Whilst people rage over the arrest of Tommy Robinson no one’s appears to be giving any thought whatsoever to the witnesses, the abused and their families or the jurors. Who cares about them?
People will argue in support of Robinson or against dependent on the personal opinions of him and the issues he highlights. Whilst we can argue the right and wrongs of the treatment Robinson receives for me the real issue in this case is the trial, who is involved and why he was arrested.
In his summary the judge who sent him to jail for contempt of court told him his actions may cause the sensitive case to be abandoned. Remember, he was already on a suspended sentence for a similar arrest in 2017. In that instance the Judge suspended his sentence taking into consideration his safety because of his being assaulted whilst in jail previously. Robinson knew the risks.
In this latest hearing the court heard it could cost taxpayers “hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds” if a re-trial has to be held. A strict order is currently in place temporarily banning publication or broadcasting details of the long-running case or anyone involved for very, very good reason. Media will be permitted to reveal details of the case later this year. As well as breaching this order, Robinson also made comments that impacted on the defendants' right to a fair hearing before a jury. Whilst many us may believe those charged with child grooming have no rights under the law there is still the presumption of innocence until proven guilt. We are all equal under the law.
Robinson was not arrested the minute he showed up he’d filmed himself during an hour-long session some would say rant outside the court building. He streamed that on Facebook Live and it was viewed a quarter of a million times. He encouraged others to share it.
Just imagine what that must do to those young girls who are giving evidence at this trial and those who are sitting on the jury. If any of you watched the superb BBC drama Three Girls which was a very accurate and sensitive depiction of what took place in Rochdale you would understand the extreme stress both the victims and their families are under. And the fear those accused will escape punishment and what that means for the victims future safety.
The judge said: “He was expressing his views. Everyone understands the right to freedom of speech but there are responsibilities and obligations.”
This is the key point of his summary. He said: “He was approximate to where defendants go in and APPROXIMATE TO WHERE JURORS GO IN.
Jurors in highly sensitive cases like this must be protected and any suggestion they might have been filmed could place them at risk.
Regardless of what Tommy Robinson did and whether his treatment was justified let’s not forget that at the heart of this there are vulnerable young girls who have been manipulated by men and women in the most vile and degrading way possible. Many of those young girls will I expect be called as witnesses for the prosecution. The stress on those young people must be unbearable.
There are families trying to deal with and to help these young girls rebuild their lives. And there are people who have been selected to sit in judgement and to come up with the right decision based on what I expect will be harrowing evidence.
They have the right to expect this trial be conducted with dignity and in a way that does not heap more pressure on them or subject them to greater harm. In turn, the public have the right to know the details at the conclusion of the trial and the sentencing of the accused. What they don’t need is to have this extremely difficult event turned into a grotesque media circus which it has been.
Regardless of what Tommy Robinson did and whether his treatment was justified let’s not forget that at the heart of this there are vulnerable young girls who have been manipulated by men and women in the most vile and degrading way possible. Many of those young girls will I expect be called as witnesses for the prosecution. The stress on those young people must be unbearable.
There are families trying to deal with and to help these young girls rebuild their lives. And there are people who have been selected to sit in judgement and to come up with the right decision based on what I expect will be harrowing evidence.
They have the right to expect this trial be conducted with dignity and in a way that does not heap more pressure on them or subject them to greater harm. In turn, the public have the right to know the details at the conclusion of the trial and the sentencing of the accused. What they don’t need is to have this extremely difficult event turned into a grotesque media circus which it has been.
Let’s pray the trial proceeds as it should and those charged are found guilty. And the poor girls who have been subjected to abuse by these vile men and women can find peace and rebuild their lives. For me this case is more important than Tommy Robinson who has ended up where he is due to his own stupidity.
