[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...oh I read this yesterday, Josy...it was only a little while ago as well that I was looking at the updates on the cases and it said that Brendan's case hadn't progressed from where the series left it, it was more the focus on Steven and Kathleen Zellner taking up his case and hopeful of the conviction being overturned with 'stunning new evidence' etc...I wonder if this is a part of it then/the first part...?...that Steven's situation is all hinged on Brendan's innocence first and then that can be progressed..?...hmmm, interesting as to what will happen now with him and how quickly....

I'm not sure about that because they didn't use Brendans statement in Steve's case did they? Also, by the sounds of it his conviction was overturned because of how badly the Police and his own lawyer acted towards him when he was a minor rather than proving he was innocent I still think he did it.

I am really interested to see what the new evidence they have for Steve is though

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Also, by the sounds of it his conviction was overturned because of how badly the Police and his own lawyer acted towards him when he was a minor rather than proving he was innocent I still think he did it.

That's the thing for me though, if Brendan was involved... he clearly had (probably still has) the mental capacity of a young child and would have been easily manipulated into his involvement with little understanding of what was going on or the magnitude of it. The fact that he was interviewed at all without an adult present is a disgrace... and the way they lead him in the interview only makes it worse. And then after all of that, he was essentially put on trial as an adult of sound mind... AND with sub-par representation. Just a total shambles really, and right for it to be overturned.

[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

That's the thing for me though, if Brendan was involved... he clearly had (probably still has) the mental capacity of a young child and would have been easily manipulated into his involvement with little understanding of what was going on or the magnitude of it. The fact that he was interviewed at all without an adult present is a disgrace... and the way they lead him in the interview only makes it worse. And then after all of that, he was essentially put on trial as an adult of sound mind... AND with sub-par representation. Just a total shambles really, and right for it to be overturned.

Yeah, I agree with all that. To add to that also he seemed scared of Steve and in one recorded phone call to his mother claimed that he'd been sexually abused by him. If they did actually do it, I would absolutely think that Brendan was also a victim and was probably traumatized by the whole thing.

Speaking of victims though, I do hope everyone remembers the real victim in all of this, that poor woman who was actually murdered, sometimes it feels like because of that TV series she's almost seen as a "baddie" along with her family :/ I wonder how they're feeling right now too

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yeah, I agree with all that. To add to that also he seemed scared of Steve and in one recorded phone call to his mother claimed that he'd been sexually abused by him. If they did actually do it, I would absolutely think that Brendan was also a victim and was probably traumatized by the whole thing.

Yeah if it did happen exactly as the prosecution has claimed in the past, then I would imagine that Steven would be goading him into participating and helping, and that he would probably have feared (perhaps even rightly) for his own safety if he refused. Then because of his naivety and child-like way of thinking, he wouldn't have known that he could just tell the whole truth and probably get a lot of protection if he said that he was forced into it. He would just think that admitting to it would definitely cause even more trouble.

Speaking of victims though, I do hope everyone remembers the real victim in all of this, that poor woman who was actually murdered, sometimes it feels like because of that TV series she's almost seen as a "baddie" along with her family :/ I wonder how they're feeling right now too

I think they avoid talking about her much as a person at all in the documentary, which is a bit strange. And then on top if that... I think her brother and her ex(?)-boyfriend's odd seeming behavior doesn't help much either.

[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Yeah if it did happen exactly as the prosecution has claimed in the past, then I would imagine that Steven would be goading him into participating and helping, and that he would probably have feared (perhaps even rightly) for his own safety if he refused. Then because of his naivety and child-like way of thinking, he wouldn't have known that he could just tell the whole truth and probably get a lot of protection if he said that he was forced into it. He would just think that admitting to it would definitely cause even more trouble.



I think they avoid talking about her much as a person at all in the documentary, which is a bit strange. And then on top if that... I think her brother and her ex(?)-boyfriend's odd seeming behavior doesn't help much either.

Because I guess their aim was to make Steve and Brendan the victims, if they made Teresa a real person that would be harder to do. The series was set up to show that the crime was committed against Steve, you almost forget about the other crime involved here the brutal murder of a young woman (and probable sexual assault/rape)

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Because I guess their aim was to make Steve and Brendan the victims, if they made Teresa a real person that would be harder to do. The series was set up to show that the crime was committed against Steve, you almost forget about the other crime involved here the brutal murder of a young woman (and probable sexual assault/rape)

..I was thinking about this when I read about Brendan and how her parents/family must be feeling about the news and also if Steven was acquitted as well with whatever 'new evidence' it's been reported..I just can't even imagine their pain because what then..?...who has been brought to justice for Teresa's murder.../an unimaginable nightmare...