I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS

I have a number of serious concerns

About the situation Craig Murray is facing. It seems very dangerous to me to convict anyone of a crime nobody can specify. Jigsaw identification, what is that? What is included? Seemingly it can include anything that has been written, even articles that have been written years before, long before any trial. We know , especially from the published opinion poll, that demonstrated conclusively that amongst those that did claim to know the identity of at least one of the alphabet women, they felt other articles, written by other journalists had enabled that identification. In the case of Dani Garavelli ten times the number felt she had identified at least one alphabet woman while Kirsty Wark was named four times more often than Craig Murray. Somewhere, someone took the decision to ignore this and charge Craig Murray rather than those the public thought had created any “offence”.

The evidence, as far I can see is that this “offence” is being applied selectively. That seems to be a very dangerous law that is inherently unfair, requiring interpretation by a judge, to either punish or ignore, an unregulated subjective consideration. Guilty or innocent on a whim seems a very real problem.

When a charge is as vague as this you would hope the bar as to guilt would be set high in order to protect against wrongful conviction. I would argue the bar, which is a vague one at best, is set incredibly low. I know the names of the alphabet women but even with that knowledge I would struggle to identify any of them from what Craig has written. That of course is now irrelevant, he has been convicted and he has been denied any right of appeal under Scottish law. He must look elsewhere for justice.

A second major concern is the severity of the sentence. Eight months seems very excessive when there is zero evidence that his “crime” had any impact on any “victim”. Jail should be a last resort. It should only be used if there is any evidence the “guilty” person is a threat or danger to society. Are they suggesting Craig fits that description? A sixty year old man, a former Ambassador, father of two, including a baby of only a few months?.

Worse is there not guidance that suggests if any prison sentence attracts less than a one year sentence then it would be better that a heavy fine be used instead?

Seems clear this is a political conviction and normal rules no longer apply. Craig is a thorn in the side of the establishment both within and out with Scotland. A prominent supporter of Julian Assange there is no shortage of establishment figures anxious to exact revenge on him. That they have succeeded using the flimsiest of cases is evidence of how amenable the Scottish justice system is these days to these influences. The reputation of our prosecution service now lies in tatters as Nicola’s cabinet toady does as he is told regarding her political opponents. How long before all those appearing in court must display rainbow badges and take an oath to Stonewall before any case can get underway. I hope that last sentence is just a joke but these days who knows?

Finally my final concern relates to Lady Dorrian’s explanation that bloggers must be held to a stricter code that members of the mainstream media, because the MSM have to operate within a voluntary code through IPSO a regulatory body administered by the industry themselves.

How many bloggers have tapped phones to get a story? How many bloggers have chased and pursued the relatives of a dead child for a story? The idea that someone, taken off the street to work for the Mail or the Sun instantly has a higher moral standard than someone like Craig Murray is patent nonsense. Laughable other than that is the stated view of Lady Dorrian and that is how she operates in court. This may well explain why Dani Garavelli and Kirsty Wark are left clear of any prosecution. If so then the law is an ass. It is certainly not being equitably enforced. That, in my book, makes it bad law. Unjust law.

To me this case highlights injustice rather than justice, the sentence to me is grossly excessive and flies in the face of appropriate sentences, Craig is being victimized, he will be, if he faces jail be Scotland’s first political prisoner convicted for a non specific “crime” that is open to the most intense examination into its fairness. We have an unspecified, victimless “crime” when the judge’s interpretation and supposition forms the sole evidence against him.

No doubt Nicola will celebrate, having failed to set up Alex Salmond, her pals failure to nail Mark Hirst she can finally chalk up Craig on her scoreboard. It will be short lived, she had better pray nothing happens to Craig if he is finally jailed. The whole of Scotland knows all about who is behind these charges. Out with Scotland our Justice System will suffer the reputational international damage such a shoddy, political conviction deserves.

The First Minister will be tarnished, more will become aware of the real Nicola Sturgeon, long after Craig’s temporary incarceration she will be remembered as someone who lost all semblance of decency and allowed the evil, vindictive side of her personality to overwhelm any decency and honour she might once have possessed. Another sad day for Scotland under her failed leadership. Scotland deserves better, much better.

I am, as always

Yours for Scotland.

BEAT THE CENSORS

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