witness in sex abuse trial commits suicide after grilling by female QC

[BobbiFleckmann]

the violin teacher who was the unwilling prosecution witness against the two Chethams Music School teachers killed herself in the middle of the trial. She told her friend she felt like she'd been raped again after the female defence QC accused her of lying in her evidence. Very, very sad.
My cynical view is that defendants in sex cases go for female barristers because they think it'll give them a veneer of innocence /respectability. I know the woman was "just doing her job" but I'd sure like to hear her views on methods of cross examination in sex abuse trials.

Forgot to say she has told people stories of 7 other people that abused her (not at the same time or connceted in anyway). I knew a couple of these stories before but it is only since the arrest that people have started talking about her other claims. He is the first she has reported to the police (amazing he is the most wealth).

Out of the 7 other stories he is the third one of my relatives. All the stories vary from physical, mental and sexual abuse.

I find it absolutely disgusting that you appear to know so much about an ongoing rape investigation.

I know of one rapist locally who is spreading rumours his own father is an "ex drug dealing methhead" - doesn't mean it's true despite people sadly believing it and passing it as truth.

People are only too quick to spread salacious gossip.

Of course people are talking about her since his arrest - that's what happens to rape victims - some believe far more dont and lots of people are happy to stick the knife in.

You are aware are you that victims are often repeat victims.

and a social worker wouldn't state anything that categorically either

(1) Social worker did not write in report we are wonderful parents and no abuse etc. However she did say to us in those words. There is no case where her words offically.

(2) I know so much about the case because I am a witness and also have had to help find key documents that the police should have bothered to find themselves. The victim here is a very shocked 60 year old man with health issues that is now on diazipam and sleeping pills. If the family were not here to help him find the information to defend him he would be in prison for the rest of his life. I have not been aloud to see statement of course as is right in a live case. But I don't need to in this case as the dates mean he would have to have superpowers or a helicopter.

(3)As I have said in another post I was the victim of ABH and a sexual assault (exhusband). I know how hard it is to go to the police. At the trial I broke down when the cps questioned me. The defence barrister didn't have a hard job getting him off sexual assault charge. He only got 9 months for ABH because of the injurys I had.

(4) Who can anyone expect the police to investigate fairly if the interviewing police officer says "If he is not innocent why did he ask for a solicitor when arrested".

(5) I know very little about the case of this poor woman who killed herself. I just don't think people should always think no smoke with out fire.

as a witness you still shouldn't know so much about case

Forgot to say not rape investigation but sexual assault of a child (8-14). Historic as over 30 years ago.

is this a current case?

In what way do you mean. I am family and have been questioned by police. My family and friends have been questioned. The accuser has been talking to other family friend about it. Plus I have had a timeline to set up so given date to work on and legal documents to find.

I have said as can not talk freely

your case may be going to court in future?

perhaps discussing it on mumsnet is not wise.

I know thanks x

but need to vent a little so fed up with current political madness and public view that all accused are guilty.

Not going to say anything that would cause problem with case.

Can't wait to go public with the details as amazing this can go to court.

the police would not ask a witness to set up their own timeline and dig out documents

sounds more like you are planning your own witch hunt

and as a rape victim - she will be protected from her name in print

and the public view maybe that people are guilty - buts that's down to the fast we all know the majority of abusers walk free - a system that punished the majority of the guilty would better serve the absolutely minute proportion of innocent

The police have not ask for a timeline or documents that is the defense team.

If the police did ask for this information or even bother to find this information themselves I would be happy. The police and cps are only working on witness statements. If they where to put the abuse allegations to one side and find out if the facts of the case are true then they would see what the rest of us can.

As witness about to commit perjury in court and even if a guilty verdict happened. She has told some very provable lies. For get defense witnesses there are legal documents that prove maybe 80% of what she is saying impossible.

She is going to prison.

The witch hunt as you call it is for the investigating officer. Personally I will not rest until every case she has dealt with is looked at again. If you or your family were ever interviewed by her you would understand. She has lied to people and not taken photo evidence when offered. Also not spoken to key witnesses (we believe in case they said something that will disprove the case). She is so convinced that the accuser is telling the true that she is blinded.

