The Outcome!!!
Notifications OFF
On our way back from court now.
A full week at Crown Court last week. The jury couldn't make a decision at 2pm today, the judge said he would accept a majority verdict.
The jury returned a verdict at 4pm
Count 1 distribution of a CAT A not guilty
Count 2 distribution of a CAT B not guilty
Count 3&4 Possession of extreme porn GUILTY
6 months Conditional Discharge, no fine , no notification requirements.
2.5 years fighting this...
The original indictment was far far worse.
I guess it's a good outcome although was praying for not guilty on all 4.
This group has been invaluable, offering advice and support all the way along and I personally thank you all for that.
I need to have a glass of wine and sit and reflect on everything. Hopefully he will keep his job, that's the next investigation we have to prepare for on December 11th
Thanks Everyone xx
A full week at Crown Court last week. The jury couldn't make a decision at 2pm today, the judge said he would accept a majority verdict.
The jury returned a verdict at 4pm
Count 1 distribution of a CAT A not guilty
Count 2 distribution of a CAT B not guilty
Count 3&4 Possession of extreme porn GUILTY
6 months Conditional Discharge, no fine , no notification requirements.
2.5 years fighting this...
The original indictment was far far worse.
I guess it's a good outcome although was praying for not guilty on all 4.
This group has been invaluable, offering advice and support all the way along and I personally thank you all for that.
I need to have a glass of wine and sit and reflect on everything. Hopefully he will keep his job, that's the next investigation we have to prepare for on December 11th
Thanks Everyone xx
So pleased to hear this - maybe not the outcome you had hoped for but so much better than what might have been.
time to start a whole new chapter - wishing you both all the very best for your future xx
time to start a whole new chapter - wishing you both all the very best for your future xx
I am happy for you the outcome could've been so much worse. Try and put this behind you now and move on. I know you've got his work to deal with but hopefully with him not being found guilty on two accounts will go in his favour and Work will look at it favourably xx
I've been following your updates and whilst it might not completely be the outcome you hoped for, it could have been worse and now hopefully you can move on. Enjoy that glass of wine - or two! x
I have been thinking of you all day today.
Although the outcome isn't completely what you wanted and what it really should have been you can now start to move forward together xx
Try to relax and enjoy the glass of wine or two xc
Although the outcome isn't completely what you wanted and what it really should have been you can now start to move forward together xx
Try to relax and enjoy the glass of wine or two xc
Clarkestaff
So pleased for you. The jeopardy of facing a jury decision when you don't know what personal biases or opinions any of them have, no matter how hard they try to be objective, is quite scary.
I thought I would be faced with this last year with my person opting for not guilty and a jury trial. Even with great digital forensic evidence there is no guarantee that the jury will understand the technicalities. Actually it seems hard to find legal representation that understands the technicalities - you only have to look at the sub post master prosecutions by the post office to see how hard it is to prove innocence using technical or digital evidence. There seems to be an assumption that if something happens on the computer or digital device it must be because the operator knowingly did something.
Fortunately for my person, the case was dropped by the prosecution at the very last moment, presumably because they decided that the police forensic evidence was not compelling enough, or the defence forensic evidence was too compelling.
I would add that the cost of preparing and presenting a digital defence is astronomical and I would say out of the reach of many people. And risky, when there is no guarantee the jury will understand it and so find the defendant guilty anyway.
So pleased for you. The jeopardy of facing a jury decision when you don't know what personal biases or opinions any of them have, no matter how hard they try to be objective, is quite scary.
I thought I would be faced with this last year with my person opting for not guilty and a jury trial. Even with great digital forensic evidence there is no guarantee that the jury will understand the technicalities. Actually it seems hard to find legal representation that understands the technicalities - you only have to look at the sub post master prosecutions by the post office to see how hard it is to prove innocence using technical or digital evidence. There seems to be an assumption that if something happens on the computer or digital device it must be because the operator knowingly did something.
Fortunately for my person, the case was dropped by the prosecution at the very last moment, presumably because they decided that the police forensic evidence was not compelling enough, or the defence forensic evidence was too compelling.
I would add that the cost of preparing and presenting a digital defence is astronomical and I would say out of the reach of many people. And risky, when there is no guarantee the jury will understand it and so find the defendant guilty anyway.
I am so thrilled to read this outcome. Obviously disappointing it wasn't not guilty on all counts, but overall this seems like the sort of outcome where you can now move on positively with your life with no notification requirements etc - thank goodness. Take care of yourselves over the next few days as it all sinks in xx
I am so pleased for you all. Your husbands case was such a strange one I can't believe the money and man hours that must have gone into this particular case. Not to mention the toll on you all It just seems so disproportionate. Good luck for the future.x
Have been thinking of you today, pleased with the outcome for you. You deserve a very large glass of wine. Xx
Clarkestaff,
I'm not even sure what to write. Your husband's case has highlighted the need for changes to the "guidelines" of what constitutes each category of images. I would be looking at a way of complaining although I'm sure that you will both just want to put all of this behind you.
I hope that everything goes well at the meeting for your husbands job and I wish you all every happiness for the future. I'm also thinking of all the other families impacted by this group chat and OIC xxx
I'm not even sure what to write. Your husband's case has highlighted the need for changes to the "guidelines" of what constitutes each category of images. I would be looking at a way of complaining although I'm sure that you will both just want to put all of this behind you.
I hope that everything goes well at the meeting for your husbands job and I wish you all every happiness for the future. I'm also thinking of all the other families impacted by this group chat and OIC xxx