Marantz4250b
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I'm not so sure that it is.If they think they will probably get a conviction I think it’s a go. It’s such a high profile case especially now and unfortunately the degree of victims suffering in this which is staggering, I think would mean any likely conviction would be deemed in the public interest. It’s weird I’ve followed this for almost a year, the only thing that still impacts is the degree of suffering in this. It’s mind boggling.
Others have pointed out on here as to how little media attention this has actually received given the clearly staggering nature of it - it really is quite astonishing as to how many people either have never heard of it or have just heard of it in passing. The "high profile" nature of a case is not the fact which determines whether something come to trial or not, however.
The CPS have two tests to meet in deciding whether to charge or re-try a case. Those are: is there a realistic chance of conviction? and; is it in the public interest? The latter test does not simply refer to whether the public find it "interesting". It means whether it is worthwhile in all the circumstances for the public good (or words to that effect) to bring the case.
It's a balancing act. They may decide that there is a realistic chance of conviction but the cost may be immense. Say, for instance (just for the sake of demonstrating an arguent), that the cost of re-trying her is going to be £20m+ and they think they have a very good chance of conviction. That's a huge amount of money but the argument might be made that what is the point of doing it? She's already never getting out so the public safety benefit in non-existent.
It then really comes down to whether the "public interest" is served by spending all that money, using all that court time and prolonging this whole thing for several more years with all the resulting attendant stress and emotional upheaval to convict someone who is never going to be released in any event.