[IzzyS]

Originally Posted by jamtamara

"Two days of having to give evidence in the witness box — something she had never wanted to do – and being given an understandably tough time by Brewer’s barrister, brought to the surface, in her own words, why witnesses in sex abuse trials are so reluctant to come to court.

The coping strategies she had used over the years to dissociate the grown up, loving mother-of-four from the girl that endured a hellish early life were useless when faced with the humiliation she felt she would cause her husband and four children.

Why she chose to apparently take her own life within a week of giving evidence remains a mystery, but her death raises serious questions about the pressure placed on reluctant witnesses to give evidence, and undoubtedly Mrs Andrade felt under great pressure over the court case.

Mrs Andrade, 48, had not reported Michael Brewer’s crimes to the police, and said she had never wanted the case to come to court..."

"For more than three decades, Frances Andrade had coped with the memories of the horrendous abuse she had suffered at the hands of the teacher she trusted and looked up to. "

"...“It’s been a difficult year and Frances has felt pummelled from all sides, having to give statements to the police, with her husband being ill. I don’t think she really had the strength inside her to cope with it all.”

Judge Martin Rutland said that Mrs Andrade was “clearly undergoing a cathartic experience, whatever the source”, while giving evidence.

He said that Miss Blackwell had acted professionally, something even Mrs Andrade had admitted, telling the barrister: “You are hugely insulting, but it’s your job.”

However, on January 24 it was disclosed in court, but not to the jury, that Mrs Andrade had died. A day earlier, the jury, on direction from the judge, recorded not guilty verdicts on five counts of indecent assault against Brewer due to insufficient evidence on how old Mrs Andrade was at the time. Brewer was eventually convicted on five other charges of indecent assault against Mrs Andrade..."

Among many other points, expect to be "hugely insulted" if you are a victim who in this instance did not want to go to court. It is apparently "the barrister's job".

She said that she did it "To help others" obviously under coercion by the police.

Why was she not given equal rights? This definitely highlights the need for change in the system.

I've heard about this story in passing through the news - very sad I haven't read too much about it, though I note in your post above it seems to say that she didn't want the case to go to court originally. I presume another victim came forward and agreed to take him to court? I imagine she felt alot of pressure to be a corroborating witness or whatever the correct legal term is. If she was put under alot of pressure to give her testimony and then questioned so harshly by the barrister, thats got to be a tough position for her to have been put in but if he may have been acquitted or not found guilty without her testimony then I can understand that.

It can be hard to realise peoples mental states though, people can be in a bad way and not necessarily show it. Perhaps she could have given a pre-recorded statement via video camera or provided a written statement or something like that? but of course that would eliminate the chance to question the witness...it sounds like their intimating thats what may have caused such upset though (understandably so).

Anyway, the few women mentioned in the CPS report re JS all decided to drop the charges and he was, obviously, never taken to court.

[Sad_BB_Addict]

"POLICE probing an underage sex ring at the heart of Maggie Thatcher’s government were warned: “Stop investigating if you want to keep your jobs.”"
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/279380

[Jo March]

Originally Posted by rionia

But in the same article it also says.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are aware of media reports from the 1980s about papers *collected by Geoffrey Dickens.

“Files from that time are no *longer held centrally by the department, but work is underway to find out what relevant documents have been archived.”

Let's hope it's successful then.

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Elm Guest House
http://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Pupils accuse 3rd teacher of abuse at top music school
http://twitter.yfrog.com/11pu18j

Ten women come forward with new claims after suicide of witness in trial against choirmaster
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/fe...r-abuse-school

[IzzyS]

If its of any interest at all, I spotted a tweet to this article about the ancient Knights of Malta in modern world, yesterday:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21396696

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Abuse victim Frances Andrade was told not to seek therapy, family claim
The family of a sex abuse victim who took her own life after giving evidence at her abuser’s trial have accused the police of warning her not to seek therapy for fear of damaging the prosecution case.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ily-claim.html

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Abuse at another music school
http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stor...ormat=rss&sb=1

[i4u]

Originally Posted by IzzyS

I've heard about this story in passing through the news - very sad I haven't read too much about it, though I note in your post above it seems to say that she didn't want the case to go to court originally. I presume another victim came forward and agreed to take him to court? I imagine she felt alot of pressure to be a corroborating witness or whatever the correct legal term is.

I can't find the full details online but Francis Andrade had told a friend who also knew Brewer. The friend was concerned Brewer still had connections with teaching youths she informed the police of the allegations.

The jury had been told that Andrade had not initiated the police investigation which led to the trial. It was the mother of one of her violin pupils who raised the alarm in 2011, the court heard.

