Rolf Harris

I don't hate anyone. Just because I think that some people are totally evil does not mean I am right in my thinking.

Apparently West's aunt said of her sexual-sadist serial killer psycopathic nephew that he had always been 'a nice boy'. I suppose it depends on your definition of 'nice'.

I am not sure that Harris's crimes were all opportunistic. Some were, but at least one young girl was groomed for his perverse satisfaction.

I am also left wondering what came first, the desire to become a children's entertainer which gave him the opportunities to satisfy his perversions, or did he deliberately choose that path in life knowing it would bring him into contact with children and young people?

rosequartz Yes, I suppose it does! Well, he possibly was nice to her (his aunt, that is!) I expect even Adolf Hitler kissed babies and smiled at butterflies. And I, like many more descendants of Jewish refugees, have nothing to thank him for, to say the least. But I'd STILL not use the term 'pure evil' (if 'evil' can ever be pure!)
And it doesn't mean they are forgiven either, far from it. Simply that we can acknowledge their humanity and their fallibility, let the law take its course and not add to the hate-fuelled atmosphere, which I feel very uneasy about.

Actually, though, petallus has put it far better than I could and far more succinctly. Well said.

Rosequartz - re your last point: would we ever know the truth of that? And does he? Probably not! He'll have plenty of time to think about it now, though....

Will he face further charges in Australia or New Zealand if not here? There could be no end to this as it keeps unravelling.

Who knows? Could he be extradited to face trial in Aus or NZ?
I suspect he won't last the year - he'll either die or kill himself.

Then there are the rumours of a paedophile ring in Westminster itself. Apparently documents 'went missing'. I wonder how far that one will get, if it ever sees the light of day?

I think he will be watched very carefully inside. But I don't think he will last long and may face extradition after if he does survive.

I have an unusual background insofar as I am a retired solicitor, and a qualified hypnotherapist and psychologist. I didn't follow the Rolf Harris trial and am not aware if whether or not there were reporting restrictions?
I don't read newspapers, nor do I have a tv but pick up snippets of news via the internet. I took an interest in the recents RH events as I have both an interest in aborigine art and aborigine music. RH plays the digeridoo and is a fair artist. It's interesting how society explains certain types of behaviour in certain contexts but not in other areas of life. In some situations one has a medical condition which as it were forgives a type of behaviour, yet in other areas only the choices of good and evil appear to prevail. RH's alleged behaviour could arguably be explained as 'autism' - eg. unable to see things from the others' points of view, and obsessive repetitive behaviour. I comment purely from an academic viewpoint and have absolutely no views on the outcome of the RH case. Nor do I profess or deny the existance of autism. Decades ago I realised that (as my late grandfather regularly stated) 'the law is an ass,' so never per se respected U.K. law, particularly as it is often at variance to the other European countries' laws. In this particular instance eg. no statute of limitations. The law and psychology are often artificially manipulated and accepted or rejected simply to justify a judgement already made. Such is life - often illogical. Sometimes perverse.

Really?

odd posting Ivan, commenting on something than stating that you know nothing about it, dont have tv, dont read newspapers...is this some kind of criticism of those of us that do, or am I reading this wrong?

That is a different slant on things.

I didn't know sexual abuse of children could be excused by saying someone is autistic.

If RH is autistic, that will certainly be picked up by psychologists in prison. But, to be honest, I think they would have noticed that by now.

Is this the first time you have posted on here, Ivan? I don't recognise the name but have you perhaps posted under a different name? Strange post from a solicitor who thinks the 'law is an ass'.

Yes, well......

I know from experience that solicitors are notoriously bad spellers...

Ana that inner pedant is on the loose again

Did anyone see The One Show tonight?

No - was it interesting?

May Harris suffer for all the misery he has caused.

Trouble is I don't think he will, papa. There was talk of an open prison and giving art lessons to other prisoners! That will feed his ego even more.

Let's hope, when/if he comes out there will be other charges awaiting him here or over in Australia.

I wonder, RQ, whether or not his supporters will continue to follow him? I agree, his soaring ego will see him through, but I take comfort that the beast is under lock and key.

Talk of an open prison is pure speculation.

It does seem to be on the cards, though. There is even speculation that he won't have to undertake any treatment programme. Time will tell.

Ana given that the sentence plan is done between 8 and 16 weeks after sentence, I can only assume that a clairvoyant has predicted what is going to happen to Rolf Harris! Not even the prison governor will know at the moment!

I think he'll end up in an open prison, giving art lessons to other prisoners.

He will come out unscathed.

As I said, when, time will tell. Bet it comes to pass, though...