Mockery of Justice

After a trial lasting for weeks and costing goodness knows how much public money - time ran out yesterday for Craig Roy - who was finally convicted of murdering a one-time school friend - Jack Frew.

Roy tried to get away with murder by admitting to killing Frew - but doing so without murderous intent - which he hoped would get him off with a much lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Roy's story was that could not remember stabbing Frew with a knife and slitting his throat - and that he took the knife with him not to use - but for his own safety and protection.

A jury in Glasgow's High Court rejected this nonsense and must have asked itself, like me:

'If you were really concerned for your safety, why would you go and meet someone in a secluded spot in the first place?'

While justice of a sort has finally been done - the defendant has made a mockery of Scotland's criminal justice system.

Not for the first time defence lawyers have tried to turn logic upside down - in an effort to get a result for their client.

No matter how ridiculous or unbelievable the argument being put forward - the case for the defence continues to say - that 'black is white' or 'white is black' as it suits their purpose.

I am beginning to wonder seriously if the adversarial system of criminal justice that we operate in the UK - is the best way to try such cases.

For almost two years now the victim's family must have wondered why this murderous young man was able to enjoy his freedom - since the original incident in May 2010.

Mockery of Justice (January 24 2012)

A murder trial has been taking place at the High Court in Glasgow for the past couple of weeks which - to my mind - makes a complete mockery of Scotland's criminal justice system.

One young man - Craig Roy - is accused of murdering another - Jack Frew in May 2010.

The person accused of murder denies the charge - but has admitted killing the victim.

According to a pathologist - which gave evidence to the court yesterday - Jack Frew was stabbed no less than 20 times, he had his throat cut and suffered 'defensive wounds' to his right hand - almost certainly as he sought to fend off blows from the knife that killed him.

Yet his killer denies murder and puts the victim's family through all the horrors of a trial - never mind the cost to the public purse of presenting all the evidence in the case.

Not only that the accused - Craig Roy - appears at court each day accompanied by his mother and other members of own family.

So he must be free to walk the streets even though he has committed a grievous crime by his own admission - notwithstanding the charge of murder which has still to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Now I can't really follow the logic of that - maybe the accused is not regarded as a threat to others - but he has admitted killing another defenceless human being - and stands accused of murdering his victim.

To have allowed this young man his freedom since May 2010 - seems to send out all the wrong signals to me given all the circumstances involved - and I imagine the young victim's family feels exactly the same way.