You can plead guilty while maintaining your innocence, it was done in the USA to avoid a death penalty, there are several reasons for doing it, if you think you may get a less severe sentence under the belief you will be found guilty although you still maintain you're innocence... Strange isn't it.. I realise these are American examples, but it does show it happens.

The Innocence Project - When the Innocent Plead Guilty

NL, quite. this was a long time ago and there was a very low acquital rate. Now do we believe our investigation system was so good that only the guilty were charged?

Know the old Git Well!
 

I know GB very well. I used to be a Stenographer in the RAF, so basically travelled around from Court Martial to Court Martial for over 20 years and came across him many a time, had dinner with him many a time too. He's still practicing, still doing Courts Martial -- he's the type that'll carry on until he dies, probably in a courtroom! His acquittal rate isn't that great, though he can be a bit tricky to deal with for young prosecutors, and he certainly has the courtroom in stitches from time to time!

One of his higher profile cases:

Goldsmith under fire over Iraq 'abuse' trial - Telegraph

Wrong. There is no difference between not proven and not guilty. Both are acquittal. Historically, the two verdicts available to Scots juries were that the case had been "proven" or "not proven".
The burden of proof is on the prosecution as a defendant is innocent by default. And has to be proven guilty against any doubt. If there is any doubt then the case is "not proven".

Walked past his office probably hundreds of times, not much parking space for the Roller though...

http://img1.photographersdirect.com/.../pd1814510.jpg

Frankie

A very long time ago but I remember in the mid 70s a trawl for 4 erks to remuster as stenographer, they were looking for 3 SACs/JTs and one corporal, any trade. The deal was after training the SACs were promoted to flight sergeant and the corporal to warrant officer. Were you one of them? I often wondered what would have happened if I applied but was enjoying RAFG so much it would have been madness to have left it.

I met one of them at Laarbruch on a Bucc pilot's CM. The stenographer was on Rate 4s everywhere; as a 22 year old FS he wasn't welcomed in his mess.

Bet he wept all the way to the bank...

I recall one Sarg Aircrew (probably about 10 years old or looked it) telling me about his Kipper Fleet SNCO mess. 'It's OK' he said 'but too many ex corporals in it....'

Our sqn Cpl? clerk Sec went as one from Odiham Bruggen Brize ? if I remember correctly, we thought it was a strange job to go for but he pointed out he would be made career wise for the rest of his natural.

Back in the late 90s GB represented me during the Goia Del Colle witch hunt and he ran rings around the comically useless RAF SIB investigators who were attempting to interrogate me. Obviously the debacle was never going to go to CM but it was amusing to see GB in action. Not sure he justified his hourly rate...but HM was paying so what the heck...

Court Shorthand Writers
 

I seem to remember back in the 70s that there were two FS court shorthand writers who appeared at the more serious CMs who were FS Blood and FS Bones. Always thought that someone at Innsworth had a sense of humour.

Wasn't that the one where aircrew were (allegedly) presenting fake restaurant receipts to support fraudulent expenses claims?

I spoke to a stenographer once, after a quite long and complicated CM.

I asked her "How on earth can you operate that little machine, keep abreast of everything that's being said, in such a lively environment, and produce an accurate transcript?".

She said "Well it's just like playing the piano at a party. You can hear everything that's going on around you, but you concentrate on the melody".

Rgds SOS

For even more thread drift:

I was on a BoI which had to take evidence from a number of civilian witnesses. The Chairman requested a stenographer; command said no, none available.

He asked for a shorthand typist; command said no, none available but they could let him have a "speed writer"; a Sgt Clk Admin, who could apparently write stuff extremely quickly.

On the first morning we took evidence from 3 civilian witnesses and during our lunch break the Chairman asked Sgt **** to read back their evidence. The Sgt became rather red faced because it turned out he couldn't read his own writing; he had written it too quickly!

We had to make alternative arrangements and Sgt **** was rtb.

Rgds SOS

Be very careful where you decide to go with this one, please.

I'm not 'going' anywhere with it. It must be 20 years ago now. I was just trying to refresh my memory.

I believe that both Gilbert Blades and another successful defence lawyer by the name of Simon Wheatley are the toast of many a Rock Ape p:mad:s up.

Perhaps the two pilots who were CM'd and found guilty should have used GB.

Back in the day, too many CMs were instigated and pursued by jumped up jerks who thought it made them look good to be "hard men".

Once a Sgt Psychiatric nurse was busted to SAC by CM, after 20 years of dedicated service to the distressed and suffering boys and girls in the RAF/WRAF as it was.

Here's what happened: his wife had been diagnosed with MS and he had re-mortgaged their small house to have it adapted for her, then he had been posted to Germany but had requested not to go, naturally he wanted to stay where he was. However he had to go and when he did their only child had decided that he had to give up his college course (only half way through) to look after mum since Dad was away. Innsworth refused to change the posting.


Our man had used up all his warrants and so he asked the Chf Clk (in Germany) if he could get a compassionate warrant to be with his family for a short time. No.

He fiddled a warrant (I'm not sure how) got caught and reduced to SAC by CM.

So, wife with MS, son giving up his future, large mortgage on small house. CM decides to cut his income in half and leave him in Germany!

Disgusting. I was there - I saw this happen - and I remember the posing prick of a Wg Cdr who chaired the CM.

Now please excuse me - dark room Black Grouse, calm thoughts.

Thank you. :ok: