Has he murdered them?

Question

Last night Steven Wright was charged with the murders of 5 women in Ipswich. Did he really do it? To me this case has a similar ring to it. Colin Stagg! Have the police got the right guy or do they just want everyone's mind at rest before Christmas. I understand that they must have some sort of evidence, but surely that can't be the be all and end all. I would have thought that this guy would have had some sort of link to all the women, DNA wise, seen as he had been seeing working girls for a while. And it has been released that at some point had spent time with all 5 women. We must remember that this man is still innocent until proven guilty. Is this a convienient charge or can we really believe this is the man who killed the girls?

Adam, who are you calling an idiot. I'm a fully qualified, working criminal psychologist. And yes they do charge people without sufficient forensic evidence. Maybe you should read up on some of situations where this was the case. Colin Stagg, charged for the murder of Rachel Nickel, on the advice of a criminal profiler. Later released after proven he was not guilty. In this day and age you have to be synical about this stuff.

Another for Adam. If they were completely sure they had their guy in custody, why was Tom Stephens released on police bail pending further enquiries and not completely cleared. I suggest you research your answers in future instead of resorting to schoolyard name calling.

Answer 1

Nice one, Niccog...The name 'Stagg' will come up every time we have a situation like this - after squealing and 'public verdicts', concerning the first rash of media antics in Ipswich, people who did twin Thomas Stephens arrest with Stagg's experience were shouted down even after the former was released. But what if Mr. Wright also isn't the man they're looking for? The "It is Christmas and we want to quickly get a result, son" not entirely going to plan, despite making certain observers happy at the time...as you say - a convenient charge to have us eat our mince pies with 'joy', knowing Ipswich will be able to breath again - I hope not...but it will be interesting to see what the next few weeks bring.
Mr. Stagg Number 2...already convicted in red-top land - with no appeal - of being 'a loner' (as the press judges such people)...somebody who's way of life throws up so much smoke that there really is fire somewhere, hmm...although OFFICIALLY he is innocent.

Answer 2

We must always assume an accused person is innocent until having been proved guilty in a court of law. The police in this case are ever mindful of press coverage, which can often lead to a mistrial because they have carried a story about an accused person which has prejudiced any forthcoming trial. At no time have the police announced the name(s) of those who were arrested in the case of the five murdered women in East Anglia. These names have been published by the media.
The police will need to be absolutely sure that they have as much evidence as possible to bring a conviction. It is for this reason why the police forensic teams are spending so much time at the house(s) of the arrested accused person(s) and sites where the murdered women's bodies were found. The police seem to think that the women may have been murdered elsewhere and their bodies dumped. In my view, it is very unlikely that any of these young women would have taken their clothes off and that they were undressed after being murdered. I think we're looking for a necrophiliac - a man who wants sex with the dead.

Answer 3

You're right, they can (and have been known to many times in the past) charge the guy on the flimsiest of evidence in the hopes of obtaining more profound evidence during the due processes. It depends on the amount and type of DNA evidence available to the police and if they feel that such evidence closely links Steven Wright to the girls AT THE TIME of their disappearence / murder. The fact he'd had previous contact with them will have to be ruled out of the equation in some way. It might be the case that the evidence is simply good old fashioned tyre marks, shoe prints or other physical evidence found at his home.

The police should have learned the lessons of the Stagg case - but something always niggles at the back of my mind about the strength of the evidence-v-the need to be seen to be solving the case quickly.

Answer 4

Yes, people are 'supposed' to be innocent until proven guilty, but according to the news broadcasts I've been watching, the police are more than sure they have the right guy. Yes, people are brought in for questioning, but that doesn't make them guilty. But, in reality, I'd say they have the right man and not because it's Christmas. Police worked on this case and through process of elimination, evidence, etc. they've got the right man. You can link this with other cases, and so can the rest of us, but it doesn't mean the police botched this one. And there's plenty of cases where they've 'got their man' on the least bit of evidence, or even hearsay, and through DNA, etc. the police were right and we were wrong. Let them do their jobs. It's not up to us to condemn police or the man charged with these murders.

