Thursday, December 21, 2006

We The Jury...

Stephen Wright has been charged with the murder of the five women from Ipswich.

Already there is speculation concerning the murders of three prostitutes in Norwich, who used a pub that he ran at one point - though not one gathers at the time that these women were killed.

What else do we know about Stephen Wright from the newspapers? That he is believed to have known Suzy Lamplugh, that he was a user of prostitutes in both Norwich and Ipswich and, according to the women there, was in the habit of cross-dressing when looking for women for sex, that he 'gave them the creeps' and that some of them at least refused to trade with him. It has been suggested by at least one of the working girls in Ipswich that he took prostitutes home - a house close to the red-light district - when his partner was out working at night. The perfect murder scene? That is an implication.

Newspapers have also said that his arrest followed the finding of DNA evidence at the scene of the findings of at least two of the women - where their bodies were found though not believed to be the murder scene itself.

A newspaper photograph shows Stephen Wright standing behind a woman with his hands round her throat. This photograph has probably been supplied by an ex-wife or girlfriend.

If there is the evidence in court to convict "beyond reasonable doubt" then pray God justice is done. But do I sit here tonight thinking "innocent until proven guilty"? Yes I do, but I am struggling with another voice that says "Looks like it to me. All adds up. Got to be him."

But then wasn't that what we were all thinking two days ago with the first suspect arrested, Tom Stephens, who has now been released on police bail pending further enquiries?

We - and it will be some of us - the jury decide.

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