Andrade told the jury she had been furious at the woman's intervention but agreed to give evidence against Brewer.

Ms Andrade had been adopted, she said from the age of age 8 an uncle had sexually abused her which continued to her wedding day in 1988.

....when she claimed the uncle squeezed her breast and whispered: "Remember I was there first."

Francis Andrade told the court that in 2002 she reported to the police inappropriare sexual behaviour by another tutor at the establishment. At the same time she contacted Brewer suggesting he had himself to the police.

[JoanMel]

Originally Posted by nanscombe

Since this is a relatively new thread why not just start a new thread for the Operation Yewtree updates and start to put some distance between these people and Jimmy Savile?

There is probably no connection between most, if not all, of these people

There is also a danger that everyone is going to end up tarnished with the same brush, even if they don't deserve it.

Agreed.

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Blog from an ex-Chethams student
http://ianpace.wordpress.com/2013/02...assical-music/


Police investigating the new Chethams cases.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...41#TWEET596997

[Sad_BB_Addict]

ExaroNews‏@ExaroNews

One councillor told Exaro that a political clash was behind Louis Minster’s sacking as Richmond council’s DSS. http://www.exaronews.com/articles/48...ster-s-sacking …


See no evil,Hear no evil, Speak no evil: Richmond’s amnesia on child abuse
David Hencke
http://davidhencke.wordpress.com/

[Sad_BB_Addict]

This thread has averaged 1687 views per day over the last 5 days.

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Local newspaper coverage of the Chetham's cases
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....report-1310371


Article in a music industry magazine about pupil-teacher relationships.
http://www.thestrad.com/BlogArticle.asp?bID=233

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Guardian has the correspondence about the employment of Malcolm Layfield.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interac...-layfield-rncm

[rumandlime]

looking at the case and circumstances of that poor woman who took her own life after having to give evidence in the trial of the alleged pedo music teacher.
crikey.
can you imagine the genuine cases of child abuse out there where the now adult victim prefers to keep the whole thing buried ,mainly as a way of dealing with living with it and living with it.
i can totall understand why not all victims would even want to go through this kind of suffering when they have already found a way of living with it through the years.
I'd bet there are thousands of monsters out there who are still benefiting from this very scenario.

[IzzyS]

Originally Posted by Sad_BB_Addict

This thread has averaged 1687 views per day over the last 5 days.

No doubt mainly thanks to your regular news/article updates

[inquirer64]

Originally Posted by IzzyS

No doubt mainly thanks to your regular news/article updates

Completely agree. Sad_BB_Addict's efforts are greatly appreciated.

And can we please stick to this thread, at least for now. JS was involved with sexually abusing the young and vulnerable. This links in with all that has been going on elsewhere.

The links also show how authorities choose to ignore, even when the perpetrator confesses! Shocking and almost unbelievable!!

[IzzyS]

Originally Posted by inquirer64

Completely agree. Sad_BB_Addict's efforts are greatly appreciated.

And can we please stick to this thread, at least for now. JS was involved with sexually abusing the young and vulnerable. This links in with all that has been going on elsewhere.

The links also show how authorities choose to ignore, even when the perpetrator confesses! Shocking and almost unbelievable!!

Have I been going too off topic? I haven't noticed much of relevance about him in the media recently. Presumably we'll hear more in the future as investigations conclude...

[inquirer64]

Originally Posted by IzzyS

Have I been going too off topic? I haven't noticed much of relevance about him in the media recently. Presumably we'll hear more in the future as investigations conclude...

No. Abuse covers all spectrums. JS was just one of many who were allowed to get away with it. By having one thread, how and why this happened is slowly being revealed.

[IzzyS]

Originally Posted by inquirer64

No. Abuse covers all spectrums. JS was just one of many who were allowed to get away with it. By having one thread, how and why this happened is slowly being revealed.

True. I can be a bit random though...if I see any relevant news/info etc. worth sharing that hasn't been posted then ill share, of course.

[i4u]

Dr Valerie Sinason's first 'satanic abuse' victim Carol Myers....

A letter from one consultant psychiatrist to another said: "As you are aware, the original referral was made through Dr Fleur Fisher because Carole (sic) was experiencing a great deal of emotional distress because of the work she was doing with the Police in re-living distressing details of the alleged satanic ritual abuse she suffered as a child."

The Felsteads have established there was no such police investigation.

[i4u]

1988 article relating to Geoffrey Dickens and a 'witch hunt'.

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Rather salacious coverage of Chetham's by the Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#axzz2KfENsMzV

[i4u]

It's Chetham's, what you get up to at Chatham dockyards is your own buisness.