That picture of the Southport killer

[User09678]

That has been circulating today.

Remember that sweet boy that was in all the reports at the time? The one who looked about nine?

Can anyone think of any other serious criminal who has pictures of them as a child out in the press?

That's largely because she was a sociable person with a considerable SM presence vs this man who was the exact opposite

And actually the picture you've shown was a press photo from a few years earlier when she was fundraising for the unit - so also historical and already in the public domain

You can neither know that nor prove it. So we can both just speculate. You in one direction, me in the other

Someone was snarky and now you're going to vote Reform? Have I got that right?

Do people honestly think that if the Sun and the Mail, for example, had had access to a social media photo of him looking crazed and evil, they wouldn’t have put it on every front page for weeks?

Tbf your response is a meaningless slur used by people with an agenda.

If you say ‘line in the sand’ and it keeps happening it’s not a very good line is it?

It doesn’t matter how strongly you state it

Ok…

I posted yesterday that it's nonsense that it's not terror because he didn't say something as his aim was clearly to terrify & cause mass carnage & maybe we need to redefine the law. I'm glad Kier has acknowledged that.

But they did have access. I was seeing them on X and he looked so different I suspended belief until I did see them in MSM, which confirmed it was indeed him.

Do people honestly think that if the Sun and the Mail, for example, had had access to a social media photo of him looking crazed and evil, they wouldn’t have put it on every front page for weeks?

Depends, there is a video of him attacking a pupil in school that has appeared today. Do you think the papers only received that today?

No government will ever be able to completely stop horrific events happening, so of course there will be another at some point, sadly. But at least Starmer is taking action to try to increase the number prevented.

Why wouldn’t the press run with those? It’s a reasonable question

@Coldanddamp something like that video could have jeopardised the trial so the press wouldn’t have shown that. With photos they need to show innocuous ones.

What law change is that?

@crumblingschools I don't disagree, I was just making the point about the fact the press are unlikely to have just received it...

@EasternStandard I assume it depends what source the photo also comes from. So some random person posting something on their twitter page might not be something the press would run with, but on the relevant person’s own Facebook page then they might lift that photo.

Wasn’t there originally a mistake on who some local people thought the perpetrator was which went all over social media (certainly has happened in other crimes when there is social media speculation)

The pic that was being circulated on twitter was of extremely poor quality - blurred dark taken from above so no clear view of his face - just his dishevelled hair

TBH it could have been anyone

And let’s be honest, how many of us if we had seen that mugshot weeks ago would have thought he’s guilty/he’s a wrong ‘un (or a similar style photo for any crime)

It is a horrible ordeal for them. I hope his father who stopped him the week before he murdered those little girls from going to commit a mass killing at his old school reporterd it to the authorities.

You need to watch Keir Starmer’s press conference.

I hope his father who stopped him the week before he murdered those little girls from going to commit a mass killing at his old school reporterd it to the authorities.

I believe the police visited that week but unsure re timing.

There's nothing even suggesting this lad is/was an incel. Just because people assume it and write it on the Internet, it doesn't make it true.

Manslaughter charges?

i have to disagree. Targeting little girls is quite a strong indicator of this.

I think the photo used was really good... the previous photograph of a smiling child made a lot of people feel horrified that such a sweet boy could be capable of something so terrible.

But the up to date photo, really drove home the absolute horror of what those poor children saw in their final moments. He looks absolutely terrifying.

Sorry? I'm not sure what you're asking me.