That Absolutely Amazing Woman

[MrsJackRackham]

I've just read about the woman who gave evidence against the killer of Olivia Pratt-Korbel. What a fucking brave and phenomenal woman. She will have to go into witness protection and leave her whole life behind but she knew it was the right thing to do. And she gave the defence lawyer a mouthful as well by the sounds of it.
I could actually cry thinking about her.

her identity is not disclosed (although it will be known to his associates) and she is in witness protection as her life is at risk. Multiple threats made against her. Colloquially she asked him up, that comes with a risk

You could certainly add it to yours. It’s been like reading a series of quotes uttered by Sister Monica Joan from Call the Midwife.

Posted too soon.

I think she was very brave and I hope she is protected well and goes on to have a good life.

Are her family protected too?

Sadly it will be known by many people who are part of that world. The anonymity granted by the court is useless and she will of course have to start a new life. I hope she stays safe.

I can understand why there were at least 3 other witnesses who were just too petrified to take the stand.

So if you are ever suspected of committing a crime, you don’t want a fair trial? You don’t want a barrister to represent you?

By your reasoning, the barrister should be able to decide if you are innocent or guilty. If he/she thinks you are guilty then you don’t get any representation in court as (again by your reasoning) he/she should only represent you if they know think you are innocent!

Did it ever occur to you that barristers aren’t ‘all knowing’ and do not have a crystal ball, to look through, in order for them to know if someone is innocent or guilty? By your reasoning, we might as well do away with the judge and jury too, as guilt/innocence is already decided without a trial!

No, this is not an appeal to do away with the judiciary. It is an opinion upon the morality of those who defend the sometimes indefensible. By choice.

So you acknowledge that everyone, even guilty people (shock horror) need access to legal representation. I assume you've grasped by now given the number of posts on here explaining to you, that barristers in fact don't have a choice which clients they represent, and obviously have to represent all of their clients to the best of their abilities; so presumably your disdain for them is in the fact they chose the profession in the first place. Even though you accept there needs to be barristers.....

You seem entirely unable to grasp logical concepts, despite all your big words.

@HaggisBurger I guess will re located far away. Still it must always be a risk (depending on how much support the murderer has?). Hopefully his power diminishes now.

@HotSince82 is that you Rumpole?

She’s gone into witness protection, so we will never know her name.

In relation to how well criminal barristers sleep, not that well. They are underpaid and overworked. The defence barrister who is so apparently morally repugnant will have moved onto his next case. He might be prosecuting a paedophile or rapist. He might be defending someone wrongly accused of a crime that will ruin their lives if wrongly convicted. He might be defending someone who he thinks is guilty, but he puts his faith in the criminal system to provide the right outcome. If a case does not result in a conviction, that is very rarely down to the defence barrister. It is down to the failure of the police, the prosecution, the evidence gathered, the way that evidence is presented or a combination of factors which fail to persuade a jury that they are sure of a person’s guilt. The burden always rests with the prosecution. The defendant should never be expected to prove his/her innocence. Worth remembering that.

@HowcanIgetoutofthisalive He lived with one woman, mother of his children ( might be married to her, not sure) He also had an affair with the Court witness. After he killed the little girl he ran to her house, she called her boyfriend and Cashman told the boyfriend he’d shot the man he was chasing. Boyfriend gave him a change of clothes, took him to his car. When the woman heard a child had died she went to the police and evidence was found on clothes that police then found. Her boyfriend will be sentenced for aiding an offender.
Other posts referred to his partner as she benefitted from a well financed lifestyle when he didn’t have a regular job, so therefore she must have known where the money came from.
Hopefully Witness Protection will get her away from the area , her boyfriend ( now an ex I presume) and she’ll have a happier future.

We've been asked not to derail the thread;

However in the interests of clarity I meant that we don't grass on each other for a bit of cash in hand work, if our kids are caught with a bit of green etc. That is the 'we don't grass' culture alluded to by Olivia's mum on the steps of Manchester Crown Court this afternoon.
That should never be confused with us not seeking justice for crimes in our community of this nature.

And my rapist got a life term. So I'm not angry that he 'got off'.
Although before the barrister ripped me apart for losing my virginity two years before the rape. I was sixteen at the time and he had a daughter my age.

You might be interested in this thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4776807-witness-protection-how-does-it-work?reply=125125991

I totally agree with the PPs and OP of this thread, who think it's a phenomenally brave thing for someone to do, to stand up for justice in those circumstances, and wish this woman all the very best.

Doctors swear the hippcratic oath of 'First, do no harm'
No don’t do that anymore I’m afraid, there is no compulsion to take the oath. There is no universally agreed oath and some universities retain the oath other universities have amended the principles to a new oath. But, no compulsory oath I’m afraid. Compulsory CPD and compulsory exams, and standing orders,membership fees. Oath..no

Why is it necessary to reply so rudely? You have a different point of view or whatever. No need to be nasty and aggressive.

It's up to.the prosecution to prove a case ,the defence don't have to prove anything they just have to defend so.if the prosecution can't prove a crime either it didn't happen or they didn't have enough evidence to.prove it did ,so yes sadly some guilty people get off but the justice system states that you are innocent until proved guilty

Scouse women are fucking awesome.

How do you know the barrister had a daughter your age @HotSince82?

So who do you think should provide the representation you think they're entitled to?

Just add “Parklife” at the end of every one of their posts.

@Americano75 some Scouse women are awesome. Some not so much. Same as anywhere.

Our friend is a barrister sometimes for prosecution, sometimes defence, he doesn't get a choice. He so rightly doesn't discuss any cases but on occasions when you read in the local paper his defence of certain people especially when you know he's got two young girls you take need to take a breath and think not matter what they are entitled to a defence even if me and no doubt him would utterly despise the guilty person.

This thread is dreadful - just women baiting and bitching at each other, trying to show off their Queen B credentials.

It just sets us back; makes us look like we're unable to participate in the legal profession as we're too over invested emotionally.

You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. A vile bunch, indeed.

And some people are tediously pedantic but there you go.

Yes it’s another person, not his gf.

I was deeply moved and impressed by this woman's courage and integrity. I hope she copes well with witness protection, which I understand is very difficult

She is not in an enviable position tonight but I hope she feels endorsed and even slightly comforted by the huge admiration felt and expressed towards her stellar conduct by many thousands of people.