Holly and Jessica Trial

[Katiebee]

Can anyone explain to me why it was felt necessary for the Jury in the case to be led along the last known route of the two little girls yesterday, and today to the spot where they were dumped? I just don't see what would have been gained by this.

[Jaybee]

The jury in any trial needs to be given as many facts as possible. In this case they need to know if specialist local knowledge would have been needed to find the place where the bodies were dumped.

[FredPuli]

It is very difficult to make sense of the evidence of local witnesses when using only a scale plan. Only by walking along the route and inspecting the area do juries get a proper feel for the place , the nature of the streets, the terrain, the viewpoints, noticeable buildings and so on. It makes it much easier for them to picture events when they hear witnesses describing what happened. As to the scene of disposal, believe me, if you saw the area and the nature of the ditches (it is all local to me) you would wonder who would know or think of the place and you'd see just how lucky was the discovery of the bodies.

[bernardo]

I presume that the reasons for making the journey will become clearer as the witnesses give more detailed evidence later on.

[banana]

There are some who think that the real killer has yet to be found http://www.bigwig.net/softwaredesign/hollyjessica/
who_really_murdered_holly_wells_.htm perhaps looking at every little thing will help .

[treaclefight]

if there is one time when all the information needs going over with a fine toothcomb, its the trial. the newspaper speculations have, i think, saturated the public to the extent that alot of us feel its time we let it lie, for the family's sakes if nothing else, but even if going to the site establishes nothing, that is evidence in itself and as i say, the trial is the one place where EVERYTHING must be taken into account. :-(

[ukkid76]

I think everyone should read what Steve Seymour says in the link supplied by Banana (above) it is very interesting!!!

[monkeyfish]

yes i read it, its an interesting idea, but theres small matter of forensics, huntleys hair and skin in the bag that the girls clothes were found in, but more imprtantly, it turns out that the girls had not been sexually assaulted at all, which removes the motive that this article claims for the involvement of servicemen. this is a bizarre case and i doubt there will ever be a confession from anyone.

[LeMarchand]

The article banana posted is certainly interesting. I confess that I only skimmed it, but I don't remember seeing anything stating that the guy who raped the girl in Kosovo was stationed at the base. If not, isn't this a bit like saying English guys have committed violent rapes, there's lots of them in Majorca, so they're probably responsible for any rapes that happen there? The "witch hunt" claims it makes are perhaps more valid: the papers are all proclaiming that Huntley claimed that a girl at the school had a crush on him, implying that this proves he was a paedophile. My thoughts after having read the article was that surely it was good that he told someone in authority about it - wouldn't a paedophile have kept it to himself? It's all very confusing, and whilst I would hate to see anyone who had committed such crimes go free, it certainly shows how media reporting can possibly unfairly shape our views. I also feel that it will be very hard for the jury to come to an unbiased opinion, at least based on the evidence we know about so far. The sort of crimes that Huntley is accused of quite rightly invoke a deep-seated disgust in all normal people, and if any of the members of the jury feel that there is insufficient evidence to reach a guilty verdict, I suspect that they will be pressured into voting guilty by other, more volatile, jurors.

[smorodina]

The article does raise important points, but when - in his other articles - he starts to talk about the Zionist conspiracy, and Hitler apologies, it does undermine his case somewhat...

[treaclefight]

sorry to be pedantic, and i dont want to detract from what a sick double murder this is, but the girls WERE NOT sexually assaulted, this is not about peadophiles, whether huntley was one or not doesnt matter. He wasnt put in broadmoor for no reason, he is or was mentally ill and maybe capable of murder, sick enough, but not only is he being tried in the press, they're trying him for a crime that didnt happen. i do hope the trial settles this for everyone, but i have a horrible feeling no one cares what the facts are.

[TEAK36]

Forgive me if I am wrong,but I thought that Huntley had already admitted that the girls died in his house and that he disposed of the bodies.