The police don't investigate these cases they build a case.

The first line (1a I think)of the police investigation guideline states that all avenues and evidence must be explored. In this case and others that has not happened.

Less abuses would walk free if the police did there job properly and didn't just rely on witness statements but looked for any factual evidence as well. In historic cases the cps can go to court on a victim statement and what is called hearsay evidence. Weather this is wrong or right I am not to say but as there is factual evidence in this case that is available to them from public offices there is no excuse not to bother doing some research.

Would you all be happy if it was your husband/father/son/uncle going to court because Thresea May or Cameron says that all these cases should be tried no matter what.

I would be very interested to know what "legal documents" could categorically establish that historic abuse allegations are untrue. As a alwyer myself I cannot think of any category of documents which would be capable fo this. On this ground alone I find your assertions lacking in credibility, wonderwoman. it is not uncommon for family and friends of elderly defendants in historic cases to react with outrage against the accuser - even where, as I have seen in more than one case, the defendant later capitulates and admits the truth of the allegations.

Got to be a bit careful hear as you are aware but here goes.

Ok, so say you went on holiday to your holiday home last year and the police arrest you for punching a bar man. However the barman says that the assault happened in July. You however where at home 500 miles away at the time as your holiday was in May. And you had sold that holiday home in June (Land register)

Also he says you drove away in your green volvo however you sold that volvo five years before. (car papers)

Made up this but you get my point?

Also for real the police have not realised that I would have to be two years younger than I am and my sister one year older. Trust me we do know how old we are.

The Land Register cannot establish that a person was in a given place at a given time.
You are talking bollocks.

The land register can tell you when a person brought and sold a house. You can't be abused in a house years before or after a person lived there.

Are you a bit slow?

Or the investigating officer?

Slow I may be, but I can at least spell...

We I am no lawyer just a uneducated mum trying to make sense of why the law is being so horridly abused. All in order for some evil person to claim compensation.

The police who I may add I have until these events away thought did a wonderful and diffcult job. None of us have ever been arrested before so as a family we are in shock and learning the law as we go.

If what we have and are going through is normal the system has to change.

I was thinking the other day if my daughter was abused the thought that this police officer was running the case would be appalling. If this was a case of a guilty man then at court it would be down to whose witnesses preform better. Not the case hear but think. The police have not tried to find any real evidence.

Just thought that is not totally true. The took his laptop, mobile and dvds. All of which returned after months as family friendly.

Sorry wonder woman but you sound just like the ones who tried to get my
Uncle off too. In historic cases it is accepted that you cannot accurately remember dates especially as you were a child. I repeat absolutely that cps will only take a case if there is a good chance of conviction and the victim will hold up/ be taken as credible. I was made very clear from
The beginning that it wouldn't be an easy path and cps donor always result in charges. Eight is a huge amount so they must've bloody certain on it.

Oh and witnesses that have been disclosed to earlier are all part of the cause, I had the same, it means that through your life you have consistently told your story. Agree with others it sounds like you want a witch hunt to get this woman. Trust me, in an historic case you have to be bloody certain with what you're saying even if the dates are wrong, they go over and over it.

Luckily for me the people who didn't believe me didn't have much bearing on the case and my uncle still resides on the sex offenders register even now.

Finally, compensation, yep got some of that. 8k, 8k for being abused everynight for eight to ten years (can't remember exact dates), 8k for the self harm in my teens as I couldn't handle it anymore. You could have kept every penny as I know what I'd have preferred.

And I'm sorry your comment regarding not resting until every case the investigating officer has been looked at again is horrific, you wish to reopen old wounds for many victims as part of your witch hunt. Lovely.

Interestingly as said up thread if you relative confesses then what, oh wait I guess it would be the same as my family, I'm
Still a liar but of he admitted something he hadn't done then he'd get less of a sentence.

Should say every weekend, not every night. Doh