The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #154925   Message #3639791
Posted By: Howard Jones
07-Jul-14 - 10:56 AM
Thread Name: BS: Mudcat Censorship in Rolf Harris thread
Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Censorship in Rolf Harris thread
Lizzie, you are criticising people for relying on what they have read and heard in the media, but you are in exactly the same position. You were not in court, you did not hear in detail the evidence which was presented or the arguments made to rebut it. To say that no evidence was presented is nonsense - there were days of evidence. To describe the evidence as 'hearsay' is likewise nonsense and simply shows that you do not understand what the term means. If much of it was uncorroborated then that is the nature of sexual offences, and why it is often so hard to obtain a conviction.

Some of the evidence may show discrepancies, and some of it may not be believed, but even so that does not mean that other evidence is not sound. You were not in the jury room and cannot know what evidence the jury accepted and what they rejected. They were there, and they were satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that there was sufficient evidence to convict. They spent enough time on this to suggest they considered the evidence thoroughly. We should accept their decision.

Like many people, Rolf Harris has been a popular entertainer since I was a child and forms part of the background to my life. I wouldn't call myself a fan but I've enjoyed much of his work. This has come as a shock, and it is sad to think this elderly man must now spend his final years in jail and may even die there. However it is even sadder to think what his victims have gone through.

Miscarriages of justice do happen. If real evidence can be found to show a miscarriage of justice has been done then I will be among the first to welcome it. However at the moment there seems to be nothing to suggest that, and even if some of the evidence could be discredited it is difficult to believe that it was all a conspiracy. Your belief in him is, I fear, nothing more than wishful thinking.