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I know that this forum is for survivors of and those falsely accused of rape, but I wanted to mention Sally Clark's recent death.
As a mother falsely accused of murdering her own children, Sally Clark endured an unimaginable trauma. She was a victim of one of the most outrageous travesties of justice known in our society, tried and convicted in a kangaroo court that was bent on winning a conviction. Every innocent, lighthearted comment made by her and her husband was picked over and used by the prosecution as "evidence" that she was a dangerously depressed mother. The prosecution bent and distorted every shred of evidence possible in order to secure a conviction, at some times even contradicting their own alleged "experts".
Contrary to popular belief, Sally never claimed that her babies died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). All she knew was that her darling, much-loved babies were dead, and that she had not killed them. She could have pleaded guilty under the grounds of diminished responsibility (post natal depression) and been given a lighter, possibly even non-custodial sentence, but she stood proudly and firmly, knowing that she had not killed Christopher and Harry.
Sally Clark was convicted of the murder of her two sons, not by medical evidence of violence or murder, (of which there was none) but by a jury who were swayed by the words of an immensely powerful and charismatic expert witness. This so-called expert witness has since been very publicly discredited, and this had led to over 200 convicted women having their cases reviewed.
Sally and Steve Clark have never sought or courted publicity. They have never sold their story to a newspaper, or consulted with scriptwriters to dramatise the tale of their horrors. They have behaved with impeccable dignity throughout their ordeal. That Sally's third son is now motherless is nothing short of a tragedy.
Sally and Steve Clark have endured the unendurable, and they have done so with pride, dignity and grace. That justice eventually prevailed is neither here nor there. This should never have happened. A husband has lost his wife, a father has lost his daughter, and a little boy has lost his mother.
Rest In Peace, Sally Clark.
As a mother falsely accused of murdering her own children, Sally Clark endured an unimaginable trauma. She was a victim of one of the most outrageous travesties of justice known in our society, tried and convicted in a kangaroo court that was bent on winning a conviction. Every innocent, lighthearted comment made by her and her husband was picked over and used by the prosecution as "evidence" that she was a dangerously depressed mother. The prosecution bent and distorted every shred of evidence possible in order to secure a conviction, at some times even contradicting their own alleged "experts".
Contrary to popular belief, Sally never claimed that her babies died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). All she knew was that her darling, much-loved babies were dead, and that she had not killed them. She could have pleaded guilty under the grounds of diminished responsibility (post natal depression) and been given a lighter, possibly even non-custodial sentence, but she stood proudly and firmly, knowing that she had not killed Christopher and Harry.
Sally Clark was convicted of the murder of her two sons, not by medical evidence of violence or murder, (of which there was none) but by a jury who were swayed by the words of an immensely powerful and charismatic expert witness. This so-called expert witness has since been very publicly discredited, and this had led to over 200 convicted women having their cases reviewed.
Sally and Steve Clark have never sought or courted publicity. They have never sold their story to a newspaper, or consulted with scriptwriters to dramatise the tale of their horrors. They have behaved with impeccable dignity throughout their ordeal. That Sally's third son is now motherless is nothing short of a tragedy.
Sally and Steve Clark have endured the unendurable, and they have done so with pride, dignity and grace. That justice eventually prevailed is neither here nor there. This should never have happened. A husband has lost his wife, a father has lost his daughter, and a little boy has lost his mother.
Rest In Peace, Sally Clark.
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