Today's discussion about the news
Comments
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I think suggesting there was no risk when you aren't involved is a bit presumptive. To be fair to Blake he was front on in the dark with a car either side in his peripheral vision and then Kaba's Audi wedged in between them, likely blocking Blake from seeing the police car to the rear (with lots of noise and distractions around). Kaba had been given multiple warnings and had enough time to drive the car forwards and backwards, had his windows smashed and had still not surrendered after several seconds. To suggest, based on his actions and his refusal to comply with clear instructions (the one police body cam shows him pretending to place his hands on the wheel and then accelerating into cars), that he posed no risk or threat at that point is perhaps unrealistic.
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And also, as above thread, the fact that a few of us are viewing this with different judgements (which is completely valid) again underpins the jeopardy in the CPS bringing this to trial, and suggests it was a poor decision.
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Most of what you have written about warnings does not justify shooting someone. For example, a farmer could warn a trespasser to leave his land, but he can't shoot him for failing to comply. To shoot someone you need to reasonably believe that someone's life is in danger. Clearly the jury agreed it was reasonable.
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I would respectfully disagree given the specific context. As a firearms Officer you are called specifically to an operation where firearms could be present. You know in this instance you are going to stop a car that is linked to a shooting. The man driving that car is stopped, given multiple warnings to surrender and then continues to drive his car at other cars. Everything that leads up to that point could have given any of those officers reason to believe their was an imminent threat to life. Like I said it is valid for anyone to believe that Kaba did not pose a threat to life, but it is also valid to believe he did. Blake says he did, and as you say the jury believed him and acquitted.
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Given the bounty now on Blake's head due to the stupidity of allowing him to be named in Court, I suspect he will not only be leaving the police, but will probably be moved overseas to protect him and his family.
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I suspect the jury in the case saw and heard far more evidence than any of us before making their decision (which was the original point I made). Not sure how long the trial lasted but the jury took 3 hours to make their decision which strikes me as them having taken time to review everything but without there having been any serious disagreements. Considering the view many have of the police it's pretty surprising that there wasn't someone holding out for a guilty verdict.
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If I was Chris Kaba's dad I'd be angry with the police because looking at the facts in the cold light of day it was an unnecessary killing. However - the officer didn't have the benefit of sitting down and considering the situation and you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Bottom line is if you want to be a gangster this is the risk you run.
I don't think this is a case of a black man being treated differently - all 5 men shot dead by police since Chris Kaba are white and at least one in my home city - hence I know more about it - I'd suggest was more avoidable than Kaba's killing.
[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]1 -
Dunno where to put this. I was here on Tuesday, just to the west of Peak Hill at Sidmouth, thinking the path is quite close to the edge of the cliff, but thinking it must be pretty safe because I could see trees on a gentle-ish slope just the other side of the wire mesh fence. Seems my guess wasn't right. It'll be interesting to see how much further inland the path is diverted.
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Record low fertility rate in the UK
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We should start a movement to make Wednesdays national hump day.
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It's interesting that it went up until 2010. The UK can look to Korea, Japan and Singapore for ideas about what doesn't work.
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I blame Millennials and Gen Z for not manning up. Playing as if Rick were still here. 😉
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Interesting that they chose to put the date of the abortion act on the chart, but not the date of the introduction of the oral contraceptive, which probably had a big impact.
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I agree - maybe availability was phased in - I don't know it does seem an obvious omission
[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]1 -
Well, last week's news, and the coast path at Sidmouth. If you Facebook, the linked page's album shows the extent of the cliff collapse. I took a selfie on a bit of the path that is no more just three days before, and there was no visible hint that it was going to slide 400ft down into the sea. Phew.
www.facebook.com/jamesloveridgephotography/posts/
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That's crazy, I've run across there a few times. thanks for posting.
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The whole album is just 'WTF?!', especially if you're the owner of the cottage a bit further along (near the chicane on Peak Hill road), which recently has had a small slippage at the bass of the cliffs, and might well now be reflecting on whether their bit of cliff is going to suffer the same fate as this one.
Obviously from the geological perspective, the sea's been eating these crumbly cliffs for millions of years, but the apparent acceleration of the process is somewhat alarming (to put it mildly, if you live at the top of one).
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Such a shame those cottages look lovely.
[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0 -
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Anyway... oi, look down here, not down there... Team Tory still in charge at the BBC, as well as... well...
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