From Deputy Bob Hill.
WHILE I can understand the views of Rape Crisis when it calls for rape suspects to be remanded in custody until trial, they should also appreciate that not all rape suspects are found guilty.

When considering bail, there are criteria to be considered, and courts have to conduct a delicate balancing act. Unfortunately, sometimes they make the wrong decision.

One question that appears not to have been asked is why Mr Benyoucef had not been tried for his first offence, which had occurred almost nine months before the second offence. Had he been tried and found guilty (as he was 15 months later), not only would the first victim have been spared months of anguish but the second victim would not have been attacked.

In his annual Christmas address a couple of years ago, the then Magistrate, Ian Le Marquand, expressed concern at the number of cases in which there were wholly unacceptable delays in the time taken from arrest to trial.

Unfortunately, if one questioned why the Benyoucef case took so long to come to trial, it would be difficult to know whom to ask.

And what would be the point of asking anyway?

Not only is no one accountable but nobody appears to be concerned.

It is apparent that there is no monitoring of cases, no concern for victims, witnesses, defendants or the taxpayer who has to pick up the costs of an inefficient prosecution system that badly needs leadership and overhaul.

Unfortunately, those responsible are also unaccountable, so there is little prospect that the present inefficient system will be remedied.
Câtel Cottage,
Rue du Câtel,
Trinity.