Police inquiries

[Deleted Member 1156]

Down in my neck of the woods recently there has been a well publicised case of a missing 19 year old teenage girl. During the investigations, 3 people were arrested and charged with murder then subsequently released before her body was found. Sadly, her body has now been found and the post mortem so far has indicated there was no foul play and the death is 'unexplained'.

I find it strange that the police charged people with murder before finding the body and while the case was still being treated as a missing person.

Can anyone shed any light on why the police would take this course of action?

 

[Kellfire]

Can anyone shed any light on why the police would take this course of action?

It's just a matter of feeling they have enough evidence to charge someone, as simple as that. They obviously felt they did, even without the body to prove it.

 

[JollyRedDevil]

Were they actually charged though. I think it was more a case being arrested and questioned, which they can do if they suspect someone. To actually charge anyone they need to be sure that it stands out in a court of law.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Could it be to do with the amount of time they are allowed to keep someone in custody for questioning without being charged? By charging them they then have a greater length of time for the questioning.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Were they actually charged though. I think it was more a case being arrested and questioned, which they can do if they suspect someone. To actually charge anyone they need to be sure that it stands out in a court of law.

Thinking about it I think you may be correct, I seem to remember the news articles saying 'arrested' rather than 'charged'

As stated by Bunkermagnet, does that give the police more time to question suspects?

And isn't the usual phrase 'helping police with their inquiries'??

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Midnight or BiM will probably be along to explain properly, but I believe it’s the CPS that actually call the “charge” and the Police then issue the charge, as above says, the Police can arrest on suspicion of an offence while they investigate.

 

[FuzzyDuck]

I think the arrest(s) was purely so the subsequent police interview would be under caution and hence any evidence gathered would be admissible in court.

I have personally experience of this, as I was arrested for a suspected motoring offence and interviewed under caution and then bailed. For the record the charge was subsequently dropped when the results of the investigation were available.

 

[Dasit]

Could not imagine how awful it must be to be arrested and charged as an innocent person.


Totally shapes the rest of your life. To be innocent and have your name out there linked to a horrific murder case is awful

 

[User2021]

All three were arrested on Murder and subsequently released under investigation and finally released from investigation.
The law is an arse in this instance because innocent people get named and that stigma will unfortunately stick.
Flip side is the Police are doing in their eyes all they can to find a young girl hopefully alive.

In some ways reporting of names until charged or even found guilty would be better, but in some cases that stops further claims or evidence coming forward.

Damned if you do damned if you dont'

 

[jim8flog]

I think the arrest(s) was purely so the subsequent police interview would be under caution and hence any evidence gathered would be admissible in court.

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