Posting a review on Amazon today, I read some of the comments left regarding Sion Jenkins' book, and realised again how many people are "convinced" of things for which they have no factual basis. One contributor wrote that the "whole of Hastings" knew Sion was guilty, before going on to say s/he wouldn't be buying the book!! Another wrote that he "hasn't been found not guilty by a unanimous decision." I always thought that, in this country, people are innocent until proven guilty. Since Sion has never been found guilty by any decision, unanimous or otherwise, then he is, by definition, innocent!
It's not just in Sion's case, though, that we find this curious certainty in spite of the facts. The website dedicated to the Luke Mitchell case www.lukemitchell.proboards41.com throws up this phenomenon again and again, and if you check any of the online "newspaper" sites which invite comments, you'll find dozens of examples - try the South Wales Evening Post reporting on the Stephen Marsh case for just one sample.
So how is it that people remain convinced that the system works, that "they wouldn't/couldn't do that," that prosecution procedures are fair and honest, in spite of masses of evidence to the contrary?
Is it just too frightening a leap for people to accept that "the system" can, and will, do whatever it takes to secure a conviction, regardless, and indeed, in spite of, the facts? Is it because there is just not enough information being allowed into the public domain to allow the majority of people to make informed decisions, or because there are so many "scare stories" produced on a regular basis that wrongful conviction, which most of us assume would never happen to us, ends up way down the list of priorities when it comes to things to be concerned about?
Monday, 8 September 2008
Monday, 1 September 2008
Sion Jenkins and Michael O'Brien
Within literally weeks of each other, Sion Jenkins and Michael O'Brien have both launched books about their wrongful convictions, and the dreadful experiences they have both had to endure and overcome. What is truly terrifying is that at virtually the same time the system was overturning one wrongful conviction, it was perpetuating another - Sion was convicted in July 1998, Michael's conviction was overturned in December 1999, after he'd served 11 years in prison. Although I haven't read Michael's book yet (as it only came out today), I know that it talks not only about the time he spent in prison, but the ten years since - the struggle to come to terms with what was done to him and the others, dealing with the ongoing suspicions and prejudices, even though the system has exonerated him. (Isn't that the ultimate irony??? The "system" is required to "exonerate" someone who never did anything wrong in the first place.) There is a tendency to assume that once a conviction is overturned, then the balance has somehow been re-instated, and everything is now OK. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have read Sion's book, and I would strongly recommend it to everyone, whether they are involved with wrongful convictions or not. As I keep pointing out, this could happen to any one of us. In all cases of wrongful conviction, the end of one part of the nightmare is only the beginning of the next. The journey that Michael began ten years ago, just after Sion was convicted, is the journey Sion now faces - where does it all end? I can say, from experience, that just as Sion's conviction was being overturned, others were facing the dreadful reality - that innocent people are tried, convicted, and jailed for years on end, without a shred of evidence against them. From Micheal O'Brien's conviction in 1987, to the conviction of Sion Jenkins in 1998, to the convictions of Luke Mitchell (2005) and Stephen Marsh (2007), amongst many others, we are forced to face a terrible truth - nothing has changed, or is changing. Week after week, month after month, year after year, and, almost unbelievably, decade after decade, the same "mistakes" are being made. If you look closely, the same "failures" in procedure, legal process, media coverage, and judicial decision-making, turn up with depressing regularity.
Twenty years down the line, we have just set another raft of innocent people adrift - their lives will never be the same, they will never again enjoy the ignorant bliss that wraps most of us in its deceptive comfort. If anyone chooses to go a little further back.....
We need to wake up. Every innocent person is imprisoned on our behalf - yours and mine. Is that what any of us really want? Rather than live with the discomfort of knowing that the police haven't found the real perpetrator of a terrible crime, we'll settle for the fake security that "someone has been caught." Your son or daughter? Your husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister? And meanwhile, the real killer is walking amongst us, undetected and undeterred.
Think about it.
visit http://www.miscarriageofjustice.org/ for more
I have read Sion's book, and I would strongly recommend it to everyone, whether they are involved with wrongful convictions or not. As I keep pointing out, this could happen to any one of us. In all cases of wrongful conviction, the end of one part of the nightmare is only the beginning of the next. The journey that Michael began ten years ago, just after Sion was convicted, is the journey Sion now faces - where does it all end? I can say, from experience, that just as Sion's conviction was being overturned, others were facing the dreadful reality - that innocent people are tried, convicted, and jailed for years on end, without a shred of evidence against them. From Micheal O'Brien's conviction in 1987, to the conviction of Sion Jenkins in 1998, to the convictions of Luke Mitchell (2005) and Stephen Marsh (2007), amongst many others, we are forced to face a terrible truth - nothing has changed, or is changing. Week after week, month after month, year after year, and, almost unbelievably, decade after decade, the same "mistakes" are being made. If you look closely, the same "failures" in procedure, legal process, media coverage, and judicial decision-making, turn up with depressing regularity.
