News - Febraury 2008

Friday 22nd February 2008

Well, not long back in from the Smoke (aka 'London') after Sylvie's Stomp around Westminster! What can you say, to all those that turned out, two bus loads with others arriving by train from around the country and travelling down by car to get involved, all midweek was just incredible, thank you.

It was foggy as we left the village which felt a bit like the fog that has hung over all involved for the last few years or so, but the sun tried to break through as we arrived on the embankment. Maybe at the end of all this the fog that some of these experts hide in will also be blown away.

It really amazes me that the more I read about what certain experts say in Shaken Baby Cases or Sudden Impact cases changes from one case to another a total turnaround. One case its black the next its white, give me my money and I'll be off, seems the general theme.

Now the money as a motive is a long standing gripe, but the fact the CPS maybe don't look at the experts very closely and say 'hang on didn't you always say you needed x, y and z'? Yet in the next case you said you don't......which is it?

Here is a thought, can it be a fair trial if all the experts are technically working for the Crown (Government). Or if working in their own time then they must be an independent expert, so they lose the protection that the Crown gives them so people in cases like this and many others can then sue them for damages. Of course though if they work for Government bodies the money they earn, must go into the public purse...right as a revenue stream?

You see it’s not the money that worries me. I would quite happily take all the Scouts on a camp somewhere, if awarded compensation, but let’s see if they, the experts, are then brave enough to put their money where their opinions are and agree to not have that protection. I believe that in the States a couple accused of SBS/SIDS are suing the 'experts' as it was found out to be wrong. I am trying to find out more to se if it’s something we could have in the UK.

Maybe with the risk of their lives being totally destroyed they (the experts) may not be so hasty to give opinions on theories. These renegade 'experts' need bringing to heel and as an ex dog handler I reckon I can help in my small way. But when this ends I amongst others will be demanding a Public enquiry into why after the guidance in the Harris case and all the other miscarriages of justice, does this just keep on happening. British Justice used to be held in high regard......

I was chatting to a family member a little while ago, as some of you may know I looked in to moving abroad to Australia to join the Police there, in truth I looked at New Zealand, Canada and a few of the Caribbean Islands. The Caribbean ones in a lot of cases you had to be single, I didn't mind, but apparently Keran and the Kids did?!! But a friend recently moved out to start Policing in Canada and I have a good few friends who are cops in Oz. Anyway my cousin was asking if I had seen the recent adverts, but obviously with everything going on though, it's an option on the back burner.

I must admit it did start me thinking about patrolling Wide Open spaces like Oz, as I am used to that...in Central London, we had Kangaroos and Wallabies in Regents Park if I remember rightly! I have patrolled Beaches before (whilst in the forces - not many in London...though there are some I looked), so Bondi sounds like my kind of 'patch'. Surfing too!

It has been awhile since thinking Policey thoughts, but it also came on the back of a letter Keran had received form another prisoner, at another jail, saying how much they supported her and also how sad it was that I left the Police. I have another letter to send to Keran from another Prisoner who wrote to the HQ after again reading the article in the press, saying how shocked they were at the system. Neither protesting their innocence nor asking for anything, they had just taken the time to care. Presently I am never ceased to be amazed at the world around us for all the doom and gloom, there is so much good, why don't we focus on that?

But to finish on the Police point, one of the writers I just mentioned said it was a shame the Police had lost me (I know some colleagues that would disagree!! ;-)  ) But when your faith has been rocked it takes it out of you. I do miss it at times and there are of course many good cops out there, who are just sometimes so tired of it all and just get on with what has to be done. Maybe they all need a change, and we should all go off to OZ! Many UK officers do go, some come back, but maybe a change is a good as a rest!

A new report recently said that we can't sustain the number of Police Officers we have now in the UK....do you think we have enough? Maybe that’s the Home Office way of saying go now! Cos we ain't paying you anymore anyway!

Sorry the experts led me off the garden path there.......back to the Hike around London!

Moving back to the Stomp things moved on and we met up with our local MP Dominic Grieve and John Hemmings MP, at Parliament, to hand over the first petition not just stating Keran's case but that of all the others like hers should not proceed unless backed up with 'real' evidence. We passed by a campaign for an English Parliament, looking good with all the flags of St George (you don't see enough flags in London, English & British especially - but hats off to the Prison service, they do fly them).
We also passed the guy who protests about the War, now that’s a man with staying power, unlike some of the people who sent our troops in under equipped.

Just a thought maybe those that send them in should go in to combat too? With no Body Armour, not enough Helicopters to CASEVAC you out or enough bullets? Nawh.......we will be out without a shoot being fired didn't someone once say......read your history......is what I said at the time but what do I know. Anyway on my soap box again so moving along....

From there with Police escort we headed to The Ministry of Justice to had a copy over to Jack Straws team before taking a short break in St James Park for snacks and 'comfort' breaks (people wouldn't believe me when I said they had to go to the loo in the bushes - the WC's are hidden in them, I wasn't encouraging any offences, honest).

Whilst we waited I set the challenge to the kids to find the machine gun nests covering the park and Horse-guard's parade and the Mall, they are there you just got to know where to look. Next time you're in London have a look. You thought big brother was bad nowadays tapping phones and CCTV, well in 1940 they had Bren Guns overlooking you!

It was so nice having so many Kids, Young Adults and the Young at Heart on board today, because they are truly what means so much to Keran and that’s why this ridiculous charge hurts her so much.

