stuart hall charged

[Waz1892]

breaking news on sky...

charged of raping a 22yrd old in 1976 and 10 counts of indecent assualt on girls between 1967- 1986

shocking

[Tal]

He's already due to stand trial on 3 charges in April.

[The Camel]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

[Woodsey]

He used to come to our restaurant sometimes, think I might still have one of his comedy ties somewhere 

[Tal]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

I don't think there's a time limit for the Crown to take action against someone for committing a crime. Some jurisdictions IIRC distinguish between small crimes (misdemeanours) and set a time limit for those and more serious ones (felonies), which don't have time limits.

The difficulty here must be for the jury. How do you convict after all these years on a charge of indecent assault/rape?

And there is either a middle-aged woman who has spent 30 years haunted by a terrible secret or an 80 year old man who could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn't do.

[outragous76]

Statue of limitations is 12 years but don't think it applies to murder etc

[Waz1892]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

I don't think there's a time limit for the Crown to take action against someone for committing a crime. Some jurisdictions IIRC distinguish between small crimes (misdemeanours) and set a time limit for those and more serious ones (felonies), which don't have time limits.

The difficulty here must be for the jury. How do you convict after all these years on a charge of indecent assault/rape?

And there is either a middle-aged woman who has spent 30 years haunted by a terrible secret or an 80 year old man who could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn't do.

The awful conviction rate this country has for rape in this modern era is simply shocking in itself, so yes, I agree, how the CPS has proof of this is a strange one.  one assumes they have a solid case to charge.

[kinboshi]

Statue of limitations is 12 years but don't think it applies to murder etc

No statute of limitations in UK criminal law. It only applies to contract and tort law.

[kinboshi]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

I don't think there's a time limit for the Crown to take action against someone for committing a crime. Some jurisdictions IIRC distinguish between small crimes (misdemeanours) and set a time limit for those and more serious ones (felonies), which don't have time limits.

The difficulty here must be for the jury. How do you convict after all these years on a charge of indecent assault/rape?

And there is either a middle-aged woman who has spent 30 years haunted by a terrible secret or an 80 year old man who could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn't do.

The awful conviction rate this country has for rape in this modern era is simply shocking in itself, so yes, I agree, how the CPS has proof of this is a strange one.  one assumes they have a solid case to charge.

They don't have "proof", but there must be substantial evidence in order to press charges and to proceed with a case. If a crime has been committed, then a trial is absolutely necessary, and if he's innocent it will be an ordeal for him, but potentially a chance to show his innocence.

[MintTrav]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

I don't think there's a time limit for the Crown to take action against someone for committing a crime. Some jurisdictions IIRC distinguish between small crimes (misdemeanours) and set a time limit for those and more serious ones (felonies), which don't have time limits.

The difficulty here must be for the jury. How do you convict after all these years on a charge of indecent assault/rape?

And there is either a middle-aged woman who has spent 30 years haunted by a terrible secret or an 80 year old man who could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn't do.

The awful conviction rate this country has for rape in this modern era is simply shocking in itself, so yes, I agree, how the CPS has proof of this is a strange one.  one assumes they have a solid case to charge.

They don't have "proof", but there must be substantial evidence in order to press charges and to proceed with a case. If a crime has been committed, then a trial is absolutely necessary, and if he's innocent it will be an ordeal for him, but potentially a chance to show his innocence.

Checked to see what the conviction rate is - I didn't realize it is as low as it is - just 59% for rape, compared to 74% for sexual offences, 72% for domestic violence and 86% overall. I'm not sure what conclusion to draw from that; maybe just that it is hard to prove that someone did it. I suppose there is a question about whether they should be bringing such a high number of cases that fail.

[Tal]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

I don't think there's a time limit for the Crown to take action against someone for committing a crime. Some jurisdictions IIRC distinguish between small crimes (misdemeanours) and set a time limit for those and more serious ones (felonies), which don't have time limits.

The difficulty here must be for the jury. How do you convict after all these years on a charge of indecent assault/rape?

And there is either a middle-aged woman who has spent 30 years haunted by a terrible secret or an 80 year old man who could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn't do.

The awful conviction rate this country has for rape in this modern era is simply shocking in itself, so yes, I agree, how the CPS has proof of this is a strange one.  one assumes they have a solid case to charge.

They don't have "proof", but there must be substantial evidence in order to press charges and to proceed with a case. If a crime has been committed, then a trial is absolutely necessary, and if he's innocent it will be an ordeal for him, but potentially a chance to show his innocence.

Checked to see what the conviction rate is - I didn't realize it is as low as it is - just 59% for rape, compared to 74% for sexual offences, 72% for domestic violence and 86% overall. I'm not sure what conclusion to draw from that; maybe just that it is hard to prove that someone did it. I suppose there is a question about whether they should be bringing such a high number of cases that fail.

I believe the conviction rates differ substantially depending on the circumstances. A rape in an alley has a much higher conviction rate than a rape after a night at a club at a one night stand's house. I seem to remember having been told this before, but how true these things are I cannot say.

[kinboshi]

Is there not a statutory time limit to report a crime?

I don't think there's a time limit for the Crown to take action against someone for committing a crime. Some jurisdictions IIRC distinguish between small crimes (misdemeanours) and set a time limit for those and more serious ones (felonies), which don't have time limits.

The difficulty here must be for the jury. How do you convict after all these years on a charge of indecent assault/rape?

And there is either a middle-aged woman who has spent 30 years haunted by a terrible secret or an 80 year old man who could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn't do.

The awful conviction rate this country has for rape in this modern era is simply shocking in itself, so yes, I agree, how the CPS has proof of this is a strange one.  one assumes they have a solid case to charge.

They don't have "proof", but there must be substantial evidence in order to press charges and to proceed with a case. If a crime has been committed, then a trial is absolutely necessary, and if he's innocent it will be an ordeal for him, but potentially a chance to show his innocence.

Checked to see what the conviction rate is - I didn't realize it is as low as it is - just 59% for rape, compared to 74% for sexual offences, 72% for domestic violence and 86% overall. I'm not sure what conclusion to draw from that; maybe just that it is hard to prove that someone did it. I suppose there is a question about whether they should be bringing such a high number of cases that fail.

I believe the conviction rates differ substantially depending on the circumstances. A rape in an alley has a much higher conviction rate than a rape after a night at a club at a one night stand's house. I seem to remember having been told this before, but how true these things are I cannot say.

Aren't most rapes carried out at home by someone the victim knows, and is often in a relationship with?  Isn't the problem in these cases that it's often one person's word against another, and determining if there was sex isn't the problem - it's determining if it was consensual or not, and the jury have to find the defendant 'guilty, beyond reasonable doubt'?

[Tal]

If it is soon after the incident, there are some pretty reliable medical tests.

[kinboshi]

If it is soon after the incident, there are some pretty reliable medical tests.

To show consent?

[Tal]

If it is soon after the incident, there are some pretty reliable medical tests.

To show consent?

Evidence of it, yes.