Southport killer in court tomorrow

[bossybloss]

Just been announced he is to appear in court tomorrow.

Highly likely serious mental health issues.

This. Plus it might be done by video link, given the seriousness of the case and the way it's been hijacked by racist thugs with all the violence against the police.

The potential for further disorder and injuries to police officers trying to keep the peace must be huge if he appears in person at the court.

No, this will be just the formalities of taking the case forward. Whether he is fit to stand trial would be part of the actual trial, which won't be for months.

Nobody is going to find out why today. He will confirm his name and plea and be escorted out until a court date way into the future.

I just hope the EDL aren't there to do their thing.

Exactly.

That would be for a court to decide.

Nothing will be revealed today.

I would like to know why. Nothing can change what’s happened but maybe we can prevent it happening again in the future. I’m worried about potential racial hatred and further anti-muslim backlash.
Ultimately I want to know the motivation behind it, and then tbh. I would like him to suffer a slow and painful death.

Obviously we all want to know why. I don't understand other posters trying to gatekeep this thread. OP can open any threads she likes and those who don't see the point of it can keep moving past.

At the same time it's vital that justice be served and that means a fair trial, which means no speculation or anything that could prevent this monster getting a proper day in court and his victims getting justice.

We all saw in Southport the other night what mob 'justice' can look like and I am thankful that we have a proper justice system, I now want that justice system to do its job, transparently and without fear or favour, until then our focus should be on the victims.

Its very likely

Quite.

This.

I'm sure I'm mis-reading OP's motivation for starting this post in the way that she has, but the style of title and posts is similar to a 'call to action'.

Which is the very last thing the families want.

The whole country wants a fair trial without disturbance, violence, politicising, distress for those most closely affected by this tragedy.

I do not see that but your post sounds like a call to silence? No one as far as I know have mentioned support for the riots anywhere. However, noticed that a large amount of posters are very protective of people wanting to know what happened?

Here is a link to the latest news:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj50ljn44j8o

As others have said, today will only confirm who he is and enter a plea...I don't think the trial will be till next year

He won’t even be asked to enter a plea at this stage. This will be the sole hearing at the magistrates’ court to send the case to crown court. He will be asked to confirm his identity, remanded into custody and a date will be set for a “plea and trial preparation” hearing at the crown court, at which future stage he will be asked to enter a plea.

It might not be in person as pp said

No idea either way though

The lack of general knowledge about the UK legal system never fails to amaze me.

He's been charged by Police and remanded by them.

He will be going to the magistrates court today for the charges to be heard. He can enter a plea now if he wants but it doesn't matter.

A magistrates court cannot deal with a murder charge, so there will be a 5-10 minute hearing where they hear the charge, pass it over to the Crown Court and decide to probably remand him again as he's a danger to the public and also likely to be killed himself if released.

He will be back in the Crown Court at some point in the next month for his plea hearing, where the Crown Court will then hear his plea, decide if he's fit to stand trial etc.

Yes this. I'd like to know what motivated him too, but doubt there'll be any information today.

"The lack of general knowledge about the UK legal system never fails to amaze me."

Entirely my point. They get it all from the tv, ridiculous.

"Thevelvelletes
I would imagine, remanded in custody and trial date set.that will be it for the time being.

Yes this. I'd like to know what motivated him too, but doubt there'll be any information today."

Nope. Not "this"

I can guarantee it’s not a call to action. Please don’t insult me by insinuating this. I was online last night as the news came through…. Just that really. If people think I was misguided in posting, well that’s their opinion. Please be kind and do not inflame things further.

👍

At least by this thread existing those of us who do know how the criminal justice system works have the opportunity to explain to others.

Fitness to plead considers whether the defendant is able to represent his own interests (instruct a defence solicitor, understand the evidence etc) at the point of trial, not at the time the offence was committed.

If there is any doubt about this down the line, a judge will rule (in closed court) on the defendant’s fitness to plead. If found unfit to plead, the defendant can be detained on a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, which essentially means there is no reasonable doubt that they committed the offence they’re charged with, so need to be in some sort of custody for public protection, but because they’re too mentally unwell to understand and follow the trial process that needs to be a secure hospital unit rather than a prison.

If the defendant is found fit to plead, they could attempt to run what is colloquially known as an insanity defence at trial (i.e. they were out of their mind at the time they committed the offence so should be found not guilty because they lacked the necessary mens rea), but TBH these are rarely successful.