How did he get away with it?

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Clarification of Question by rai130-ga on 20 Jul 2004 08:02 PDT

To clarify: what happened in his trial (the 'Trial of the Century') to
mean  he walked free?

How do so many of them 'get away with it'?

I doubt we will ever know. George Carman Q.C., defending, successfully
demolished the main prosecution witnesses and advised Thorpe not to
give evidence. That cannot be held against a defendant. In his summing
up, the judge would have reminded the jury that to find him guilty
then it must be on proof beyond reasonable doubt by relevant and
admissible evidence. The evidence was placed before the jury and they
made their decision. Only those twelve jury persons will know why they
found him not guilty.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall ;)

Thorpe?s trial began on 8 May 1979; he was defended by the rising
barrister George Carman QC, who destroyed the credibility of Bessell
and Scott and kept Thorpe out of the witness box. The judge famously
called Scott a ?crook ?. liar ?. whiner .... parasite ?. fraud?.
Initially tied at six all, the jury acquitted Thorpe and his
co-defendants on 22 June.
http://www.liberalhistory.org.uk/record.jsp?type=page&ID=107&liberalbiographies=liberalbiographies

http://www.politicos.co.uk/item.jsp?ID=2358

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