Once refreshed we left the Park and headed up via the Clive Steps to No.10. Once there, our youngest son (the eldest waited outside - not sure if he trusted me to knock at the right door!), myself, Sylvie, Alison, Suzanne and Mandy made our way down to NO.10 after being searched - some people asked to be searched twice (...no names...no pack drill). The BBC had two crews there one from Panorama and the other from BBC London. My son even through this nightmare he has lived through, got a little treat, which was to ring the door bell at No.10, we did think about ringing and running away, but we felt the copper on the door might point out which way we had gone and give the game away!

So we handed over the petition, to then return to the crowd of people outside, I can't adequately describe what this all feels like at times, at the heart of all of this is the sad loss of Maeve, but then as I walked out with my son I had so many mixed emotions for those responsible for wrongly imprisoning my wife. But once out of the gates and seeing all those dozens of people brings it right back to you. If we do get a retrial and God willing we do, we didn't call all the Character Witnesses and supporters but next time we will, and by God I will personally question these blinkered profiteering experts. Just looking at the support fills me with strength and the boys.

A massive thanks has to go to Sylvie and team for organising the petition drop, having to liaise with the Met Police, the MP's, Downing Street, and the Ministry of Justice. Well done, someone suggested you organise a tour of London next with me doing the tour with Tony the Coach driver! For a fee, all for the funds of course. But not sure London is ready for that!

Big thanks to the Officers who saw us safely through London and into the places we needed to be.

The day before Sylvie's Stomp as we nicknamed it, myself and the boys got to see Keran for 5 hours on a family day, it was the closet to real family time we have had in many months, the boys gets to talk to their mum, usually slating my cooking (they loved Jane's Cake though - I should have claimed credit for that), washing, ironing etc! But I can take it, had to take worse over the last few years after all!!

Time on visits is never long enough and I am glad the boys are so strong and of an age they can understand a bit more, as the week before we watched as two little children, one boy and one girl, had to be nearly torn from their mums at the end of their visits by their other parent. God alone knows what damage that could do long term.

As I have sat and wrote this update it is now officially 100 days since Keran was wrongfully imprisoned. For those that had a part in my wife's wrongful imprisonment, may God have mercy on your souls, cos quite frankly, I still ain't that big enough to forgive you yet. Maybe in time, but to have to see my boys leave their mum, is something I cannot forgive and something I find disgusting, appalling and shocking after all the other miscarriages.

Regards to all of you

Iain and Family

Wednesday 20th February 2008

Prosecution Witness Waney Squier casts grave doubts on the conviction of Keran Henderson

In a piece on the News at Ten tonight two jurors and expert Prosecution Witness Waney Squier cast further doubt on the safety of Keran’s conviction.

The jurors, who had already come out with their concerns said they felt angry and concerned at the verdict.

They said that the evidence they heard in the court room was very confusing, which begs the question, if the jury didn’t understand what they were hearing, how could they find her guilty?

One of the jurors summed it up perfectly with the sentence, “What appears as evidence is opinion and that’s how that case was judged.”

Then more damningly for the conviction against Keran, Prosecution witness in the case Waney Squier said there was bleeding and swelling indicating some sort of impact but you couldn’t say how that happened.

“It’s quite impossible to tell from neuropathology whether this was accidental or inflicted and its quite impossible to say whether it happened within 2 hours or 24 hours of death.We just can’t be that precise. We don’t have the mechanisms to do that.”

Then in one of the most important parts of the piece she went on to say that, “As far as shaking is concerned there’s nothing in at all in this case that would suggest to me that this is a shaking injury.”

The appeal is being prepared, but surely after this there can be no reason for it not to be heard.

Wednesday 20th February 2008

Today's 'Stomp' was a great success. The march to hand in the Petition went extremely well. Read more about it here. Well done to Sylvia for an excellently organised event.

Thursday 14th February 2008

Kendrick - Not Gulity!

We are extremely pleased Colin Kendrick has been found not guilty. The jury have heard from two of the same experts used in Keran’s case and reached a different verdict so we are hope that this is yet another reason for the Attorney General to review her case. We wish Colin and Sarah Jane the best of luck in rebuilding their shattered lives.

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During this case, the evidence of Professor Rupert Risdon, one of the experts in Keran's case was disputed by other experts. Below is an article from 'The Echo; during the trial.

Tot death: ‘Shaking not likely’

AN AMERICAN pathologist said there was "no convincing evidence" a toddler who suffered head and body injuries was shaken to death.

Dr John Plunkett said 19-month-old Aimee Collins's brain, spinal cord and abdominal injuries may not have been caused by an assault.

Professor Rupert Risdon, the UK's only paediatric forensic pathologist, had previously told Basildon Crown Court the toddler was probably attacked within 15-minutes of her mother, Sarah-Jane Collins, leaving the flat she shared with Colin Kendrick, in Eden Green, South Ockendon.

Dr Plunkett said this was possible but "extremely unlikely".

He told the court yesterday: "If shaking caused Aimee's injuries, she would have had to have been subjected to a force in excess of 2,100lbs.

"In addition she most likely would have suffered major structural neck damage."

Kendrick, 31, denies murdering Aimee on December 6, 2005.

The trial continues.

30/01/08

6th February 2008

It has been decided by the Carers4carers committee that, for various reasons, the ribbons and posters in Iver Heath and surrounding areas will be taken down.

We appreciate that there are strong feelings within the area that they should remain, but we would request that they are not put back up and if you wish to show your support for Keran, please do so on your private property.

The Committee are looking into other ways to show the community support for Keran so please check the website in the near future!