False confession

[sp1814]

Ray Gosling is being charged with wasting police time after 'confessing' to a mercy killing.

The police haven't been able to substantiate his claim, hence his arrest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...tinghamshire-11035402

However, Gosling made the claim in a BBC documentary...sure the police have to investigate the claim, but just because they've not been able to corroborate the story, surely it's not fair to prosecute the man?

It's not like he went into a police station and made the claim.

Is this fair?

[saxy_jag]

I've never been a particular fan of Ray Gosling, but I really hope the courts have the good sense to throw it out.

[sara3]

yes.

http://uk.news.yahoo....-of-hand-6323e80.html

[Hymie]

I haven’t a clue who Ray Gosling is – but this looks to me like a case of the police wasting police time.

[Thomas]

Isn't it something to do with gay bikers and leather?

[sara3]

Hymie, when someone publicly announces that they've killed someone, what are the police supposed to do? nothing?

[ludwig]

At first it looks wrong - the police chose to investigate, their investigation came to nothing, so they wasted their own time.

But sara is right. If someone makes a public announcement that they've killed someone, the police have an obligation to investigate it whether they want to or not. He would have known that, so he's wasting their time just as surely as if he announced on air that he'd just planted a bomb in a shopping centre.

[scotman]

I heard on the early evening news that they have definite evidence that he did make it up.

[saxy_jag]

Strange that, Scotman, because I heard on BBC East Midlands news that they don't have enough evidence that he did what he says he did, therefore he's going to be charged with wasting police time.

What are we supposed to believe?