General News Discussion

[eFestivals]

Its shocking how police can name a suspect without even charging him, I dont agree with people being named unless found guilty.

If they release this guy without charging him how will he be perceived by the general public?

Yup. If they're so certain they've got the right guy - and they've as good as said they have - then it's a bit weird that they're not finding the kid.

Also, the car in the first appeal for witnesses was "light coloured", and his is dark blue.

And from the sounds of things the old bill sound like they know this guy has an 'unhealthy' interest in kids, but from other things that are being reported it sounds like he's not someone with a conviction for anything like that.

I'm wondering if he's been arrested on the same basis as the landlord was for that Bristol murder a year or two back - that one or more people have decided he's a bit weird, and so he must be guilty.

[Spindles]

In this case the police didn't name him, he was "named locally" according to the BBC, which means that reporters were told by people on the street/neighbours who knew it was him who was arrested. I agree 100% that this is wrong and once again point to the Jo Yates case for an example of why naming suspects or making accusations of previous behaviour outside of direct police charges or, more importantly, a courtroom conviction, is both dangerous and wrong.

Our media has become a pantomime in the world of 24 hour news, in the lack of any new information for a clamouring public they resort to speculation, which then becomes embedded in the public mind as fact, right up until (and sometimes beyond) the moment it is proven otherwise.

I hope that this is something that Leveson will highlight and seek to control.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Yup. If they're so certain they've got the right guy - and they've as good as said they have - then it's a bit weird that they're not finding the kid.

Also, the car in the first appeal for witnesses was "light coloured", and his is dark blue.

And from the sounds of things the old bill sound like they know this guy has an 'unhealthy' interest in kids, but from other things that are being reported it sounds like he's not someone with a conviction for anything like that.

I'm wondering if he's been arrested on the same basis as the landlord was for that Bristol murder a year or two back - that one or more people have decided he's a bit weird, and so he must be guilty.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

In this case the police didn't name him, he was "named locally" according to the BBC, which means that reporters were told by people on the street/neighbours who knew it was him who was arrested. I agree 100% that this is wrong and once again point to the Jo Yates case for an example of why naming suspects or making accusations of previous behaviour outside of direct police charges or, more importantly, a courtroom conviction, is both dangerous and wrong.

Our media has become a pantomime in the world of 24 hour news, in the lack of any new information for a clamouring public they resort to speculation, which then becomes embedded in the public mind as fact, right up until (and sometimes beyond) the moment it is proven otherwise.

I hope that this is something that Leveson will highlight and seek to control.

[eFestivals]

I dont think it is that weird. Unless they have forensic evidence in the car he may think that no kid no case, or a living kid can tell them more about a dead kid (if guilty).

possible, but it's more unusual than usual for a perpetrator to keep it zipped in a case like this once they've been arrested.

As for any evidence from the car, the guy has been said by at least one newspaper to be "a family friend", and on TV last night or this morning I heard a report that his kid and the missing girl play regularly together - which gets to mean that there might be a perfectly reasonable explanation for why her DNA might be found in his car.

Roll out the statutory person saying "he is a bit of a loner".

yeah, i've seen comments like that.

Having occasionally lived in small towns and villages, I know how the small town mindset often works - and being fair and reasonable doesn't get to apply all the time. If you won't deliberately mix with the locals then there's a decent chance of being labelled the local weirdo.

[Paul ™]

Detectives have confirmed April has cerebral palsy and would be in pain without her daily medication.

[Sawdusty surfer]

Documentary about Jimmy Savile and underage girls showing on Wednesday:

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-19776872

[eFestivals]

The caption read: Now, then. Now, then. Now, then.

PMSL

[Rufus Gwertigan]

The BBC News channel just displayed images of the three women who claimed that Jimmy Savile interfered with them sexually. They showed a current picture of each of the women and a picture taken of each of them from the 1970's.

The caption read: Now, then. Now, then. Now, then.

[the_hedge]

[Ed209]

It's going to be the mother of police cockups if it's not him.

They obviously think its definitely him. They said today they're not looking for anyone else. They've released name and picture to help the investigation. They've effectively thrown all their eggs into this basket.

If it is him then you have to think the chances of finding her alive are very very slim. If its not him then the investigation is screwed

[eFestivals]

It's going to be the mother of police cockups if it's not him.

They obviously think its definitely him. They said today they're not looking for anyone else. They've released name and picture to help the investigation. They've effectively thrown all their eggs into this basket.

If it is him then you have to think the chances of finding her alive are very very slim. If its not him then the investigation is screwed

It's defo going to be the mother of police cockups if it's not him. That's what worries me.

It wouldn't be the first time that the old bill have fucked up an investigation by going with their prejudices rather than any facts, but thankfully such cases are far fewer than they were in the past.

[5co77ie]

I'm guessing that he's admitted he picked her up, but then the police don't believe whatever he has said happened next - hence an appeal for his movements to be corroborated.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

It's defo going to be the mother of police cockups if it's not him. That's what worries me.

It wouldn't be the first time that the old bill have fucked up an investigation by going with their prejudices rather than any facts, but thankfully such cases are far fewer than they were in the past.

[Ed209]

I'm guessing that he's admitted he picked her up, but then the police don't believe whatever he has said happened next - hence an appeal for his movements to be corroborated.

[TalkShow Bob]

I'm guessing that he's admitted he picked her up, but then the police don't believe whatever he has said happened next - hence an appeal for his movements to be corroborated.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Surly they could charged him based on the fact he picked her up? How much evidence do you need to charge?

[Ed209]

Surly they could charged him based on the fact he picked her up? How much evidence do you need to charge?

Edited October 4, 2012 by Ed209

[Spindles]

The police named him yesterday officially and released a picture of him, and his car.

[Paul ™]

Suspicion of murder, but lets not get that small matter get in the way to what this c**t deserves if he has murdered her!

Makes me sick

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Twist this anyway you want... My comments where more to do with the fact that the police now officially believe she is dead... Which is an awful development...

Her family must be devastated

[Ed209]

The fact they've told all non professional searchers to go home indicates that they now know, at least roughly, where they need to be looking.

Only a matter of time now unfortunately

[The Nal]

Kay Burley at it again. Tells Aprils Godmother that they don't expect to find her alive. Live on air.

Fucks sake Kate!!

[Chiefski]

Just seen the Kay Burley clip after seeing the uproar on twitter, how she is still in a job I dont know.

[The Nal]

I mean fucks sake!