Chris Huhne... going soon?

[don4l]

Gene Vincent said:

Yep, pretty much, that is what a good defence should do under the Defendants instruction, kill the process asap, it aligns perfectly with trying to minimise the damage from the familial war.

All good for him, it starkly shows how ghastly his wife is in this matter.

I'm not sure that I understand you.

This is the trial of Vicky Pryce. How does the cessation of her defence reflect well on Huhne?

Don
--

[don4l]

Not committing adultery would have helped to protect the family.

Don
--

[don4l]

completetangent said:

Unless Judge fella directs otherwise.

IMHO, the judge's summing up will be very important. This is indeed an archaic law. However, it is still on the statute book.

I get the impression that the judge, like the vast majority of the British public, has an intense dislike for Huhne. A custodial sentence for Pryce might provide Huhne with some consolation. This would clearly be undesireable.

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Huhne get sentenced to 6 months.

Justice needs to be seen to be done.

Don
--

[don4l]

REALIST123 said:

Well if justice is to be done let's hope the judge doesn't let his personal opinion of a witness, as per your assessment, colour his judgement.

Whilst I agree that Huhne should get his just desserts, I have seen nothing that makes Pryce look one jot better and I would hope she too is punished for her crime, whether that comforts her ex or not.

I feel no antagonism towards Pryce at all.

I'm a bit old fashioned, and I took my marriage vows seriously. Huhne didn't take his vows seriously. He didn't leave Pryce for a 23 year old beauty. So I understand her anger.

The prosecution didn't cross examine her daughter today. That struck me as a bit odd. I get the feeling that the prosecution are not trying too hard. Perhaps they feel that they have nailed the real culprit in this sorry affair.

Tomorrow's summing up should start at 11:30. It will be interesting.

Don
--

[don4l]

Gene Vincent said:

80/20 for a jail sentence I'd say for him, 60/40 for her.

6 months most likely, but could attract more due to high dudgeon and angst in the proletariat.

The judge already told him that he is going to suffer. He is going to jail.

I don't think that she is going to jail.

The prosecution do not seem to have challenged her witnesses. On the other hand, she hasn't called Briscoe or Peter. I wonder if a deal has been done behind the scenes??

Think about it. Everybody (apart from you and singlecoil) wants to see him do time. Nobody gives a damn about her.

Don
--

[don4l]

Derek Smith said:

I agree with your thoughts on his punishment.

She, though, is somewhat more difficult to predict. At the moment I have no idea whether she will be found guilty or not. Much will depend on the judge and until we get his summing-up I think we are all guessing.

Juries are fickle but you don't want to upset them. We have been told that the daughter supported the mother. This is not always a good idea. Juries can be upset by 'kids' being put on the spot. The lack of cross is not a good sign for Pryce.

I didn't think at the start that her defence stood much of a chance. As things have progressed, and a friend of mine has explained aspects of the law, I'm willing to change my mind. But we need to hear what the judge says.

It's a shame it is all but over. It seems as if this case has been around for years. Oh, wait. It has. What will we talk about in future? This had everything: a bisexual woman, a wronged wife, an arrogant hubby with authority who, in a moment, well not a moment actually it would appear, did something that even only fairly sensible people would have thought twice about and then decided against, we've have a judge's career ruined all rather stupidly, and we've had the mighty fallen. It's been a soap opera that never failed. Each revelation being more exciting than the previous one.

I still feel sorry for the pair of them. But we have to accept it has been entertaining. The process is now all but over and the result is all that remains. But the decision of the jury and the judge will be something of an anti-climax as it will be the end. It was the daily grind that we all enjoyed.

Good summary Derek.

This thread was started on 10th of May, 2011.

It's taken almost 2 years to come to trial.

During the trial itself, we heard very little evidence from either side. What little evidence was presented went largely uncontested. I have no idea how the jury are going to come to a decision. The closing speeches and summing up will be all important.



Don
--

[don4l]

Petemate said:

I admit that I have not read through all of this thread. However - she is claiming that she was FORCED to sign to take the points? bks. She is an adult and fully able to refuse to do anything which would incriminate her. No defence IMHO.

I don't think that she is claiming that she was "forced". She is claiming that she was coerced.

She says that Huhne asked her to taker the points and that she refused. They had several arguments. She only found out that Huhne had named her as the driver when a letter (from the CPS??) arrived.

Huhne pressured her by claiming that the loss of his licence would end his political career.

I think that the judge's summing up will be very important in helping the jury to decide.

Don
--

Edited by don4l on Tuesday 12th February 14:15

[don4l]

Derek Smith said:

The prosecution hasn't finished its closing statement. This is to ensure that the defence hasn't got a clear day tomorrow, all to itself. I would assume that they are keeping something back, something a bit damning, to emphasise to the jury in closing so the defence has to get up on the back foot.

