R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

As reported early today William Roach was arrested with regards historic sex offences. Now he's been charged with two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl.

http://news.sky.com/story/1085727/corrie-actor-bill-roache-charged-with-rape

unclebuck · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 276 Location: Warwickshire

Surely this is getting ridiculous?
This was 46 years ago. How can there possibly be any other evidence than the word of the accuser?

Do we need some kind of Statute of Limitation that would apply to these cases?
Or should there perhaps be a limitation on the period for which anonymity can be maintained for the accuser?

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

It does seem a bit crazy to go for a prosecution for something that did/didn't happen so long ago. I'm starting to worry about that Pink Panther Bar that I posted into a post office post box in 1971, cos I did't like it.
Rape is really difficult to prove, even with all the modern forensics, it can't be much more than one word against the other unless there's some evidene of it having been reported at the time but nothing done about it. That's the best the evidence could be but even that doesn't mean he did it. It could have been a malicious claim back then. Equally he might be an active serial rapist who's been getting away with it for years. We'll find out soon enough.

unclebuck · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 276 Location: Warwickshire

Ah! I heard about the case of the Pink Panther bar when I was doing some work with Interpol and the Serious Crimes Squad a few years back.
I can assure you, they are still looking for you.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Rape sticks with people for years.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester