Doesn't This Mother Deserve The Same Continuous Attention For Justice As Others Have Received?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384538/Could-Crimewatch-solve-seven-year-old-Nikki-Allans-brutal-knife-murder-20-years.html

[emmie]

she should...

[jim360]

Yes.

[hc4361]

Strange case. The neighbour confessed to the murder but the confession was declared inadmissible in court.
The same man was later ordered to pay compensation to the mother for the battery that lead to the death of the child.

Obviously the degree of certainly is different between criminal and civil courts, but I wonder why his confession was dismissed?

[andy-hughes]

Yes she does.

[LazyGun]

Because it is alleged that the detectives questioning him used "oppressive methods",so the confession was ruled inadmissable.

Telling is the fact that in a civil court he was found guilty and fined, although has never paid that fine. And it was an uncontested case, so I have no idea what that means.

I am not sure what point AoG is trying to make though. What others are you referring to, AoG that have received attention in seeking justice that this woman has not? Are the cases and events surrounding the cases similar?

[Sharingan]

She deserves all the help she can get. Awful for her that his confesison was ruled inadmissable yet she successfully sued him through the civil courts. I'm just amazed no-one's accidentally run her neighbour over late one night when it's dark and easy not to see people :(

[Octavius]

hc, perhaps this may provide you with an answer.

"12 interview tapes - thought by the Crown Prosecution Service to be crucial in proving the case - were inadmissible because officers had used "oppressive methods" to obtain the confession. After a six-week trial, the judge directed the jury to deliver a verdict of not guilty."

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/oct/11/ukcrime.features11

[sp1814]

AOG

In what way isn't she getting the same 'continuous attention for justice'?

Are the police not launching an appeal on Crimewatch?

Are you going to compare this to a specific other mother who campaigned for years for justice?

[Octavius]

LG - Steven Lawrence.........?

[mikey4444]

Can't see why not aog.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Are the police not launching an appeal on Crimewatch? ///

Yes 20 years after the murder of her little daughter.

[hc4361]

I don't think for one minute the police wiped their hands of the matter after the failed court case. We have no idea what other leads they have followed or investigations done.

There are sadly many unsolved crimes, including murder, like this double murder of 26 years ago
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/hunt-for-killer-of-elderly-step-sisters-alice-380264

[sp1814]

AOG

I think the answer is in the story:

"'We constantly consider whether advances in forensic techniques open up new avenues of investigation that were not available at the time of the original investigation and we are in the process of doing that in this case"

What is unclear is how much pressure Sharon Henderson put on the police to further investigate the crime after the trial of George Heron collapsed.

There may be further issues with the fact that he was successfully sued through the civil courts. We would need New Judge's expertise in this, but I believe a successful prosecution through the civil courts may affect the chances of a retrial in the county courts?

[sandyRoe]

She certainly does. Do you have a case in mind where a mother of a murdered child received 'better' treatment?

[hc4361]

I think you mean a retrial in the criminal courts, sp.

Shouldn't have any bearing on it all. One is a private prosecution seeking damages; the other is a public prosecution to determine guilt and punishment.

[FredPuli43]

A civil action has no bearing on the criminal trial. The standard of proof is much lower in the civil trial, so a finding for the complainant cannot be taken as a verdict of guilty.

A retrial will only be ordered if there is now material evidence previously unknown to the prosecution, material which tends to prove guilt, and the interests of justice require a retrial.

[sp1814]

AOG

Some clarification might be needed here. Looking at the link, I can't see exactly how Sharon Henderson's case can be compared to another, because its not clear how her case has not received the 'same continuous attention for justice' that others have received.

Are you referring to the Hillsborough victims? If so, then the comparison doesn't really work, because they set up a support group to lobby parliament for an inquest.

If you're referring to Doreen Lawrence, again - she battled for years to get justice for her son.

What leads you to think that Sharon Henderson was treated differently? Did the police ignore her? Do you have another link with more detail on the story?

[sp1814]

Thanks hc4361 and Fred. For the life of me, I couldn't remember the word 'criminal' earlier...