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WTF? Ross England –man helps rapist, gets selected party candidate

16 replies

PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 11:02

Man deliberately says something inadmissible to cause rape trial against his friend to collapse. Friend convicted in second trial.

Quickly followed by: man selected to stand as candidate for Welsh Assembly.

Conservative assembly candidate Ross England 'sabotaged' rape trial
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50225606

What the actual?

OP posts:
PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 11:06

From that link:

The judge in the case, Stephen John Hopkins QC, had earlier made clear that evidence of the sexual history of the victim was inadmissible.

He went on to say to Mr England: "Why did you say that? Are you completely stupid?"

Mr England said that he thought the question was about his relationship with the woman. Replying, His Honour Judge Hopkins said it was not: "It was quite clear what the question was".

The judge then said: "You have managed singlehanded, and I have no doubt it was deliberate on your part, to sabotage this trial".

Speaking to BBC Wales, the woman who was raped said: "It is completely shocking to me that Ross England would stand up in court and say these things given that they are untrue".

"He was asked if we worked together, and the answer to that is yes.

"Nobody asked him if we were in a sexual relationship or not. For him to just blurt that out proves to me that it was a formulated plan that he and whoever else conjured to try and derail the trial.

"I think it was an absolutely deliberate attempt to sabotage the trial."

During the proceedings, His Honour Judge Hopkins went on to say to Mr England: "I shall be writing personal letters to people who are politically close to you and I hope they take appropriate action".

His final comment to Mr England was: "Get out of my court".

OP posts:
Fraggling · 02/11/2019 11:06

Fucking hell that's appalling.

PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 12:02

England's claim would have been inadmissible even if true, but it looks like it was a lie.

Surely he must be in danger of a perjury charge? Difficult to prove to a jury, though, perhaps.

OP posts:
unfathomablefathoms · 02/11/2019 12:05

This doesn't surprise me. Rape victims don't matter and we are all basically lying fantasists anyway so I am sure plenty of people will support his actions on that basis.

sarahjconnor · 02/11/2019 12:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 14:11

This is way beyond someone failing to vigorously pursue a prosecution, or giving someone the benefit of the extremely unlikely doubt, though.

This is someone deliberately causing the rapist James Hackett's trial to fail.

And the Tories have endorsed Ross England by selecting him as their candidate.

OP posts:
PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 14:18

The Tories have now, some days after it was actually raised in Parliament, suspended him.

But are claiming they knew nothing – despite the judge actually writing to the party to make sure they knew.

'Improbable' Tories did not know of rape trial collapse
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50266939

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 02/11/2019 14:23

I heard about this on Twitter. Shame on anyone who selects or votes for him. He should be prosecuted.

MrsMaiselsMuff · 02/11/2019 14:29

Standard form for a Tory. He'll be unsuspended when the media move on to another story.

On a completely irrelevant note, I did work experience with Judge Hopkins. I always appreciated his turn of phrase!

pikapikachu · 02/11/2019 15:24

twitter.com/jostevenslabour/status/1189535966240923648?s=21

BJ's reply to whether he's sacked

PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 20:17

Standard form for a Tory.

Surely that's not actually true? In 2019? Surely that's not genuinely something Tory voters are OK with in their candidates?

Mind you, plenty of very noisy Tories on MN, but this thread... tumbleweed And I couldn't find any other thread.

This has been a major news item on the BBC for days now.

WTF WTF?Confused

OP posts:
PerkingFaintly · 02/11/2019 20:23

Looks like he's consistent. Not exactly up for respecting the needs and right of others, is he?

twitter.com/rossengland/status/1074455451754999808
@RossEngland
More
This is appalling from the Welsh Government. The role of schools in Wales is not to indoctrinate the young into a cosmopolitan liberal worldview. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46557076

"Our curriculum will aim to develop all our children as ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world, ensuring they respect the needs and rights of others, as members of a diverse society.

4:05 pm - 16 Dec 2018

OP posts:
ForalltheSaints · 02/11/2019 21:38

Perhaps someone reading this who works at ITV could ensure that Mr Johnson is asked about this on November 19th?

PerkingFaintly · 04/11/2019 09:57

Well MN doesn't seem to care about it, so what are the chances ITV will?Hmm

OP posts:
PerkingFaintly · 06/11/2019 13:38

Cairns has finally quit:
Alun Cairns resigns in Ross England rape trial 'sabotage' row
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50302173

So more than a week after Boris Johnson was asked about this in Parliament, Cairns has resigned from Welsh Secretary in Johnson's cabinet.

Cairns appointed England, and it looks like he knew about the trial at time of appointment, and misled about his knowledge this week.

Ross England row: Rape victim wants Alun Cairns to quit
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50302172
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns denied knowing about this, but BBC Wales has seen an email sent to him in August 2018 mentioning the matter. Mr England was picked as the assembly election candidate in December 2018.
[...]
The email on 2 August 2018 was sent to Mr Cairns by Geraint Evans, his special adviser. It was also copied to Richard Minshull - the director of the Welsh Conservatives - and another member of staff.
It said: "I have spoken to Ross and he is confident no action will be taken by the court."

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 06/11/2019 15:03

It's another appalling thing in a string of appalling things. I worry that people will just get used to this shit and still vote Tory.

Did you see Kay Burley?

metro.co.uk/2019/11/06/kay-burley-interviews-empty-chair-tory-chairman-fails-turn-interview-11049498/

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