Five Women Killed In Or Around Ipswhich

Good Interminably long and boring bit before we can all steam into the strong grog and Quality Street.

I'm an 87 year old pensioner and I can remember when it was all fields round 'ere and I should like to express my relief that that nice man with the beard and no belt has been released by the policemen.
I could feel it in my water that he was a good boy...................I SAY FEEL IT IN ME WATER I COULD.......Good boy yes.................

Thank Gawd we never listened to Mr Rancidnob who wanted to burn 'im face down. I mean to say where would we all be if we all burned each other face down ....................face down yes. I think I'll just put me woolie on dear it's gettin a bit parky round me kidneys..........I SAY A BIT PARKY DEAR.

Anyway I'm glad 'es out bless 'im but I do think that the police should 'ave stuck 'is 'ead in a bucket for a few minutes while 'itting it wiv their truncheons and then made 'im eat the smouldering contents of the desk sargent's pipe for wasting police time.

TIDDLES!......TIDDLES! ..........Where's that bleedin' cat got to now :mad:


Yours Forgetfully

Ada Popshot-Climax
Coffin Dodger's Old Folks Home
Piddleton

The police statement yesterday evening left the media in no doubt as to their responsibilities. I haven't seen this morning's headlines yet, though...

whilst they have charged the second man, and released Mr Stephens on bail (a man who the majority of the media hype was self made), i realise that people will be pointing out that he is innocent yet is infamous for his connection to the murder enquiry.

However his connection is there because he was involved illegally with all 5 of the girls in paying them for their services, its not like he is a random guy who had nothing to do with it and has done nothing wrong - he is still a criminal and if caught kerb crawling would be prosecuted.

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Originally Posted by Robinho

However his connection is there because he was involved illegally with all 5 of the girls in paying them for their services, its not like he is a random guy who had nothing to do with it and has done nothing wrong - he is still a criminal and if caught kerb crawling would be prosecuted.

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Firstly, if he has used prostitues, it doesn't mean he had a part to play in their murder. Secondly, he is innocent until proven guilty, and therefore does not deserve to have every tiny detail of his life exposed to the nation.

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Originally Posted by BeansBeansBeans

Firstly, if he has used prostitues, it doesn't mean he had a part to play in their murder. Secondly, he is innocent until proven guilty, and therefore does not deserve to have every tiny detail of his life exposed to the nation.

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true, but he has been engaged in criminal activity with all the murdered girls, and then went public with that information himself, before he was arrested, and that information suddenly became far more newsworthy after his arrest.

i agree that perhaps the media went overboard with their reaction, however its not like he was an entirely unassociated and innocent name that was dragged into the case, he put himself there both through his actions with the girls and with the media.

also, all i was saying that is he admitted to using prostitutes, and as such is perhaps lucky to not have been prosecuted, seeing as that act is illegal, if he weren't engaging in that act then he would have had no connection and would not have been dragged into the enquiry.

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Originally Posted by Robinho

its not like he was an entirely unassociated and innocent name that was dragged into the case, he put himself there both through his actions with the girls and with the media.

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As Gannex has pointed out, the Police were sensible in questioning Stephens, due to his connection with the girls. However, he was effectively hung, drawn and quartered by the press for the murders, before he had even been charged (he still hasn't been charged now).

The argument that it's okay to reveal every detail of his life because he volunteered some information to the press is also flawed, as Mr Wright is receiving similar treatment, and he didn't go to the press. As far as I'm concerned, neither of these men are guilty until a court finds them so.

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Originally Posted by BeansBeansBeans

The argument that it's okay to reveal every detail of his life because he volunteered some information to the press is also flawed, as Mr Wright is receiving similar treatment, and he didn't go to the press. As far as I'm concerned, neither of these men are guilty until a court finds them so.

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Absolutely. However, it was still a strange situation because of what Stephens wrote on his website, something you couldn't expect the press (even the respectable papers) not to pick up on.

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Originally Posted by Robinho

also, all i was saying that is he admitted to using prostitutes, and as such is perhaps lucky to not have been prosecuted, seeing as that act is illegal, if he weren't engaging in that act then he would have had no connection and would not have been dragged into the enquiry.

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I see your point. I don't have a *great* deal of sympathy either... but at the end of the day, as others have said it's up to the courts and police to decide who is guilty and NOT the media. And as for him being a criminal, the police HAD to say that any information given from people wouldn't lead to a prosecution for using prostitutes... other wise they wouldn't have had so many people coming forward to help.

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Originally Posted by BeansBeansBeans

As Gannex has pointed out, the Police were sensible in questioning Stephens, due to his connection with the girls. However, he was effectively hung, drawn and quartered by the press for the murders, before he had even been charged (he still hasn't been charged now).

The argument that it's okay to reveal every detail of his life because he volunteered some information to the press is also flawed, as Mr Wright is receiving similar treatment, and he didn't go to the press. As far as I'm concerned, neither of these men are guilty until a court finds them so.

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i agree the media have gone overboard in the information they have provided, although i haven't seen them being "hung, drawn and quartered" for either suspect, although i have not read too much of the tabloid news on the subject.

you are right to point out that Mr Wright is getting similar treatment, but i have not seen anything like the coverage given to the first man, who himself put into the public arena pretty much all the information reported, including his criminal activity with the victims, and the information on Wright has only been found from the public arena, not from police sources etc

Stephens had his Myspace site, had an interview with the BBC and went to the Sunday Mirror all prior to being brought in, telling the Mirror that he expected to be arrested but was innocent. i assume he wanted his story out there in advance and possibly even wanted to cash in on the fame he could see coming.

the news are now reporting he has been released on bail and have charged the other man, no-where have i seen any news saying that either men were guilty.

i also agee that no-one should be considered guilty until found guilty by trial, and i hope that the press attention given to the case does not jeopardise anyones chances of a fair trial, but also it should be noted that the media have not reported anything that what not available to the general public and that the Police have kept very quiet with any details of the suspects.

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Originally Posted by Robinho

i also agee that no-one should be considered guilty until found guilty by trial, and i hope that the press attention given to the case does not jeopardise anyones chances of a fair trial, but also it should be noted that the media have not reported anything that what not available to the general public and that the Police have kept very quiet with any details of the suspects.

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Good points, but they don't all work in the real world sadly.

Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson, to name just two who are strongly considered to have beaten the justice system. Not that anyone like Stephens would face a similar thing (he can't afford the lawyers of course) but he'll still have the average Sun reader bawling at him in the street for a few months.

I've little sympathy - he begged attention on himself as much as he could from what I've seen. Wouldn't be at all shocked if he's signing a book and TV deal right now :mark: