The Curmudgeon

YOU'LL COME FOR THE CURSES. YOU'LL STAY FOR THE MUDGEONRY.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Fair, Fearless, Effective

The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that no charges will be brought against the Metropolitan Police officer who was filmed attacking Ian Tomlinson from behind. The initial investigation by the Institute for Police Connivance and Condonement was completed in four months (after a week's delay for the inevitable disinformation campaign by the Met) and the CPS said they would reach a decision on whether to prosecute by last Christmas. The additional delay of seven months means - no doubt coincidentally, but still rather conveniently - that a charge for criminal assault cannot be brought; given the uniform worn by the culprit a charge of manslaughter was always out of the question, but the excuse given by the CPS seems a remarkably feeble one given the time it took them to think it up: apparently when two post-mortem examinations diverge in their results this makes it impossible for a prosecutor to show beyond reasonable doubt that one set of evidence is more reliable than the other. The seven-month delay also means that the CPS has been able show its sensitivity to the feelings of all concerned by making its announcement on the fifth anniversary of Jean Charles de Menezes' public execution.

3 Comments:

  • At 7:18 pm , Anonymous Madame X said...

    That's how insignificant it all is to them. Not even worth doublechecking with the PR department.

     
  • At 7:30 pm , Blogger Philip said...

    At the risk of impending conspironumptitude, I wonder how timing the announcement for the fifth anniversary to the day could be accidental. It's just about possible, I suppose, that it was done as a two-fingered salute for the relatives, to show them the degree of respect in which their feelings are held; but I think it's more likely that the CPS meant it as a healing gesture, to show that truth, reconciliation and justice can be achieved in this case just as they were achieved over the Stockwell indiscretion.

     
  • At 7:17 pm , Anonymous Madame X said...

    I try hard not to come across as overly cynical and conspiracy-minded but reality does keep impinging.

     

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