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AIBU?

To not understand how jimmy saville issue can be resolved?

55 replies

JeuxDEnfants · 04/10/2012 20:45

Maybe I'm missing something here. I completely agree that the allegations against him are hideous if true. Question I'm finding difficult is how will the justice system decide if they are true or not, seeing as he is deceased?

Can you be tried on a court of law if you are deceased? Or will it forever be speculation? Can anyone ever prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is guilty without him being here to answer the allegations?

I really do not want to offend anyone, I am just truely interested in the legalities of this scenario.

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Pippa6774 · 05/10/2012 15:29

The thing is its all very well to criticise the likes of Esther Rantzen or janet street porter for not acting. But really i would want to have something MUCH more concrete than hearsay and rumours to raise the matter formally. There is another thread about a 'creepy' 19 yo TA and it is easy to see how rumours and witch hunts start.At the time , I can see why they were reluctant I think JSP and ER have been treated quite harshly by the press.

Brycie · 05/10/2012 15:15

Uppermid, I'm sure it still goes on. Some men are just disgusting. Even if not with under-age girls, the whole pressure to have sex ..if you want to be in my show.. thing.

Brycie · 05/10/2012 15:14

I think the point of pursuing these allegations is firstly for the sake of the women. Secondly, it still goes on with other men, and they need to be sent the clear message that it's considered utterly bastardy low and criminal behaviour.

mrsminerva · 05/10/2012 15:12

Freddie Starr had a gagging injunction overturned by ITV News on Wednesday, just sayin.....

Acepuppets · 05/10/2012 13:23

I think that the only resolution would be removal of his knighthood, which would demonstrate to the alleged victims that they have been taken seriously and therefore enabling closure.

Uppermid · 05/10/2012 10:57

There are others that I've heard rumours about. I would hope that the so called stars of today wouldn't be able to do it now, that we have more of a i believe you culture, but I think that's very naive of me. There are some people in power who will always abuse it.

I hope this gives anyone who is being abused the strength to talk now and get it to stop

worldgonecrazy · 05/10/2012 10:49

I don't think it's fair to put the blame entirely on the BBC. The BBC employees were not the only people working for large media organisations who knew about this - many journalists for both the tabloids and broadsheets also knew, as did various people who worked/had worked for him.

If we look at Michael Jackson, he was certainly guilty of inappropraite behaviour around children, yet all he had to do was die and now he is some sort of musical god again.

Our society has a very fucked-up attitude to people who damage children.

NolaFfing · 05/10/2012 10:45

It's about breaking through the wall of silence.

Justice cannot be done for those who were subject to abuse by this vile man, but maybe, just maybe others who were similarly abused as children in the 70's and 80's will feel more able to come forward and their abusers will be held to book.

It's about letting people know that they will be believed and that even historic allegations will be believed.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/10/2012 10:35

Dappy

I agree, whilst it may not be possible to prove these allegations in a court of law after his death, the fact that he has left such a huge trail of damage behind him should cause a lot of people to question why people turned a blind eye for so long.
The Telegraph are reporting that the number of possible victims is now over 40 including one man (I wonder if there are more male victims who might now come forward too?)
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9588692/The-Metropolitan-Police-forced-to-investigate-Sir-Jimmy-Savile-as-dozens-more-abuse-allegations-are-made.html

DappyHays · 05/10/2012 10:03

It is a classic he said/she said. However it is a he said/she she she she she she she she she she.... said.

The number of people coming forward says a lot.

Pippa6774 · 05/10/2012 09:51

Frontpaw apparently he had a long term partner of 43 years

elizaregina · 05/10/2012 09:48

i think the most important thing that will come out of this - is that people have now spoken out.

hopeully anyone going through this will have the courage to speak out now or in the future.

its also important to aknowlegdge that there has been some sort of cover up and collusion.

Frontpaw · 05/10/2012 09:39

So many people in the industry and media must have known about it or had heard the rumours. I can't believe noone drew it to the attention of his bosses. I always found him creepy.

He must have known that sex with a 14 year old starstruck girl was wrong - or why wasn't he seen dating very young-looking women (as they often do)? He wasn't ever seen dating though, was he?

overthemill · 05/10/2012 09:35

but people did speak up and nothing was done about it. i know someone who was 'touched up' by him as a teen and didn't report it but others did and the bbc or whoever didn't follow stuff up (or so i understand). he had the reputation while alive and something should have been done about t - he was in a powerful position and abused it.

Now he is dead shouldn't the truth be told so those who were abused by him can feel certain that they did nothing wrong and maybe it will help people in the future know that no matter who it is, it isn't allowed.

Viviennemary · 05/10/2012 09:26

I think perhaps the way to go might be if they prosecuted the organisations he worked for. After all if this 'misconduct' took place on their premises and by their employee surely they would have some liiability. Not sure what the legal position is though.

Pippa6774 · 05/10/2012 09:21

No you can't be tried in a court of law if you are dead, but i think there could be a public inquiry perhaps?
Very very difficult because on the one hand i can see why victims wouldn't come forward in his life time, but on the other hand it is unfair to make accusations against someone who can't defend themselves.

DeckSwabber · 05/10/2012 09:11

The point of all this is two fold -

closure for the victims

Recognition that the abuse could have been stopped, and there is abuse going on now that could be stopped.

Covering up, colluding, 'turning a blind eye' is unacceptable. Hopefully anyone who is reading this news story who knows of abuse going on in their workplace, or in their community, and is doing nothing because they are scared or think they won't be believed will be encouraged to speak up. Hopefully more organisations will log complaints properly and not attempt to sweep evidence under the carpet.

Hopefully more of todays children won't have to wait until they are fifty to speak out.

Salbertina · 05/10/2012 08:59

Validation for his actual victims and possibly also for other victims - of different perpetrators - who were likewise disbelieved and have suffered lifelong as a result.
Very very worth it, I'd say!

CogitoErgoSometimes · 05/10/2012 08:49

YANBU and it can't be resolved. It's not like the priest scandal where the catholic church could accept responsibility. It's not even like the slave trade where a PM can stand up and say sorry. It's just a talking shop, a trashed reputation and publicity for a TV programme. No resolution at all.

Pandemoniaa · 05/10/2012 01:10

Times were different then. The press didn't get hold of these stories

Janet Street-Porter said some very revealing things about Savile on Question Time tonight. Amongst them was his method of dealing with the press who were warned that he would withhold money he'd raised for charity if they carried any allegations about his behaviour. Since the amount he raised was considerable and, of course, back in those days victims were rarely believed, this was enough to keep things out of the papers.

flow4 · 05/10/2012 00:27

The BBC will have had a duty of care to the children who came to their studios, and if some of those children were abused, then the BBC was (at the very least) negligent. If it can now be proved, someone will be held accountable.

Empusa · 05/10/2012 00:23

I don't know if the Savile thing can be resolved, but maybe his accomplices can be made to face justice. And the victims can find some form of closure. I'd say that would be a good result, even if not the best result.

needanswers · 05/10/2012 00:21

santa, the system is still failing victims to this day, people dont want to believe if their is a personal cost to themselves and their families.

NO JS can never be tried and found guilty, but his co-horts can and should.

santaisNOTathreat · 05/10/2012 00:15

7 years on and i still wish the bastard is not breathing the same air.

he is now married and has 3 children of his own, as there was no conviction those children are not even safe guarded to my knowledge

Faxthatpam · 05/10/2012 00:10

Santa -

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