Matthew Hamlen found not guilty of Georgina murder (From Daily Echo)

To me, the evidence seemed flimsy at best. Now let's hope the culprit can be brought to justice for such a horrific crime.

Obviously this leaves many questions answered for the family, I'm sure all our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

Shoong wrote:
To me, the evidence seemed flimsy at best. Now let's hope the culprit can be brought to justice for such a horrific crime.

Obviously this leaves many questions answered for the family, I'm sure all our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

*Unanswered, apologies.

I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Another attempted stitch up by the CPC

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Unless you are an integral part of this investigation, which I wager you're not as you wouldn't be making such comments here, you have only the sanitised court/newspaper reports of the evidence available, and unless the files are released you will never know the full facts. To get a case of this magnitude to trial requires a massive level of work and it won't get this far without a 'reasonable chance of conviction'.
Whilst I am not saying Hamlen is or isn't guilty, the burden of proof..'beyond reasonable doubt'...is a huge one, and such a short sighted comment such as yours does nothing to help a family cope with their grief or a man rehabilitate to life on the outside.

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote: I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Unless you are an integral part of this investigation, which I wager you're not as you wouldn't be making such comments here, you have only the sanitised court/newspaper reports of the evidence available, and unless the files are released you will never know the full facts. To get a case of this magnitude to trial requires a massive level of work and it won't get this far without a 'reasonable chance of conviction'. Whilst I am not saying Hamlen is or isn't guilty, the burden of proof..'beyond reasonable doubt'...is a huge one, and such a short sighted comment such as yours does nothing to help a family cope with their grief or a man rehabilitate to life on the outside.

not being horrible feel for georginas family as they still havent found the murderer they have had their hopes up for the INNOCENT PERSON that was charged and found not guilty to be found guilty im sorry but they didnt do they job properly if they did they would have arrested and charged the right person not the innocent person. Its disgusting how the system works these days. i can see its all apologies to the edmonds family but wheres the apologies for the person that was wrongfully accused and charge what about him and his family come on sort this out

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Unless you are an integral part of this investigation, which I wager you're not as you wouldn't be making such comments here, you have only the sanitised court/newspaper reports of the evidence available, and unless the files are released you will never know the full facts. To get a case of this magnitude to trial requires a massive level of work and it won't get this far without a 'reasonable chance of conviction'.
Whilst I am not saying Hamlen is or isn't guilty, the burden of proof..'beyond reasonable doubt'...is a huge one, and such a short sighted comment such as yours does nothing to help a family cope with their grief or a man rehabilitate to life on the outside.

There's always one who still think the guys guilty using the old reasonable doubt argument. I wonder what all this extra evidence was that wasn't reported in the press? Hmmmmm.

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

If there was 'no evidence' it would not have gone to court. There was eveidence and so the CPS decided to take it to court.
For you to fairly comment on the process, you need to understand it first.
Police gather evidence and give that to the CPS. CPS would decide to take this to court based on that evidence, not the police. The CPS then prosecute the case, not the police.
Due to budgets, CPS only take cases to court if they believe there is a good chance of winning but obviously there is always room for a different outcome, as with any case.
Becasue this is a court of law, to be found guilty you have to be guilty beyond 'all reasonable doubt' which is pretty much almost 100% sure you believe he did it. This is very hard to prove as funnily enough, when people commit crimes, they try to cover their tracks.
This could be heard in the civil court and he could be found guilty in that court as that is based on 'reasonable suspicion'.
He may very well have commited this crime but it was too hard to make 12people pretty much 100% sure of that.
He may also be innocent but seeing as there was evidence to suggest his guilt, it was correct to arrest him. It would have been negligent if they did not.

Matthew Hamlen was always innocent and his life has been ruined as a result of gross mishandling by Hampshire Constabulary, CPS and the legal system. I hope Hamlen receives massive compensation and thank goodness the jurors saw sense and delivered the right verdict.

userds5050 wrote:

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Unless you are an integral part of this investigation, which I wager you're not as you wouldn't be making such comments here, you have only the sanitised court/newspaper reports of the evidence available, and unless the files are released you will never know the full facts. To get a case of this magnitude to trial requires a massive level of work and it won't get this far without a 'reasonable chance of conviction'.
Whilst I am not saying Hamlen is or isn't guilty, the burden of proof..'beyond reasonable doubt'...is a huge one, and such a short sighted comment such as yours does nothing to help a family cope with their grief or a man rehabilitate to life on the outside.

