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Joanne Lees

99 replies

monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 12:34

Is it just me or are the media still desperate to dramatise this rather than report it?

She's already had a horrible time at the hands of the Aussie press. How much to you think their speculation has affected her public perception here?

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weesaidie · 20/10/2005 13:21

I saw that thing about the hands too.

Apparently the defence were saying she couldn't have moved her hands from front to back she said she could and she could demonstrate. The defence, of course, ignored this but the judge didn't and she came in the next day and did so in front of the court.

OrribleOliveoil · 20/10/2005 13:21

everytime I see one of those family appeals I am going 'hmmmmmmmmm?' with a raised eyebrow, v cynical of me I know, but it happens ALL the time that a week later the husband/wife/boyfriend is then arrested.

flamebat · 20/10/2005 13:22

I'd forgotten about Jill Dando...

Caligula · 20/10/2005 13:41

I wonder if she's still able to do it? It is 9 years later and I wouldn't be able to do some of the yoga moves I used to be able to do?

I do remember at the time she demonstrated it more than once - it was very easy for her.

Marina · 20/10/2005 13:44

I hope the press and internet speculation don't lead to justice not being done for Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio. Agree with you 100% janh and bundle.

JanH · 20/10/2005 13:52

(Guardian Wed)

(Guardian Tues)

That's circumstantial of course but I don't see how he can wriggle out of the DNA.

Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 13:58

The press hostility was all mostly down to the fact that she refused to jump through hoops for them and, surprise surprise, our free unbiased press turned on her. There was a ridiculously sensationalist 'documentary' in Aus too where people somehow connected to the case when invited to speculate on her 'dodgyness'. One female police officer even went so far as to say she was suspicious of her because she had big tits. It was madness. A really blatant and saddening example of how misogyny expresses itself at the first opportunity.

Certainly a case of attempted trial by media.

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Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:00

She was asked to do it yesterday Caligula, and she did.

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moondog · 20/10/2005 14:01

MN is fantastic!
Was wanting to run this one by you all and voila! Already here!

Inriguing eh?
I believe her-no doubt about it at all.

OrribleOliveoil · 20/10/2005 14:03

apparently she wore a t-shirt with 'Cheeky Monkey' on it at the last pre-trial or something and the police said that it was inappropriate and mutterings were said about her character.

Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:08

It's part of the defence teams job to look for inconsistencies in her testimony too, and then to attempt to discredit her by inference of lying when they inevitably find it. But of course there are always inconsistencies in our recollections of events, even ones that aren't so terrifying.

There was a big deal made this morning about how the van she'd described actually 'couldn't exist' and up popped what looked like a 10 year olds drawing of a generic type van. If only she'd been a designer for pick ups she might have been more convincing!

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Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:12

If she's spent ages wondering what to wear too that'd have been noticed too. Cheeky monkey indeed. She'd have had other things on her mind, that has to be obvious.

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bosscat · 20/10/2005 14:12

why does she keep smiling when she walks into court and why is she so 'bouncy'. she looks like she's about to graduate not face someone who tried to kill her. she probably is telling the truth but she does look like a bit hard faced IMO.

JanH · 20/10/2005 14:14

Inappropriate smiling used to get me into terrible trouble as a kid - it's the nervous chimpanzee thing - (see?).

Some lucky people can keep a dead straight face faced with enormous public scrutiny.

Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:16

She looks incredibly uncomfortable. It's that awkwardness of trying to look and act normal and just looking mannered and odd. But again, she knows everyone is judging her on that walk from the car to the court house. I'd be a bit awkward too. The pressure she's under must be immense.

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bosscat · 20/10/2005 14:17

I know it probably is just nerves but someone should tell her not to look quite so bouncy. she does come across a bit like she's walking down the red carpet instead of re-living the worst day of her life. all waving and big teeth.

Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:17

I laugh inappropriately Janh. Too loud. It's very embarrassing and I'm trying to stop.

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Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:19

That's cos you cant see the media shouting at her to look at them and smile! They demand a performance, as do the public. Trouble is they sem to demand two different things. I'd crumble under the weight of expectation.

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moondog · 20/10/2005 14:19

Lindy Chamberlain was crucified for not sobbing and snivelling her way into court evry time as it is presumed a woman should.

Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:21

Exactly Moondog. If it doesn't look like what we see on the telly, we think it can't be real.

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Original poster
monkeytrousers · 20/10/2005 14:25

And even if she did get excited and carried away by the media attention, as depicted in the film, thats human too. They're only fallible human beings like the rest of us. They aren't suddenly morally elevated by their particular tragedies. (Though we all like to think that 'what doesn't kill us makes us stronger' - often it doesn't really change us a great deal at all)

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moondog · 20/10/2005 14:28

Quite mt.
What skewed logic dictates that if you didn't kill your boyfriend you are then beyond reproach in every other part of your life?

Stop and think about the dirt that could be dished on each and every one of us if someone was determined to discredit us in a big court case.
I'm a regular girl but blimey,I wouldn't look good at all......

DinoScareUs · 20/10/2005 14:29

There has been one strange thing (well, to my mind anyway). Apparently she initially said that she thought her attacker had put her in the front of their van, and that she'd scambled over the seats and into the back of the van herself. But in court this week she said that that was incorrect and she thought in fact that he had put her directly into the back of the van.

I just thought it was a little bit strange, that.

northerner · 20/10/2005 14:31

Yeah she looks like she's just stepped out of a salon.

Tinker · 20/10/2005 14:34

I shouldn't laugh at this but did when heard the evidence of the guy who picked her up "...some sheila..."