Daily Express Today
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Daily Express Today
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/169572/Mccann-troll-Brenda-Leyland-driven-to-suicide-after-twitter-death-threats
Can't see that this has already been posted but noticed it on the twitter link.
Can't see that this has already been posted but noticed it on the twitter link.
plebgate- Posts : 6729
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Re: Daily Express Today
Do we see a slight effort to back-peddle in this article?
The MSM know they overstepped the mark last week.
The MSM know they overstepped the mark last week.
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The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear - Jiddu Krishnamurti
Woofer- Posts : 3390
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Re: Daily Express Today
It's encouraging to see that - for now at least - comments are being allowed that do not agree with the MSM image of Brenda as a vile troll.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Still they are being protected !!!Woofer wrote:Do we see a slight effort to back-peddle in this article?
The MSM know they overstepped the mark last week.
"There is no suggestion that Kate and Gerry McCann or any members of their wider family know Ms Leyland’s troll ".
Unbelievable !!!
jozi- Posts : 710
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Re: Daily Express Today
jozi wrote:Still they are being protected !!!Woofer wrote:Do we see a slight effort to back-peddle in this article?
The MSM know they overstepped the mark last week.
"There is no suggestion that Kate and Gerry McCann or any members of their wider family know Ms Leyland’s troll ".
Unbelievable !!!
Article and that particular sentence written tongue-in-cheek? Calling for people to start asking questions?
As in: 'How do you know this suggestion (whose?) is nonexistent?' 'IS IT?'
And why does the article expressly mention the wider family of the Mecs? Isn't that rather odd?
I get the impression the newspaper doesn't very much like the Mecs and their wider family. IMO, of course
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Re: Daily Express Today
Sickening isn't it how the Mc's think that they are the only ones entitled to be "victims" ?
If KM/GM or anyone on team McCann has a shred of decency, they should stand up for Brenda and shout that she was harassed and hounded to her death by MAIN STREAM MEDIA aka trial by media.
(oops silly me, I forgot, the only victims in all this are Kate and Gerry - they rarely acknowledge Madeline is a victim)
If KM/GM or anyone on team McCann has a shred of decency, they should stand up for Brenda and shout that she was harassed and hounded to her death by MAIN STREAM MEDIA aka trial by media.
(oops silly me, I forgot, the only victims in all this are Kate and Gerry - they rarely acknowledge Madeline is a victim)
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Re: Daily Express Today
jozi wrote:
Still they are being protected !!!
"There is no suggestion that Kate and Gerry McCann or any members of their wider family know Ms Leyland’s troll ".
Unbelievable !!!
How strange of the Express to mention that 'the wider family' have no knowledge of the 'troll'.
Why would they have? By bringing them to the forefront, is the Express inferring that 'the wider family' have a connection in some way with people who post on Twitter regarding the case? Otherwise, how would they be in a position in the first place to have knowledge about who is or isn't a 'troll'?
Why mention 'the wider family' at all? Until they did, Joe Public wouldn't have given them a second thought.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Glad to see a slightly more accurate account of the Brenda Leyland tragedy. Some very sensible comments there too.
Lance De Boils- Posts : 988
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Re: Daily Express Today
I think the 'excusing' is more to cover themselves as they know what the McCanns are like re suing!
I have never seen the express allow comment before so progress imho
I have never seen the express allow comment before so progress imho
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Comments - before they are whooshed.
As a twitter user myself I have now seen that the personal details of Brenda Leyland were being openly discussed between a small number of Twitter users on Twitter itself and using the #McCann tag; her Facebook page being trawled, her geographical location and her employer's details being tweeted.
Because of Twitter's "blocking" facility, many of these tweets went unnoticed at the time by her followers, although it is apparent now that she herself was fully aware of them.
Beautiful photos of Brenda, happy and smiling with her family, friends and pets that she had posted on Facebook were being openly ridiculed. Tweeters addressed @sweepyface as "Brenda" as far back as February 2014.
More recently, and before Martin Brunt visited Brenda's home, some of the same Tweeters were openly threatening to post further details of her identity on Twitter, including a Youtube video of her home (one that had uploaded herself some years before, apparently).
These tweeters openly support Madeleine's parents and disagreed with Brenda's views, which is fair enough - she had strong views and was not afraid to express them.
However, instead of opting for civilised debate and discussion, they used their knowledge of her personal information they had sought out and found to intimidate and instil fear into her over a number of many months, She had even received a threat that the police would soon come knocking on her door. They chose to insult and abuse her directly and openly.
Brenda did not "troll" the McCanns, she did not threaten or harass them, she did not, it seems, break any laws - she did not deserve the intimidation she received, in my view.