There's always one who still think the guys guilty using the old reasonable doubt argument. I wonder what all this extra evidence was that wasn't reported in the press? Hmmmmm.

At what point did I say he was guilty? I think you'll find all I did was explain a little about the factual process that has just been undertaken....in fact you may like to re-read my post..."whilst I am not saying Hamlen IS OR IS NOT GUILTY"...

thesouth wrote:

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

If there was 'no evidence' it would not have gone to court. There was eveidence and so the CPS decided to take it to court.
For you to fairly comment on the process, you need to understand it first.
Police gather evidence and give that to the CPS. CPS would decide to take this to court based on that evidence, not the police. The CPS then prosecute the case, not the police.
Due to budgets, CPS only take cases to court if they believe there is a good chance of winning but obviously there is always room for a different outcome, as with any case.
Becasue this is a court of law, to be found guilty you have to be guilty beyond 'all reasonable doubt' which is pretty much almost 100% sure you believe he did it. This is very hard to prove as funnily enough, when people commit crimes, they try to cover their tracks.
This could be heard in the civil court and he could be found guilty in that court as that is based on 'reasonable suspicion'.
He may very well have commited this crime but it was too hard to make 12people pretty much 100% sure of that.
He may also be innocent but seeing as there was evidence to suggest his guilt, it was correct to arrest him. It would have been negligent if they did not.

The evidence presented by the prosecution was all circumstantial.

Following the verdict of not guilty, if the police and CPS that convinced of the man's guilt, they (I presume) would have said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to this crime,,,it has been done many times before.

My thoughts go to Edmonds family, 4 years and still no nearer the truth.

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote:

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Unless you are an integral part of this investigation, which I wager you're not as you wouldn't be making such comments here, you have only the sanitised court/newspaper reports of the evidence available, and unless the files are released you will never know the full facts. To get a case of this magnitude to trial requires a massive level of work and it won't get this far without a 'reasonable chance of conviction'.
Whilst I am not saying Hamlen is or isn't guilty, the burden of proof..'beyond reasonable doubt'...is a huge one, and such a short sighted comment such as yours does nothing to help a family cope with their grief or a man rehabilitate to life on the outside.

There's always one who still think the guys guilty using the old reasonable doubt argument. I wonder what all this extra evidence was that wasn't reported in the press? Hmmmmm.

At what point did I say he was guilty? I think you'll find all I did was explain a little about the factual process that has just been undertaken....in fact you may like to re-read my post..."whilst I am not saying Hamlen IS OR IS NOT GUILTY"...

I don't need to re read it. It's obvious by your reply what you think. The fact is Matthew Hamlen was found NOT GUILTY by 11 (not 12 , try reading up on the case thesouth) jurors. The CPS don't always get it right. Cases very often get thrown out by the judge because he feels there isn't enough evidence. This is was should of happened in this case. Instead the Edmonds family had to sit through weeks of evidence when there was only going to be one outcome. A NOT GUILTY verdict.

J.K. wrote:
Another attempted stitch up by the CPC

CPC?

So!, "Who dun it"? who is the person at the hole in the wall, I have, from the start, been convinced that his mode of dress is his every day working attire, and it's not rocket science to work out those who fit the bill, no abacus needed there. Better better put Ruth Rendal on it.

userds5050 wrote:

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote:

UncleF wrote:

userds5050 wrote:
I'm sorry but heads need to roll at Hampshire Constabulary and the CPS. This should never have gone to trial. There was no evidence. The face that Matthew Hamlen spent a year on remand and even longer on police bail is an utter disgrace. Where's his apology?

Unless you are an integral part of this investigation, which I wager you're not as you wouldn't be making such comments here, you have only the sanitised court/newspaper reports of the evidence available, and unless the files are released you will never know the full facts. To get a case of this magnitude to trial requires a massive level of work and it won't get this far without a 'reasonable chance of conviction'.
Whilst I am not saying Hamlen is or isn't guilty, the burden of proof..'beyond reasonable doubt'...is a huge one, and such a short sighted comment such as yours does nothing to help a family cope with their grief or a man rehabilitate to life on the outside.