It's what I'd do.


It will be an interesting day tomorrow.

I thought that the prosecution finished at 15:20. The defence began their closing speech twenty minutes later. Are the prosecution going to get another chance?

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10222066.Vicky_Pry...


Do we know when Huhne is going to be sentenced? I haven't got the Champagne in the fridge (the fridge is too small), but I do want it to be chilled when the sentence is announced.

Champagne Mumm...
mmmm...

Don
--

Edited by don4l on Tuesday 12th February 20:28

[don4l]

10 Pence Short said:

I'm not sure evidence of someone's daughter trying to keep her mother out of prison whilst at the same time criticising her estranged step father would be weighted to highly, to be honest.

The jury consists of 8 women and 4 men.

Don
--

[don4l]

Derek Smith said:

So defence, then judge tomorrow.

I'm not sure if the defence has finished, or not.

Do you think that the judge is likely to give the summing-up tomorrow?

I've no idea how these things work. Does a judge take an hour, a day or a week to prepare their summing up speech?

Another question. Do we know when the sentence is likely to be pronounced on Huhne?

Don
--

[don4l]

Derek Smith said:

One cool, clear and calm statement from the Judge:

It is not for Pryce to prove that Huhne coerced her: rather it is for the prosecution to prove he did not. He has also said that he would not consider a majority verdict at this stage.

I'm fascinated by this. I really expected him to say that the defence needed to prove that the coercion actually took place.

From what I have read, this means that Pryce is going to be "not guilty". This is good news for me.

Don
--

[don4l]

agtlaw said:

The summing up is here:

http://www.crimeline.info/uploads/docs/prycedirect...

I must say that I am very impressed.

I was a witness at a county court case a few months ago, and I was gobsmacked at the Judge's ability to get to the core of the matter in what was a very technical case(astrophotography).

It is clear that the reports that we have been reading in the press have been a little bit biased.

Having read the "Daily Echo" reports, I was expecting a "not-guilty" verdict this afternoon.

Having read the Judge's summing-up, I can understand why the jury might need a little more time.

Don
--

[don4l]

LostBMW said:

don4l said:

I must say that I am very impressed.

I was a witness at a county court case a few months ago, and I was gobsmacked at the Judge's ability to get to the core of the matter in what was a very technical case(astrophotography).

Is that where culprits put that little in-the-air comma thing in the wrong place? It should be a criminal offence, granted.

Did they got long sentenceses'?

I'll admit that I have had a glass of wine.

So it is very possible that I have misplaced an apostrophe.

I cannot see the error, so perhaps you would help me out?

Don
--

[don4l]

Gentlemen... I think that it is time to chill the Champagne.

Champagne is at its best at around 8 degrees C. The forecast for tomorrow is 7 degrees, and for Tuesday is 6 degrees. My porch is unheated, so that is where I am putting it. My fridge is set at 4 degrees, which would be a bit too cool.

Don
--

[don4l]

Grenoble said:

There is a narrow gap between "satisfaction the justice has been done" and "exhuberant triumphalism" over a case that I'm assuming you have no direct and personal connection to?

I don't have any personal connection to this case.

I'll open up when the sentences have been passed.

In the meantime, I suspect that Chris spent yesterday afternoon packing. He won't have needed a big bag.

Toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, and his teddy bear.

Don
--

[don4l]

It all seems a bit vague.

Daily Echo said:

It is understood the judge will accept a majority verdict, with the jury so far having debated for over 10 hours since first going out on Thursday.

The court did not sit on Friday but they continued to discuss their verdict for all of Monday and this morning.

Don
--

[don4l]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

If you ever want to get out of doing jury service, then just tell them that you don't understand "reasonable doubt".

Your deficit of understanding should be declared at the outset to save the taxpayers unnecessary expendetiture.

Don
--

[don4l]

Bedazzled said:

Don will have to put his champers back on ice...

I'm beginning to feel that the system is against me.

We have a fridge freezer, and the fridge bit is smaller than the freezer. So, we don't have that much room in the fridge. A magnum occupies a fair bit of space, and my wife doesn't understand the importance of the situation. So the Champagne is back in the (cool) porch.

Does anyone know how long Champagne keeps? I'm a bit worried that my magnum might go off.

Don
--

[don4l]

singlecoil said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is really good stuff.

He only lost his career and, as we will see in a week or two, his liberty.


Don
--

[don4l]

mybrainhurts said:

Surprised the media kept quiet about gender of the jury and its ethnic composition...two white, ten black and Asian. They'd have been all over this a few years ago.

Anybody know the gender mix?

As Mojoo said, the gender mix was 8 Female and 4 Male. Two of the jury were white. All of the jury seemed to have been able to speak English reasonably well. However, we don't know if their main language was English, or even if they could read English. This might explain why they were unable to understand tha judge's written directions.

Don
--