It's my opinion that the final straw for Brenda of these months of intimidation was likely to be the heavy handed approach of Sky News on 2 October, the publication of Brenda's name and address in the Leicester Mercury on 3 October, and the final threat - the horrific threats she received, as mentioned in your article above, following this.
It is interesting to note that one of the posters on a forum called "stopthemyths" appears to be aware of the identity of the person who sent those tweets and has reported this person to the authorities.
It is so very sad for Brenda, her family and for all those who want the truth about Madeleine's disappearance to be established and those responsible to be brought to justice, whoever they may be, that this terrible tragedy has occurred.
Rest in Peace, Sweepyface xxx
The mcanns don't have a Twitter account, so this lady was no troll she like myself and many others have an opinion regarding this case, which is our democratic right, where journalism fails or is bound hand an foot by the Lisbon Treaty! the people will always take up the challange, Having seen the Tweets this Lady received from the mcann camp which are truly vile, she was the victim in every sense of the word, and as for Martin Brunt I,m not sure about his motives was it his intention to cause a storm and get the ball moving,(but obviously not to have the poor women lose her life) because there are so many unanswered questions in this case, plus never before have two individuals been given such protection, and assisted in raising millions of pounds in the search for Madaleine, only to end up employing half wits and chancers in the guise of Detective, so I guess the saga will continue, until the truth of what really happened to a little girl who apparently! was left unattended while her parents dined, lets just hope that there will be no more victims in this case.
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How sad for the Lady to end her life this way.. Rest in peace.. my guess is you was very saddened by the Maddie case.. and felt like her parents had abandoned her. . i dont no about any of the tweets... but you certainly did not deserve this.
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Those five tweets from Rainne are the only ones she has ever made concerning The McCanns. She is a troll. She lives in Hawii. I hope she is prosecuted. But I doubt it somehow. However, a lot of people now know who and what she is.
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At last the MSM are doing some back-peddling after realising they printed lies about this lady and that it was Brenda who was being `trolled` and not the other way round. She never `attacked` the McCanns - all she did was to question the `abduction` story as thousands of people already do.
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She played with fire and paid for it !...Sorry for her .. But don't mess with people ..especially people like the McCanns who have enough guilt to live with for the rest of their lives for one bad decision !
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It is now only fair and just that those who trolled her have a Sky News camera shoved in their faces on their own doorstep
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From an early stage in the Madeleine McCann investigation I have sensed an undertone of irritation towards Kate and Gerry McCann. The couple have allowed an impression to arise that they and their advisers are marketing their own tragedy. Where we would have expected to see parents distracted and disorganised by grief, we have seen a professionally run campaign to find out what the media want, and give it to them. This has been done for a most defensible reason: to enlist the entire European public as amateur detectives in the search for Madeleine. But now her parents have ended up looking like film stars in a Hollywood weepy. Do those who have contrived this, or the couple themselves, have any inkling of the damage that professional marketing has done to this family’s image? It doesn’t help to ease the public’s adverse perception when the parents refuse to answer 40 questions put to them by Portuguese Police trying to find their daughter, or not taking part in a reconstruction 1 year later, or the fact that they and they alone left their children alone whilst they went out to a restaurant with their ‘friends’. It is somewhat surprising that the Leicestershire Police allowed them possession of 80 pieces of evidence and statements when they were still considered as suspects by the Portuguese Police.
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Come on ?...What would you do ?...I cant even think what I would do if my young Daughter went missing like that ?...They aren't doing this for themselves !
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Well, johnc, if it was me, I would never forgive myself for leaving my children alone whilst I went socialising with freinds!
If the McCanns were any other than a wealthy and subsequently high profile couple, then I am sure that Social Services would have acted as they would in any other child welfare and neglect situation and taken a more pragmatic approach with them and also instigated child protection proceedings with regard to their other children.
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Further, I would also have co-operated fully with the Portuguese Police and not have refused to answer any questions they asked of me! Why would I? If I thought the Police had any suspicions or doubts about my involvement, then, being innocent, I would assist and co-operate with the investigation in any way I could as my only thought would be the quick and safe return of my daughter.
I am talking as a dad here ...It would destroy me , If I was any part guilty of my daughters abduction ...not knowing what happened . ...Their fault ...they know it ...and are paying for it !
In the wake of the tragic news breaking last Sunday, McCann supporting forums that had published Brenda Leyland's details systematically hid & deleted content mentioning her. This content has even been hidden from web archiving services. Twitter users who had sent abuse to Brenda locked their accounts to public view.
Archived tweets and forum screenshots clearly show that Brenda's identity had been uncovered as far back as Feb 2014.
