GUILTY UK - Rebecca Watts, 16, Bristol, 19 Feb 2015 #14

[Clio]

ITV Becky Trial ‏@ITVBeckyTrial · 34 secs35 seconds ago
The jury must decide on whether JI knew or believed NM was involved in a robbery and he was handling stolen goods. #beckywatts

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 31 secs31 seconds ago
The jury must decide on these points.Pros allege JI succumbed to greed.Defence say decent,honest trusting young man.No prev convictions

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 25 secs25 seconds ago
Defence says JI wouldn't have knowingly committed any crime.That he was used by KD.NM knew KD not JI

ITV Becky Trial ‏@ITVBeckyTrial · 59s60 seconds ago
"JI is a decent, honest and trusting young man", "he has been used by Karl Demetrius", his defence say #beckywatts

 

[ColourPurple]

There has been some interesting discussion about why the computer video evidence of the rape has been introduced here when in the Vincent Tabak case, his viewing of violent porn was hidden from the jury. This is called bad character evidence and as has been mentioned, the prejudicial effect should not outweigh the probative value. The law on this comes from the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and basically, legal argument is presented to the judge before the trial on this, as well as other issues, such as hearsay. Bad character evidence of a defendant can be introduced in 7 different ways. One is if all parties agree it should be introduced. The second is if the defendant provides the information (perhaps to show s/he is a reformed character and is being honest). Another way is if the defendant attacks another person's character.

Now what I am going to say is my opinion only. The judge in the VT case ruled the evidence to be too prejudicial, possibly because watching videos of women being strangled does not show you are in the habit of killing women yourself. However, I became very aware when reading the court transcripts that his barrister was exceptionally careful to avoid saying anything negative about Joanna, even though there had been no witnesses and VT could have blamed everything on her. This led me to suspect he had something to hide that he didn't want to come out through attacking her character. I guessed it wouldn't have been killing someone as that would probably have been introduced into court but it must have been something that could have been damaging to his case.

With regards to NM and SH, attacking a person's character not only in court but also on being questioned under caution or after being charged opens the gateway to bad character evidence being introduced, so I would guess this is why the information about the rape video has been allowed in court, especially as there are substantial similarities between the video and what allegedly happened to Becky.

All my opinion of course. Sorry for such a lengthy post!

Welcome

Ah so you think the judge allowed some evidence that would show them in a bad light, because of how they'd been negative about Becky? I hadn't thought of that but i guess it's a possibility. Thank you

 

[skibaboo]

ITV Becky Trial ‏@ITVBeckyTrial 1m1 minute ago
"JI is a decent, honest and trusting young man", "he has been used by Karl Demetrius", his defence say #beckywatts

https://twitter.com/ITVBeckyTrial

Ouch!

 

[ColourPurple]

Something that has been bugging me since I read it yesterday.

In NM's statement about his kidnapping attempt he claimed the following:

He went back out to the car and got his kidnap kit

Took all the items upstairs and got ready outside BW's bedroom

Put on the mask and the knocked on her door and said 'can I come in?'

OK here is my problem. He claims to have been disguising his identity at this point. He claims that he killed BW in a panic when his mask slipped and he was identified. Yet he knocked on her door and said 'can I come in?' Really? Would a 16 year old expect a complete stranger to knock on her bedroom door? Would a shy 16 year old girl invite a complete stranger into her bedroom?

I know, politest kidnapper ever! It's just not believable is it. I think that's why the pros asked her if he politely asked her to get in the suitcase too.

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 18 secs19 seconds ago
Says KD had no intention of telling JI the truth or sharing money with JI.KD has admitted assisting an offender.Denies knowing boxes content

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 20 secs21 seconds ago
Def says chose JI as knew he had learning problems,wouldn't question what he was told.He often gave people lifts

 

[Clio]

ITV Becky Trial ‏@ITVBeckyTrial · 44 secs45 seconds ago
"Everything that happened that night is consistent with what KD told him" - that NM had been kicked out of his home #beckywatts

 

[Alyce]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 18 secs19 seconds ago
Says KD had no intention of telling JI the truth or sharing money with JI.KD has admitted assisting an offender.Denies knowing boxes content

Ah ha, exactly as we surmised last week. KD spun a story to JI ( maybe ! )

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 45 secs45 seconds ago
Def says JI believed NM was collecting his stuff to leave his home.JI stayed outside while NM "packed"

 

[skibaboo]

Looks like I have to go out, again :banghead: Sorry guys. Ill try and keep up on my phone!

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 44 secs45 seconds ago
SH:Nothing at all about what JI saw or was told on that night would have allowed him to have knowledge & belief that NM a robber...

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 33 secs34 seconds ago
SH:....or handling proceeds of robbery

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 32 secs33 seconds ago
All these tweets refer to Sean Hammond's (SH) closing argument.He represents James Ireland

 

[ColourPurple]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 18 secs19 seconds ago
Says KD had no intention of telling JI the truth or sharing money with JI.KD has admitted assisting an offender.Denies knowing boxes content

Are we going to hear what KD said at all?

 

[Alyce]

Gggrrr........... Siobhan's tweets confused me. She keeps saying SH and I am wondering why Shauna is being mentioned. Just realised she means Sean Hammond ( JIs Defence ) Doh !!

 

[Tortoise]

I can do tweets today - if someone could post the Mirror summaries, that'd be great

I will do my best, don't know if I'll be on top of them because my son is popping in at some point, but I don't see it being a problem at the mo.

 

[Clio]

Are we going to hear what KD said at all?

At this late stage - I doubt it

 

[Alyce]

I can do tweets today - if someone could post the Mirror summaries, that'd be great

Am keeping a check on The Mirror, they dont seem to be up and running yet, will copy them over when they are.


ETA sorry Tortoise, just saw your post - will leave it to you but shout if you need back up !

 

[Clio]

Siobhan Robbins Verified account  ‏@SiobhanRobbins · 27 secs27 seconds ago
Jury reminded JI suffers ADHD,is on autistic spectrum and suffers from learning difficulties