[MK Chris]

I know this is a very sad subject and I apologise for bringing it up. My main question (to those who may know) concerns the law surrounding this case.

The man who is accused of her murder is one Peter Tobin. As soon as I heard his name, I recognised it as the man who was convicted of murdering the Polish student Angelika Kluk in Scotland. This hasn't been mentioned at all in any of the news stories I've read and I'm wondering if the press are allowed to mention this, in the light of the inevitable forthcoming trial? I know (or at least I think) there is an embargo publicising the previous convictions of people in the dock prior to, or during, their trial, however, the Kluk case was such a short time ago that I can't believe they will find a full jury of people who don't know this; certainly if I've remembered it, anyone else could.

On a separate note, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he turned out to be another Fred West.

[Vivienne]

Well, I understand from R1 newsbeat, Peter Tobin is in Court TODAY, so maybe it will all be mentioned tomorrow.

[MK Chris]

Yeah, but all the news reports just say he's been arrested and is in custody. As I understand it, he was previously convicted and sentenced from the previous murder and was clearly still in prison as a result. That said, I supppose you can be "arrested and in custody" while still in prison.

I just found it odd that it's not been mentioned.

[Vivienne]

I find it remarkable that her (Vicky's) remains have been found after all this time. Quite a story.

[MK Chris]

It's extremely sad that her mother died not long after she went missing and therefore never found out what happened to her daughter.

It's also compelling that the Police expected to find a different person's body there and are continuing to look in the same grounds.

[Yudster]

The first time I read of this, on the Sky News website some days ago, the Angelika Kluk connection was mentioned, it said that Tobin was currently in custody for her murder - but this was before he was charged, as at that point they didn't know whose remains they had and hadn't charged him with anything new. He has now been charged, so you are right, his other convictions are not allowed to be mentioned.

[MK Chris]

But surely, in this case, that is merely a formality; following rules even though they hold no purpose in this particular instance, because it's obviously already been mentioned before the charge in at least one article and I can't be the only one to have remembered it without reading it.

[Yudster]

Well, if the rules weren't followed in this case, where does it stop? I agree, I think everyone knows the implications here, but if our legal system is to have any chance of being respectable, it needs to be applied.

[claradooblue]

Yeah but if the details were released, his defence could quite easily argue that it would prejudice the case and therefore be in breach of his claim right to be entitled to a fair trial.

[Yudster]

And that. What Clara said.

[MK Chris]

That's true actually, give a lawyer half a chance and they'll bite your arm off for it.

[claradooblue]

And the more tenderer meat the better

[Andy B]

MY mate did BJ (Broadcast Journalism, still gets a cheap laugh even now) at Uni and they all had to do a huge module on the law and reporting, very very very dull, most of it was concerned with court cases. Never studied it myself but Clara's probably right.

[MK Chris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7098508.stm

I sincerely hope this is the girl they're after and if it is that there are no more bodies. In a way, though, it's almost lucky they found Vicky first, as they may not have even continued the search, had they found Dinah first time round.

The family living in that house must feel sick.

[Yudster]

It's not going to be the easiest place to sell either, is it?

[Boboff]

I thought this was a thread about Lewis's sister

[MK Chris]

Probably for that very reason, this is the current state of 25 Cromwell Street (well, it's probably finished by now):


I can imagine a similar fate for this house.

Apparently, with the Wests, every brick was totally demolished, every bit of timber burnt, to avoid trophy hunters.

[Zoot]

Probably for that very reason, this is the current state of 25 Cromwell Street (well, it's probably finished by now):


I can imagine a similar fate for this house.

Apparently, with the Wests, every brick was totally demolished, every bit of timber burnt, to avoid trophy hunters.

I pass that at least twice a week, I park on Cromwell street to walk into town

Yea it's pretty much still like that (except no JCB)

What they don't tell you tho, is no 27 Cromwell street is a Church. Right next door.

[MK Chris]

I forgot you're from that part of the world Zoot, must have been horrible when it all went off (though I suppose you were quite young, it was 1994/1995.)

[Zoot]

I forgot you're from that part of the world Zoot, must have been horrible when it all went off (though I suppose you were quite young, it was 1994/1995.)

I was at college, which is right behind it (check it out on Google earth and you'll see how close it is) and i remember one day we were on the fire escape one summers day watching the bull dozers knocking it down.