it happens, Stephen Lawrence was black, but it's not 'the community' who've been pushing to find out what happened; it appears that the majority of right-minded individuals in this country want to know

Vlad_Dracul · 27-07-2006, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nugget

Ignoring the irony in your opening sentence, what's the 'black community' got to do with anything? As it happens, Stephen Lawrence was black, but it's not 'the community' who've been pushing to find out what happened; it appears that the majority of right-minded individuals in this country want to know

Indeed and that includes myself. But let us convict people in the right, proper and legal manner with the right evidence. I saw those accused, they did look like scum to me and their names did pop up in the news for quite a while. If they are truly guilty I would love a REAL life sentence for them all. But let us not have the issue clouded by race. This was not a racist murder. There is no such thing. Murder is murder, death is death,thats it ,plain and simple.

I firmly believe that, tragically,no-one will ever now be convicted of Stephen Lawrences murder. My heart goes out to his mother and his family, i saw them many times on the news and it was not a pretty sight to see such grief and sorrow,but also such strength as well. They are obviously a tightly bonded family and I wish them well for i fear they will never have justice for the loss of their son.

Saaf_laandon_mo · 27-07-2006, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by dooper786

But let us not have the issue clouded by race. This was not a racist murder. There is no such thing. Murder is murder, death is death,thats it ,plain and simple.
.

Yes murder is murder but some people pick their victims based on sex, race, looks, intelligence etc etc. If what you're trying to say is that all murderers should be treated equally then fine, but to say racial murders dont exist would be untrue.

The recorded surveilance footage taken in the flat showed the guys to specifically state that they would love to kill a black guy, so in this case Id have to say that its a racist murder.

Nugget · 27-07-2006, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by dooper786

Indeed and that includes myself. But let us convict people in the right, proper and legal manner with the right evidence. I saw those accused, they did look like scum to me and their names did pop up in the news for quite a while. If they are truly guilty I would love a REAL life sentence for them all. But let us not have the issue clouded by race. This was not a racist murder. There is no such thing. Murder is murder, death is death,thats it ,plain and simple.

I firmly believe that, tragically,no-one will ever now be convicted of Stephen Lawrences murder. My heart goes out to his mother and his family, i saw them many times on the news and it was not a pretty sight to see such grief and sorrow,but also such strength as well. They are obviously a tightly bonded family and I wish them well for i fear they will never have justice for the loss of their son.

A good post here, but I'd have to disagree with you when you say that there is no such thing as a racist murder. If that was true (and I wish that it was), it would make the whole process a lot easier (imo). If you wanted to argue semantics, I suppose I could accept that there is a difference between a racist muder and a racially motivated murder, but that's the only (slight) difference I can see...

Vlad_Dracul · 27-07-2006, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nugget

A good post here, but I'd have to disagree with you when you say that there is no such thing as a racist murder. If that was true (and I wish that it was), it would make the whole process a lot easier (imo). If you wanted to argue semantics, I suppose I could accept that there is a difference between a racist muder and a racially motivated murder, but that's the only (slight) difference I can see...

And that is the only point I am arguing for I feel that it is very important. Murder IS murder and that is the headline, it is the accusation, it is the cause for investigation and it should be the reason for conviction. The motivating factors are of course important and they should be discussed and investigated in the proper place, a court of law. But the crucial bit is that someone unlawfully took the life of another.