This could be of benefit to some who are going through hell...

[lawlessone2009]

It could also be a very very very negative thought inspiring article.

Take from it what you may. What happened to the lady involved is sad regardless of what the eventual outcome in the criminal matter was, nobody should take their life for justice or injustice.

http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13339/

I am sharing it not to take a moral high ground or show that this is some kind of 'result'. I am sharing it so that others can read it and take from it what they will. If you are guilty to a degree then please please consider your accuser when you are fighting your corner. If you are innocent then please also consider your corner when fighting to prove your innocence. Lives go on regardless of what the legal profession piles onto them.

Taking ones life is something that every single person accused of a sexual crime at least considers, I've dwelled in and out of it ever since my false accusation and I believe it to be completely normal. How's about considering the other side of the coin for a moment? Someone that believes enough that they were wronged and fight to right the injustice they feel they have suffered?

I know that there are a lot of cunning liars out there as well as twisted minds seeking revenge. I could be held all day to debate almost every angle conceivable with regards to sexual offences or motoring offences for that matter... The piece that is simply difficult to grasp here is that someone has taken their life. It's not a laughing matter, it's not a justice, it's not a result. it's not anything other than the needless loss of a fellow human being.

She could have been lying or she could have been 100% accurate, she's now dead.

If anyone on here is feeling suicidal then share it with us all. Take your time to understand that it is normal. Bridges, motorways, drugs, knives, ropes, potentially even guns are NOT the answer. You can go to hell and back but your life is not over until you are dead! I've said it before, I've been in the position of believing the absolute worst and I've been beyond near to actually doing it BUT suicide is not the answer!

Whether you be a victim or perpetrator or falsely accused person it makes no difference. You are ALIVE. The state do not kill people! You cannot be sentenced to death! You can spend a few years in jail at worst and then live a ruined life or a happy life or whatever life you are physically and mentally able to live but you are ALIVE. Equally, if you've been a victim of sexual abuse or rape do not give your life to the person that's stolen whatever it is you believe you have lost. I lack the knowledge of 'victim' so please excuse my ignorance.

STAY ALIVE FOLKS.

Fight whatever battle it is you need to fight and if you loose then you loose. Pick up whatever is left and carry on living.

Seek help. Seek assurance. Do whatever you need to do but do not commit suicide. If the first person doesn't listen to you then go to the second. If you need to scream in the street DO IT!

That is the lesson I want everyone to take away from that article. I am posting it for that very reason.

[Saffron]

I read about this poor lady and I felt that the support system which should have been in place for her was woefully lacking.
She didn't have anyone from the CPS or victim support to help her through the process. She should have had an officer and someone from VS to explain everything to her.
She met the CPS barrister for a mere 10 minutes before she was due to give evidence. She essentially went into the witness box blind.
She hadn't even reported the alleged historical assaults to the police. She had confided in a friend who had then reported to Plod.


This is in stark contrast to the treatment our FA had and leaves me utterly bemused. It really is a lottery out there.

[Izzy]

There was an interesting article in the Telegraph last week about this, putting blame on the police and CPS for the target culture.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...s-Andrade.html

[whatsgoingon?]

Good article, Izzy, thanks for posting.
I really can't see the point of enticing someone to revisit painful experiences in the distant past, or why there's an obsession with it. What's wrong with moving on and helping people to do just that? It's clearly very dangerous for people to do so especially if they're unsupported. I'm not sure what 'justice' has to offer genuine victims years after the event. If there's strong evidence against the accused and he could still re-offend, then yes there's a need to know so that he can be prevented from doing it again.
I'm getting more and more sceptical about the' justice only and at any cost' treatment of sex-crimes, it doesn't address the problems of prevention or cure.
Let's also not forget that last year at least 2 young men who were falsley accused comitted suicide (one whose Mother is a member of this site), one was beaten to death in a horrifically gruesome planned attack and several others beaten up by 'do-gooders' with lynch-mob attitude. The national media barely gave any if those any space.