Beware of PR, it can be a disaster
Liberal Democrat Campaigner in Nanpantan Ward Learn more
by David Walker on 19 February, 2016
Watching the TV coverage of the High Court Ruling on Joint Enterprise yesterday I noted that there was no mention of the most dramatic, and most disturbing use of the concept of Joint Enterprise.
The case was that of Derek Bentley, who was executed for a murder committed in what has been described as a joint enterprise. Bentley was an illiterate 19 year old of very limited intelligence who was executed by hanging in 1953 although he was under police arrest at the moment when his sixteen year old accomplice shot and killed a police officer.
In 1993 Bentley was granted a royal pardon in respect of the sentence of death, and in 1998, the Court of Appeal quashed Bentley’s conviction for murder.
This was rather too late for Bentley, and the ruling yesterday was very much too late, but it is unfortunate that the soundbite presentations on TV news leave out important historical information. Without accurate information it is not possible to form sound opinions.
2 Comments
To David. I have been trying to find out about you so that I can decide whether or not you stand for what I want to vote for. All I’ve found are some out of date blogs. In this day and age if you want to reach your voters you need a presence on social media. This comment is meant to help you and make you aware how hard it has been to find out about you. I look forward to some quick updating of your website. From someone who hasn’t made up their mind yet …
Hi Liz
Apologies.
I had all but abandoned the “my councillor” blog and have only just found your message. I had been concentrating on managing the merger of the Loughborough and the Charnwood Parties, on the Facebook page for the joint parties and on negotiations to get a web page up and running (which happened this last weekend).
Having struggled with the limitations of facebook and the limitation of a web page, I conclude that there is a place for a blog.
I have just posted an entry today on leaving the Customs Union.
Yours
David