Mu first lecture on False Allegations

[Rights Fighter]

I did my first talk on False Allegations to South Wales Against Wrongful Conviction last Tuesday. Many present were families and supporters of guys already serving sentences but some were Innocence Project Students. They didn't half get a shock when I rammed it home that it is the tax payer who funds:

The police investigation
Magistrates court appearance
Crown court appearance

Social Services input
Probation
Cost of an innocent inmate in prison
Attempts to appeal via CA and/or CCRC
And other stuff I have not mentioned here....

And to top it all the liar gets paid out thousands - all courtesy of the tax payer. As tax payers of the future the students were astonished.

I was told my talk was 'absolutely stunning' and when I said 'it's my first one' I got a big round of applause. Also got the usual queue of people needing advice on appealing convictions........ one mum burst into tears when I gave her a hug - her son got 15 years. She wasn't expecting a hug from a complete stranger.

Now I am playing catch-up.

[Saffron]

WOW! That's brilliant RF!
I am so proud of you! (not that I have had anything to do with your success and dedication to this field, but rather because you are getting the recognition you deserve).
Please please let me know if you are ever doing something similar near me.
HUGE congratulations xxx

[Rights Fighter]

Thanks Saffron.

It's not recognition I am after but spreading the word about how it affects everybody, not just the accused and families but people they will never ever meet - ergo the tax payer.

I've been asked to speak at a FACT conference - a high honour indeed!! I doubt I will get so long to speak so I shall have to tailor my 'talk' to suit.

[Saffron]

That's great RF.
Incidentally, I didn't mean that I thought you were after "recognition" as such, just that, as someone who is highly knowledgeable and experienced in your field, it's great that your expertise and dedication is being acknowledged by others. AND that you can raise awareness of the gross injustices that so many of us have suffered.

[friday]

Congratulations on your first talk going so well. I bet that woman went home feeling like people really do care and that her and her son are so much more than a number. You probably gave her hope and strength. Truly amazing stuff.

[whatsgoingon?]

Brilliant - just what's needed. Well done - hope your intervention at the the FACT conference goes just as well. (15 years )

[Mortons]

Congratulations on the talk. As for the shock about the cost. Well it looks like the government want to privatise the lot (surely not the police) to cut on the legal aid bill. Surely it will be a false economy.

Ultimately the cost shouldn't be the issue here but
1 the guilty should be sentenced
2 the falsely accused/innocent acquitted
3 the false accuser sentenced

We're doing 1 & 2, but rarely 3.

[Rights Fighter]

The falsely accused and innocent are often convicted.

One such case - an appeal I was involved with, forensic tests were not undertaken prior to trial, nobody bothered to find out why but defence counsel pondered whether it was 'because they are expensive'.

Sending an innocent man to prison for 6+ years (9 year sentence) would cost the tax payer far more than the tests ever would have done.

False economy. When will they ever learn........

[Dave]

A big for RF.

Obviously you will go far, and spread the word on the way.

Thank You