Interesting..dont you think.

Dimsie wrote:Yes, it's making a difference between the two accused people that seems very odd in this case. I have some sympathy for Bill's point of view, as it's true that just being accused of certain offences often leads to problems even when people are acquitted. But it's hard to understand why one person should be named and the other not; isn't everyone meant to be equal before the law?

I agree. The UK justice system is based on the idea that all are equal in the eyes of the law, but in reality those who have plenty of money will always be treated differently from those who can't rely on cash to help them out. You only have to look at America to see how the rich can drag cases through the courts for years, and how it's more likely for a poor black person to end up on Death Row than a rich, white American.

However, when it comes to the concept of anonyminity(sp?), an important premise of English law is habeous corpus. If those going through the court system had no right to be named it would be very difficult to have safeguards for wrongful imprisonment, arrest, etc.

jejune bill and dimsie all reaaly good points raised. Is it omly because its a sex related case that his identity is being withheld .

tanszi wrote:jejune bill and dimsie all reaaly good points raised. Is it only because its a sex related case that his identity is being withheld .

Probably is, unless the person is in a position of 'power', but it should apply to all cases hide identity until conviction. Sex cases always seem to be very immotive and attract a great deal of attention esp where children are concerned. How many times have people been attacked because some brain cell doesn't know the dfference between a peadophile and a pedeotrician, or just because some older person lives a quiet solitary life and bothers nobody until such times as something happens then the pitchforkers come out. THe problem is not with the courts its the media, always trying to sensationalise every bit of a news story.

One person commented that in the case of a charge of incest, the accused cannot be named as it would automatically reveal the identity of the victim. Don't know if that is the case here.