Answer 5

I TOLATLY AGREE WITH YOU.YOUR SO RIGHT AT ALL POINTS MADE BY YOU.
1-THIS IS JUST A GAME TO PUT OUR MINDS AT EASE OVER THE CHRISTMAS.
2-I DON'T THINK THERE IS ENOUGH ON THE PLATE TO FEED US ALL WITH THE COLD TRUTH.
3-WHAT IS THE TRUE EVIDENCE THEY HAVE FOR ME TO BEIEVE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
4-I DON'T BEIEVE THEY HAVE THERE MAN YET THEY ARE STTING THE MAN UP.
5-I HOPE THEY HAVE FOUND THERE MAN,BUT OVER THE YEAR'S HOW MANY HAVE GONE DOWN FOR BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
6-FOR ME I DON'T REALY KNOW WHY I HAVE THIS VERY STRONG FEELING INSIADE ME TELLING ME THIS IS JUST A CONVIENIENT CHARGE.PLEASE TELL ME I'M WRONG AND THEY GOT THE KILLER.BUT SOMETHING'S GOING ON TELLING ME THE KILLER'S IS GONE BACK INTO THE WOOD WORK AND IS HAVING A LAUGH AT 2 MEN WHO ARE NOT EVEN AT FAULT.THEY MAY HAVE JUST VISISTED THE WOMEN THAT IS WHAT'S THERE FAULT.
WISH THEY HAVE FOUND THE KILLER,BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE NOT.AND HE IS NOT GUILTY TILL THEY HAVE EVERY FACT AND DNA TO PROVE HE IS THE KILLER.
JUST WANT THE ANIMAL WHO KILLED THE WOMEN LOCKED UP WITH EVERYONE ELSE WHO WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL HOW SICK HE WAS.
I'D HOPE FOR THE TRUTH TO BE TOLD,PLEASE DON'T PUT AN INNOCENT MAN AWAY FOR JUST HAVING THEM WOMAN AS HIS COMPANY.FOR ME THE MEN THEY HAD GOT WERE INNOCENT TILL THEY HAVE EVIDANCE AND DNA PROF TO SAY YES HE WAS BANG TO RIGHT FOR KILLING THE WOMEN.I'M NOT BUYING WHATS BEING SAID ON T.V OR IN THE PAPER'S CAUSE HALF OF IT IS ALL LIE'S.
MIND YOU THEY DON'T LOCK THERE OWN UP OR ANYONE IN THE LORDS SEAT'S SO I STILL AM WAITING FOR THE ANIMAL TO BE FOUND AND PROVEN GUILTY.
HE SHOULD BE FOUND OUT SOON ENOUGH.
HAVE YOU KNOWN OF WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SET UP AND LOCKED AWAY FOR NO FAULT OF THERE'S. MANY A INNOCENT HAVE GONE DOWN ,DONE THE TIME AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN SLEEPING OVER IT, WHILE AN INNOCENT MANS GONE DOWN.
MANY HAVE BEEN SET UP,AND IT'S EASY DONE THEN SAID.

Answer 6

I think he deserves a fair trial and is innocent until proven guilty but yes I do believe that the police were under pressure to arrest and charge someone fast so it is possible they have got the wrong man. But at the same time, they could have the right man. We don't really have details of the eviednce they have that lead him to become a suspect and to be charged with the murders.

Answer 7

The police are under a lot of pressure to close this case (to meet quotas etc) so they will try to nail anyone who is a near match to what they are looking for. The Jill Dando case is a good example. And, as you say, Colin Stagg.

Answer 8

The swift response by the police seems to suggest that they feel they have conclusive evidence. It is now up to the courts and juries to decide. As we are not aware of any of the evidence, its hard for us to make conclusions.

However, as he knew the women it appears he had the opportunity

Answer 9

Not sure - but at least it makes great tv. It'd be even better if they allowed the viewers into the interview rooms as well as their homes.

I'd say it's only a matter of time before this starts happening.

Answer 10

Instead of "Jumping Out Of Your Prams" why not wait and see what Transpires -- "Barrack Room Lawyers" always Puff their Chests Out and start "Boring" everyone to Bloody Tears ..