Twenty years down the line, we have just set another raft of innocent people adrift - their lives will never be the same, they will never again enjoy the ignorant bliss that wraps most of us in its deceptive comfort. If anyone chooses to go a little further back.....
We need to wake up. Every innocent person is imprisoned on our behalf - yours and mine. Is that what any of us really want? Rather than live with the discomfort of knowing that the police haven't found the real perpetrator of a terrible crime, we'll settle for the fake security that "someone has been caught." Your son or daughter? Your husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister? And meanwhile, the real killer is walking amongst us, undetected and undeterred.
Think about it.
visit http://www.miscarriageofjustice.org/ for more
Monday, 25 August 2008
Luke Mitchell attacked
It came as something of a surprise to me to learn on Saturday from "The Sun" newspaper that Luke Mitchell had been subjected to an attack in Polmont YOI which had brought him within "inches" of death.
Why so surprised?
Because it never happened!!!!
I've spoken to several people over Sunday and today (Monday), opening the conversation with "Did you hear about the attack on Luke Mitchell," and invariably, the response has been "Well, that's what happens in these places" ... not once did anyone, even those who believe Luke to be innocent, say "Is it true?"
This rubbish is printed and perpetuated by profiteering companies who don't give a damn about the consequences of their actions.
So, for the record, Luke Mitchell was not attacked in any way, shape or form in Polmont YOI - the staff of Polmont are ever vigilant towards all of the people for whom they are responsible -and a very good job they do if it for all concerned.
As for Annabelle Skeggles and Kenny McAlpine, who ran this article in "The Sun," your report card should read "could do better."
visit www.miscarriageofjustice.org for more
Why so surprised?
Because it never happened!!!!
I've spoken to several people over Sunday and today (Monday), opening the conversation with "Did you hear about the attack on Luke Mitchell," and invariably, the response has been "Well, that's what happens in these places" ... not once did anyone, even those who believe Luke to be innocent, say "Is it true?"
This rubbish is printed and perpetuated by profiteering companies who don't give a damn about the consequences of their actions.
So, for the record, Luke Mitchell was not attacked in any way, shape or form in Polmont YOI - the staff of Polmont are ever vigilant towards all of the people for whom they are responsible -and a very good job they do if it for all concerned.
As for Annabelle Skeggles and Kenny McAlpine, who ran this article in "The Sun," your report card should read "could do better."
visit www.miscarriageofjustice.org for more
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Welcome
Hi, and welcome to my Miscarriages of Justice Blog.
Just last week, I received details of an innocent man who has been imprisoned for two years without a visitor, who has not breathed fresh air, been outside or had any exercise for 8 months, whose cell is lighted from the outside (so he has no control over when lights are on or off), and who has no access to even a single electrical socket in his cell. Imagine being locked up, 24 hours a day, with absolutely nothing to take your interest or provide any distraction whatsoever. We're always condemning other countries' records on abuses like this, especially of the innocent. It may, therefore, come as something of a surprise when I tell you that the case referred to here is right here in mainland Britain, in a "modern" prison, today, August 2008. This man is no danger to himself or others, and has been convicted of a crime which, aside from having no evidence against him, may not even have happened at all. If and when I get permission, I will post full details of this case. I'm happy to discuss any thoughts and opinions regarding wrongful convictions, false allegations, alleged miscarriages of justice, and invite anyone who wants to debate these issues to join these discussions.
visit www.miscarriageofjustice.org for more
Just last week, I received details of an innocent man who has been imprisoned for two years without a visitor, who has not breathed fresh air, been outside or had any exercise for 8 months, whose cell is lighted from the outside (so he has no control over when lights are on or off), and who has no access to even a single electrical socket in his cell. Imagine being locked up, 24 hours a day, with absolutely nothing to take your interest or provide any distraction whatsoever. We're always condemning other countries' records on abuses like this, especially of the innocent. It may, therefore, come as something of a surprise when I tell you that the case referred to here is right here in mainland Britain, in a "modern" prison, today, August 2008. This man is no danger to himself or others, and has been convicted of a crime which, aside from having no evidence against him, may not even have happened at all. If and when I get permission, I will post full details of this case. I'm happy to discuss any thoughts and opinions regarding wrongful convictions, false allegations, alleged miscarriages of justice, and invite anyone who wants to debate these issues to join these discussions.
visit www.miscarriageofjustice.org for more
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