Huntley and comeuppance

Galaxy

I just happened across the article dickens, it is just so sad, that all those allegations were there, and if any had been prosecuted ...

We are so concerned with the ridiculous notion that women and children make up accusations that we forget how many sex crimes slip through the net.

Victims of sexual violence know they are often seen as liars. At a rape case I observed, the defence asked the 18-year-old complainant why police had to persuade her to proceed to court. She answered simply: “Because I knew that I was unlikely to be believed, so thought, ‘what’s the point of putting myself through this?”

The comment from the 18 year-old...

When I worked on a specialist team, alongside police colleagues, I remember a serious discussion about whether if one of our children , or one of us made allegations, would we support prosecution or look to get therapy. Large majority would avoid courts go therapy.
Yes of course we were all working hard for successful prosecutions - vanishingly rare and thst remains the case

Iam64

When I worked on a specialist team, alongside police colleagues, I remember a serious discussion about whether if one of our children , or one of us made allegations, would we support prosecution or look to get therapy. Large majority would avoid courts go therapy.
Yes of course we were all working hard for successful prosecutions - vanishingly rare and thst remains the case

I feel the same. Worked in various support roles with the police and the whole legal process is traumatising. I don't blame the police or courts as it can be very hard to prove what happened in a he said she said situation.

A key issue is The assumption that women and children are likely to make false allegations remain present in society, despite research evidence saying this isn’t so.

It plays out on gransnet regularly. We saw it with the response of many in the early period of discussion into organised sexual abuse of children, girls just going into adolescence. Some posters don’t believe the women making allegations against Epstein. Grooming exploitation and terror imposed on 14 - 16 year olds to ensure long term compliance are often dismissed , as they were with the so called grooming gangs.

In truth, this isn’t about Huntley or his victims - apologies. It warrants its own thread

Iam64

A key issue is The assumption that women and children are likely to make false allegations remain present in society, despite research evidence saying this isn’t so.

It plays out on gransnet regularly. We saw it with the response of many in the early period of discussion into organised sexual abuse of children, girls just going into adolescence. Some posters don’t believe the women making allegations against Epstein. Grooming exploitation and terror imposed on 14 - 16 year olds to ensure long term compliance are often dismissed , as they were with the so called grooming gangs.

The trouble is some do make false allegations. It may be a small number but it makes a difficult situation worse. I know of more than one case where the allegations were definitely false.

And how many where the allegations were definitely true?

Iam64

And how many where the allegations were definitely true?

More than three but the reality is not everyone reports so if I say three that looks like it's equal but in reality it isn't.

Doesn't alter the fact that allegations can be false so that has to be considered. I'm sure you'd want it properly investigated if it was a false allegation against your husband, brother or son.

Research consistently points to the region of 2 and 10percent of allegations being false yet that possibility is consistently where many go when allegations are made
Of course thorough investigations are needed. Prosecutions are rare, little wonder when women know they will be doubted and put through a dreadful ordeal if they give evidence.
Look at the way our so called grooming gang victims. Not to mention the vitriol aimed at Epstein’s victims rather than their abusers

Iam64

Research consistently points to the region of 2 and 10percent of allegations being false yet that possibility is consistently where many go when allegations are made
Of course thorough investigations are needed. Prosecutions are rare, little wonder when women know they will be doubted and put through a dreadful ordeal if they give evidence.
Look at the way our so called grooming gang victims. Not to mention the vitriol aimed at Epstein’s victims rather than their abusers

None of that alters the fact false allegations are made, innocent men have gone to prison before being exonerated. It wastes money and yes it makes people think "is this real or false.'. Maybe blame the women who make false allegations.

It probably demonstrates our complete failure of understanding risk, men are of course many many more times likely to be the victim of rape than they are to be the victim of false accusations.

Most false allegations fall at the first hurdle. Usually because the physical or chronological evidence just does not stack up. The number of false allegations that go to trial are few. Mistaken identity, I suspect, is more common

Of course men are going to deny rape and families who believe that no man in their family would act like that will be inclined to believe them.

M0nica

Most false allegations fall at the first hurdle. Usually because the physical or chronological evidence just does not stack up. The number of false allegations that go to trial are few. Mistaken identity, I suspect, is more common

Of course men are going to deny rape and families who believe that no man in their family would act like that will be inclined to believe them.

How much police time do you think is wasted getting to that first hurdle? Sad for the innocent ones who end up in prison.

I can't give the details but I know one case where due to the time tied up with a young woman making a false allegation someone else died because there was no one to attend the incident fast enough. What happened to her, she got a telling off.

To be honest I'm surprised more women who make false allegations don't get prosecuted for wasting police time, time that could be used helping real victims.

Galaxy

It probably demonstrates our complete failure of understanding risk, men are of course many many more times likely to be the victim of rape than they are to be the victim of false accusations.

And I'm sure if you are falsely accused, maybe convicted, that will be a great comfort.

Theworrieedwell, Your focus of anger seems directed towards the small proportion of false allegations, rather than the large number of male rapists.

Some of us have extensive direct experience of working with sex offenders and their victims. I’m more disappointed and surprised that more women are suppprted through trauma and more sex offenders successfully prosecuted. As MOnica points out, fantasists are often identified early in the process

Reading some posts on here, the concern for men, though not entirely unwarranted seems to rate more highly than the concern for female victims.
Is there a reason for this?

Huntley’s killer has just been charged.

Good. Dangerous man as was Huntley.

I read that Hunter’s killer is already in for life and would never have been released, so just wondering what his punishment will be.

The sentence is meaningless to him in a sense, he is currently on a whole life tariff for the murders he committed, but I don't think it is meaningless in terms of society.

I agree with Galaxy. Although it won't make any difference to him, it is right that he is prosecuted just the same. Or maybe we go the American way and sentence him to a second whole life tariff. I believe they can impose multiple consecutive whole life tariffs.

Bazza

I read that Hunter’s killer is already in for life and would never have been released, so just wondering what his punishment will be.

Probably never but who knows if he might have received parole if laws changed in the future.

I he receives a consecutive life sentence for this unrelated crime then that should mean he will never be released.

You can never tell, with Parole.

Allira

Bazza

I read that Hunter’s killer is already in for life and would never have been released, so just wondering what his punishment will be.

Probably never but who knows if he might have received parole if laws changed in the future.

I he receives a consecutive life sentence for this unrelated crime then that should mean he will never be released.

Maybe that's why there is a lack of trust in our Justice system when violent criminals are sometimes released early?
Maybe even inmates are aware that that could happen so take matters into their own hands? Though I don't think so in the Huntley case.

Of course he must be charged and will be convicted. It’s a real issue in our max security prisons, the safe management of men who have nothing to lose, like Huntley’s killer