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hear, hear.
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^ seconded.
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I certainly agree it's never too late for justice IMO.
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Three juveniles and and three men were arrested for the murder of Keith Blakelock. Unfortunately the young juveniles who were charged had no access to their parents or lawyers and their incriminating confessions were not legally obtained or deemed reliable. So instead the police pursued the adults and Winston Silcott was falsely convicted.
It seems the man about to be charged was a juvenile at the time of Blakelock's murder. The police failed to seal off the murder scene so there is little forensic evidence in the case.
The original investigation was was very poor and led to Blakelock's murderer escaping justice. I hope too much time hasn't elapsed and that justice will eventually be done.
I just hope that this isn't another false avenue and a strong case exists. And that this time it is the right man.
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i hope you are right for his family's sake.
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What kind of evidence could have been unearthed after nearly 30 years?
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much the same as cold cases, forensic science has come along way in that time. Maybe families who knew a family member was involved, have to wait and see.
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The forensic evidence at the murder scene was compromised, but maybe the actual confessions can be subjected to better testing and that has produced evidence.
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The reports say someone may be charged for their 'involvement'. That means it won't necessarily be a murder charge they face.
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"What kind of evidence could have been unearthed after nearly 30 years? "
they have some of the weapons used at the time and some other stuff and they now have DNA techniques that werent available at the time.
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and they also have some new witness statements
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All it takes is for one of the suspects to commit another crime (even decades after the original murder) for a forensic case to be re-opened. Not sure if DNA will come into play though - I thought (but am happy to be corrected) that DNA degraded after a certain amount of time?
Would be great if arrests and (safe) convictions could be made, even after this amount of time, so that the family of PC Blakelock, can finally see justice has been done.
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SP, DNA can be preserved for a very long time under favourable conditions such as cool and dry. That is how DNA from neanderthal man and even dinosaurs has been obtained.
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Question Author
Let's get a few things straight:
1: Silcott was not "falsely convicted". The fact that his conviction was later overturned was because it was subsequently considered "unsafe". He was never declared "innocent" - it was a technicality on which he was freed. He has served time for another murder.
2: It should also be noted that two Officers prosecuted concerning the "unsafe conviction" were tried by judge and jury and found not guilty.
Not every person freed on "technicalities" are innocent - some just get lucky?
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Eyethenkyew.
If Silcott did it, so, why are we wasting time and money charging someone else with it?
You say Silcott was not innocent, so why should we not just leave it at that then?
I would just sooner admit our mistakes in the past than trying to defend the indefensible. We got it wrong before but hopefully we will do better this time.
You are just still believing an innocent man is guilty even though the police have moved on.
You are just
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Question Author
No, far from having to "just leave it at that", PC Blakelock's widow and family need closure - try to imagine the suffering they've gone through these past 27 years?
No one's saying that any innocent individual ought to be wrongly convicted - far from it - but his loved ones really need the opportunity to not only grieve but to have their mental torture brought to an end by finally having a guilty party brought to justice.
Something whch tragically did not happen for Mrs Winnie Johnson, mother of murdered Keith Bennett, who died the other day not knowing where Ian Brady and Myra Hindley had buried her son's body. God knows what agonies that poor lady went through for nearly 50 years?
Let's hope Keith Blakelock's family dont pass on before justice is finally done?
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// He was never declared "innocent" - it was a technicality //
// Not every person freed on "technicalities" are innocent //
Yet you now want another man to stand for the same offence? Explain please.
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Question Author
"Yet you now want another man to stand for the same offence? Explain please."
Talk about putting words in my mouth? If you can find anywhere in my comments where I claim to "want another man" to be tried for PC Blakelock's murder, then I will stand corrected. However, I've never made such a claim.
My only fervent hope is that with the improvements in DNA research, a breakthrough can be made which will hopefully bring to justice anyone involved in this barbaric murder in order to give the Blakelock family closure and peace of mind.
I don't honestly care if it shows that Silcott - or whoever - can be proven to have been involved in the murder - the main purpose should be that justice be done.
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Let's hope for justice
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