There's always one who still think the guys guilty using the old reasonable doubt argument. I wonder what all this extra evidence was that wasn't reported in the press? Hmmmmm.

At what point did I say he was guilty? I think you'll find all I did was explain a little about the factual process that has just been undertaken....in fact you may like to re-read my post..."whilst I am not saying Hamlen IS OR IS NOT GUILTY"...

I don't need to re read it. It's obvious by your reply what you think. The fact is Matthew Hamlen was found NOT GUILTY by 11 (not 12 , try reading up on the case thesouth) jurors. The CPS don't always get it right. Cases very often get thrown out by the judge because he feels there isn't enough evidence. This is was should of happened in this case. Instead the Edmonds family had to sit through weeks of evidence when there was only going to be one outcome. A NOT GUILTY verdict.

Very kind of you to let me know what I think. I trust you are happy for me to tell you your opinion on something when I feel it appropriate?

The real disgrace in cases like these is that the bloke was on remand and not on supervised bail.

Leaving aside the human rights issue of loss of liberty for a year for a crime he did not commit but presumably he lost his job, mates etc.

eurogordi wrote:
Matthew Hamlen was always innocent and his life has been ruined as a result of gross mishandling by Hampshire Constabulary, CPS and the legal system. I hope Hamlen receives massive compensation and thank goodness the jurors saw sense and delivered the right verdict.

i so agree on everything you are saying

Thank god for that. I went to school with Matt, and used to drink in the same pub. Mickey mouse would have been a more credible suspect. The police need to take a long hard look at themselves after this.

SotonGreen wrote:
The real disgrace in cases like these is that the bloke was on remand and not on supervised bail.

Leaving aside the human rights issue of loss of liberty for a year for a crime he did not commit but presumably he lost his job, mates etc.

His mates have stuck by him all along, hell be okay.

How much has that cost the taxpayer for the plods stupidity again?
police funds shortage! should try with the C.P.S. to get there perspectives right!

DCI Paul Barton says on this video:

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=js-3ln1Hf
iU

"this is a brutal murder where things just don't make sense"

Really? So why go to court with a case which is nonsensical? Agreed, it doesn't make any sense for anyone to torture an old lady for a PIN number then try it out some 7 hours later at his leisure after her death. DCI Barton needs ditch his assumptions and put on his thinking cap. Maybe the murder was nothing to do with any PIN number? Perhaps that was just a diversion.

Most crimes do make some sort of sense. Is this really an exception?

Just to continue: I'm suggesting that the guy in the yellow coat at the ATM had nothing to do with the murder. Yes, he knew he was committing a crime in trying out a bank card, and incorrect PIN, he'd found, probably earlier that evening, but he would have been completely unaware of its origins or he wouldn't have taken such a risk.
That makes sense. Doesn't it? And the timing too makes much more sense.

CHARLIE TAYLOR wrote:
How much has that cost the taxpayer for the plods stupidity again?
police funds shortage! should try with the C.P.S. to get there perspectives right!

The CPS aren't part of the police force.

well done matty

The Echo could better help solve this crime if they didn't just repeat the discredited police line.

For instance even though Matt Hamlen has been acquitted this is still being said:

"Frail and vulnerable, she was tortured with a knife before being battered to death with a marble rolling pin kept on her kitchen worktop."

http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/9485764.
Murder_that_may_neve
r_be_solved/

Yet according to this report:

http://www.hampshire
chronicle.co.uk/news
/9383297.Georgina_Ed
monds__alleged_murde
rer_s_DNA_found_on_r
olling_pin__court_he
ars/

The SOCO (Michael Appleby) reported

that she appeared to have suffered a number of stab wounds to the back of her neck and at least one blow, probably more, to her head.

He said he couldn’t say whether the blow was struck or the knife wound inflicted first.

Does it matter? Well yes it does. Its quite possible that Mrs Edmonds wasn't tortured for her pin number and the police and public shouldn't be looking for a drug crazed intruder.

A "New Tricks" sort of team should now look at this as it seems Hants Police have no idea!

Michael Abbleby wouldn't technically be police but he would work closely with them and the police should listen to him.

If what he is saying is correct, then not only would it be highly significant for the investigation, but it may at least be of some small comfort for friends and relatives of Mrs Edmonds too.