what a suprise

[epops]

i just seen on the news that a judge has ruled that there was insufficient to prosecute anyone over the recent hen harrier shootings could'nt possibly be a cover up surley?

[ChrisJB]

It's an absolute joke isn't it! Just like many injustices that British wildlife and the landscapes they inhabit have to put up with.

Sorry! Just spouting off a bit of venom there!

Regards, Chris

[demicav]

No surprise there.

[mh68]

Yep, total joke....but comes as no surprise

Mark H

[naturelover]

told you it would be a cover up,makes me sick.

[G0NYM]

I totally agree with all thats been said .
Martin

[bee warrior]

Presumably the Crown Prosecution Service thought there was enough evidence-and that's saying something!

[Gill Catton]

birds of prey shootings go unprosecuted for lack of evidence all the time... few people have been prosecuted regarding the loss of harriers and peregrines from the peaks yet tens of birds are likely to have been killed....

For this reason I am unconvinced this is a cover up. If this was an easily solved kind of crime maybe I'd see it as a greater possibility. Otherwise innocent until proven guilty.... should apply for all of us.

[Hobjob]

What is the evidence that this is a cover up?

To get a prosecution of a shot ring-tail they are going to
need at least two witnesses - and the offenders, if from a
distance they can be properly identified under hats and
thick coats, would only claim they were shooting pigeons
and that would be hard to disprove unless someone was
extremely close.

Two hen harriers dead, one prince questioned, no charges | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

is worth reading - one quote
"
Despite an intensive police inquiry, no charges could be brought because "the bodies of the hen harriers have not been found". As a result, there was no forensic or ballistic evidence to study. And since all three suspects denied any knowledge of the incident, and there was no eyewitness testimony of who had fired the fatal shots, the case was closed. But, added the CPS, no one else was being sought.
"

The shooting was only witnessed from afar and "muffled" shots were heard.
The piece is carefully worded and loaded with innuendo, but few facts are presented. Its a clever piece of journalism and I bet it was vetted by the legal eagles before publication.

As Gill c said
"Otherwise innocent until proven guilty.... should apply for all of us."

Read the press carefully ..................

[John]

David is talking a lot of sense here.

Within a few hours it was becoming obvious that there was no evidence to support that Prince Harry, or any other person connected with the Royals, was connected with these killings so please explain why anyone should be prosecuted when It is more than likely that there is no evidence to support such a prosecution.

I see all these people having a go at knocking the Royals over this, and I totally agree that whoever did this should get the full weight of the law slapped on them, but lets not forget that this happened at Dersingham Bog, which is open to anyone that wants to walk it.

It is a very popular bird watching area as well as ramblers, dog walkers and anyone else that wants to walk there. There is even a Camping and Caravanning site just up the road from there. Even the actual Sandringham Estate draws in crowds so why aren't we considering that someone else might not have done this.

Before any of you start shouting the odds, have you actually visited the site. Do you know what it is like there and the access around that area. If you don't then how can you make a judgement about this killing, or are you being driven by media speculation.

A lot has been said in other quarters about security in that area and that the ordinary Jo would easily be spotted with a gun. Well don't talk about security in that area as it is about a mile from Sandringham House. I have actually camped nearby on the road verges and have been left alone and certainly with all the lone visits I have done in that area I have never been approached by a policeman or anyone from the Security Services.

Lets not get carried away because the Royals were in the vicinity. So was probably hundreds of Birdwatchers, ramblers, dog walkers and motorists (as there is a nearby road as well). Why aren't we considering any of that element of the public.

The only sorry part about the Royals is the lack of any statement condemning this act. As the Patron of the RSPB I would have thought that this would have been forthcoming, but sadly not. Hopefully the Palace will see sense and condemn this Criminal act, because that is what it is.

Regarding prosecuting anyone over this. David has eloquently explained this. Any prosecutions like this are fraught with problems and rarely get to the courts. Unless there is overwhelming evidence to support a prosecution then any case like this will always be a non starter.

John