Would you help cover up a crime allegedly committed by a family member?

[Lolaandbehold]

I’m watching a Swedish drama on Netflix at the moment. A daughter has been accused of murder and her mother has (unbeknownst to her) disposed of some evidence (clothes and knife).

I went down a rabbit hole of thoughts on the matter.

i have no known family members who have ever had any dealings with the law so this is very much a hypothetical musing. (Do watch my fair share of crime dramas however). It got me thinking, If it were one of my offspring, I don’t think I would think twice about helping to cover it up/disposing of evidence. Even if it meant that down the line I got charged with perverting the course of justice. Although I suppose it depends on what the crime was and against whom it was perpetrated.

I’m wondering if I’m in the minority here, so I’m curious on what others would do…

If my daughter had killed someone in self defence I would have no qualms on helping her / taking the fall.

If she murdered someone in cold blood and purposefully then no, she should face the consequences.

I think it would depend very much on the crime.

Too hyperthetical for me. Difficult to know how you'd react on such circumstances.

Totally depends what the crime was and why.

My ex husband thought it would be funny once to phone his friend and play a prank on him telling him that he had killed me accidentally during a row. The friend was shook up but was ready to come over and help him. I was absolutely chilled, more so because my ex husband was abusive and accidentally killing me wasn’t a huge leap!

I don’t think I could cover anything up. Not because I’m super moral or anything, I’d just be very scared of lying to the police.

I would assume the police would get to the truth eventually so no point lying. (I realise the police don’t solve all crimes but given DNA and CCTV etc I assume it is harder to get away with murder these days).

No I wouldn’t. Not for anything serious like a murder. Unless it was in self defence and they were about to be attacked and/or their lives were in danger. If it was down to anything other than that I would have to report it. I would really hope that they could forgive me and I would continue to love and support them and be there when they get out of prison and visit regularly but no, I wouldn’t cover it up.

Plus my perimeno brain fog would make it difficult for me to lie because the next time they interviewed me, I wouldn’t be able to remember what I’d said the time before 😂

Depends

Did weed? Download pirated movies? Yes
Stole life savings off an elderly? Pedophilia? Sexually abused someone? No

Nope. If you do the crime, then you do the time.

I'd still love my child but I couldn't pervert the course of justice if they'd murdered someone.

Think about the mother of the victim!

If dd murdered her abusive husband or something then yes I would cover it up, or even take the blame tbh.

If she did a hit and run or stabbed someone after a night out because she was drunk etc then I wouldn't, but I would stand by her through the trial and visit her.

What a sick prank. Glad he's an ex

Sadly I was the one to ring the police. Haven't seen dc since their trial over a decade ago... Until you are in the position honestly you have no idea how you would deal with it....
Sincerely hope you never do..
😰

So sorry that happened to you @Saddm. 💐

I received a lot of support on here. It meant the world to me as I was unable to discuss it irl. In fact I was spoken to by the police for telling a neighbour! Was nuts.

That’s awful @Saddm. I am sorry you have had to experience this.

What do you mean you were spoken to by the police for telling the neighbors?

Thank you.. Much appreciated..

I probably would cover up but would depend very much on the crime

God that is chilling

I’m so glad you got rid

No, I would set a deadline like 'you have a week if you dont go to the police I will' I presume having knowledge of a crime and dping nothing is a crime in itself

Erm no. I’d do anything for my kids but if they crossed the line into murder/unprovoked assault/ rape/sexual abuse/domestic violence/hard drug dealing then I’d turn them in myself. Covering it up for them, won’t help them in the long run.

Although in the scenarios in the TV series Your Honour where the judge’s son accidentally ran over a motorcyclist who turned out to be a drug cartel boss’s son, and in Coma where the guy punched a teenage lout from a criminal family who was terrorising him and put him in a coma, blur the lines somewhat.

No I would not.

I remember my mom and I watching Deirdre cover for her daughter Tracey Barlowe in Corrie (Tracey had murdered her husband). I said it was unrealistic and my mom said of course she would cover for me.

Now I have my own daughter I know what she means. I would cover for her in all cases unless she was guilty of sadism/wanton cruelty, in which case I would believe she was ill and would seek to get her help while ensuring she could not harm more people.

Frequently people on Mumsnet seem to trust the police and the criminal justice system a lot, and to be happy to hand their loved ones over to it. I don't and I wouldn't.

Yes, this is how I feel too. Of course it’s very much a hypothetical situation but I think I’d pretty much do anything for my offspring. Trying to think of situations where I might not; the only one I can think of is a serious crime against a child, where I would strongly encourage them to hand themselves in. I wouldn’t even like to think of something like that happening 🤯