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Big Rinty and the Not Guilty Verdict
I spoke to my friend Big Rinty on the telephone last night. Rinty, who passed his 56th birthday last week, has been in jail since 1976 after he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released in 1994 and attempted to make his way in the community, working and living honestly until he was accused of an assault in 1997. He was innocent, he told the police. At his trial he told the jury the same thing. “I’m innocent,” he said loud and clear from the dock. The jury believed him. After just eight minutes of deliberations they returned a firm and unequivocal, “NOT GUILTY.” He should have walked from the court a free man and been allowed to get on with the rest of his life. Instead he was recalled to prison. His life-licence in effect until the day he dies, he is subject to recall at any time on any pretext by the authorities. They said they were taking him back in for “psychological assessment.” Thirteen years later he is still in prison with no indication of when he might be considered for re-release. He bears up well, my friend Rinty. He’s still funny – still got his “inappropriate sense of humour,” as one psychologist put it in a report justifying his continued detention. He still makes me smile – but his courage makes me want to weep too. Last night he spoke about the recall of Jon Venabals. ”He’s not been charged yet,” he said, “but if he does get charged with something and then goes to trial – what if he gets found not guilty? Will they keep him in, for something a jury says he didn’t do? Or will they let him out?” It’s an interesting question, probably baffling the experts at this very moment, (although if the experts are baffled, how the f*** can they be “experts”?)
“What I’m saying,” said Rinty, hope rising in his voice, “is if he’s found not guilty and they let him out – surely they’ll have to let me out?” Surely they will, surely they will, all things being equal. And by Christ that would be a lovely result for my big friend.
I remember reading about “Big Rinty” in Erwin’s column A Life Inside when he was still in jail. I cant beleive this man is still in prison. It may be that there is more to the story than meets the eye, but I’ve read Erwin’s writing on this a few times over the years and he tells it the same every time. Something needs to be done as it cannot be right that somebody gets a not guilty and then goes to prison for 13 years! can’t we start a campaine to help him? I am writing a letter to the Guardian to be passed on to Erwin for Rinty – can other people please do the same? Stories about Rinty made me smile over the years, but I’m not smiling now. he needs people to help him.
I too remember Big Rinty. It is indeed appalling that he is still in prison. What is even more appalling however, is that he is not the only one.
Is there no appeal process against this in the present system? Could it go to the European Court of Human Rights? If this is the case, they might as well do away with the Trial and Jury verdict and just lock you up again so long as you are only accused of doing something wrong – this (obviously) cannot be right – are there any Lawyers who read Erwin James and would like to “test Case” it – pro bono – if there are damages for false imprisonment if he were to be sucessful? I would be willing to help with a campaign, sign petition etc. We are coming up to an Election??
I read of a prisoner who deliberately behaved badly so that the authorities would notice the “change for the better” when he was compliant (his natural persona) Big Rinty has always conformed to the rules and general social requirements of prison life. In other words he is not noticed. He has had his ticket stamped and thats that. Just another Lifer out of the sight of the public – conveniently.
From the perspective of Life sentence prisoners – they must fear the lack of integrity in the system, they must wonder at this court decision.
It is hard enough as it is (and it is not meant to be easy) but when you have no control in regard to your efforts to progress you have nothing. On the face of it this court decision breaches human rights.
Terrorists can manoeuvre to suit political will. The Life sentence is a pseudo political animal. I am surprised at the conspicuous absence of lawyers interest in this case or perhaps not. !!