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Trust me, you cannot delete anything online - it will have been spidered and archived by numerous 3rd parties
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This lady is a victim of Sky News and Martin Brunt he did the persecution not her. All she did was gossip online with an opinion about parents who neglected their children. The McCanns didn't even see it. She had a right to her opinion. I have never heard the McCanns say sorry or warn against the dangers of leaving children alone. That's the least they could do and they haven't done it. Martin brunt opened this lady up to a life of danger her home was threatened by idiots who believed Sky News and its twisted report. Someone needs to stand up and be counted on this one. Its not against the law to have an opinion especially one that promotes child welfare.
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We are not talking about slander here. Sky News alleged that she had committed criminal offences, issued threats and that the Police had already started to investigate her. As Sir Berhard Hogan-Howe clearly put it, the dossier handed in by the FAMILY would only have been investigated if there had either been racism or threats involved. Neither of which can be found in Brenda's tweets. I find it interesting that the CPS was mentioned from the start. A clear lie and added for maximum impact since the CPS only gets involved when and investigation has been finished by police. The Met and Leicestershire Police were still juggling the "dossier" like hot coal when Brenda committed suicide.
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Perhaps the compilers of the dossier, upset at being brushed off by police (CIVIL matter, not CRIMINAL), then decided to take the law into their own hands & went to the media?
It is clear that Sky News, in their rush to jump on the bandwagon, circumvented their usual checks & balances. In doing so they broke their own doorstepping guidelines in my opinion, however I will wait for OFCOM ruling on that front.
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I feel so sorry for this lady to commit suicide. I know what she did was wrong and she got caught up in all this social media crap!! However, at the end of the day she was a wife and mother to a loving family who I am sure will be dearly missed. As a Christian I can only forgive her and pray that she has found peace in Heaven. It is her family and friends that need our prayers at this sad time.
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Amen
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God was watching he did nothing. Omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient He is guilty of criminal neglect.. he is a sadist.. or else he doesn't exist..
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But she didn`t do anything wrong - check out her tweets.
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Brenda Leyland was no troll. The McCanns are not on twitter, she could not have "threatened" them. Brenda was a vicitm. A victim of an organised campaign to silence the voices that disagree with the McCanns, the people that do not believe their innocence. Ask the Portuguese police what they think of the McCanns, ask the Portuguese public what they think of the McCanns. I have just returned from 2 months in the Algarve and believe me, nobody there is fooled.
Martin Brunt and Sky News have blood on their hands, as have those who orchestrated this campaign.
Thank you, Express, for writing a little bit about the truth of the matter. You have earned a new, regular reader (and buyer!).
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She was a victim of more than that - a victim of an increasing push by governments to silence critics, questions and free speech over the Internet under the guise of "protecting us from ourselves"
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The tweeter who posted death threats was IMO an opporunistic troll who had never previously posted on the McCann hashtag.
HOWEVER regular tweeters in support of the McCanns had systematically sought Brenda Leyland's personal info for MONTHS prior to Martin Brunt turning up at her door. This included photos which were bandied about (& mocked), location info, previous employment details, and details of her family members.
This was done for one purpose only: intimidation. It is a regular occurence for those who comment on Twitter expressing their doubts as to the "abduction" of Madeleine McCann.
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Brenda was a human being who wanted the disappearance of Madeleine McCann solved and the culprits, whomever they may be, brought into a court of law. Brenda wanted what thousands of well informed citizens, in the UK and abroad, want: Justice.
Thank you for showing the British public a tiny sample of what those who do not believe the McCanns' version of events have to endure. We have read the police files. We know about the inconsistencies, the lies, the evasive behaviour.
Scotland Yard itself points out that anyone who wants to make up their mind about the case should read the Portuguese police files, available on the internet and translated into English by several volunteers.
Thank you for respecting Brenda's memory. We all are Brenda. We all are human.
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And the moral of this story is - "if you cant take it then you shouldn't give it"! This woman was a cowardly troll and nobody shall miss her.
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Complete rubbish she was guilty of nothing but gossip she made no threats. She never neglected her children like the McCanns did either.
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First, you have no understand of the term 'troll' or how inappropriate it is in its current mass media use. 'Trolls' are best characterised as hit and run provocateurs who are not participants in a rational conversation or debate. This media misrepresentation detracts from the very active, highly charged, extremely public debate over the media and police treatment of the available evidence in this case in which two extremely polarised perspectives are locked in a fundamental, constitutionally significant battle over the suppression of evidential information. Second, the article clearly states that Brenda's neighbour - who only knows what 'people' are saying about her friend from this erroneous media - would miss her. Her son said he'll miss her. Your comments are despicable distortion. In fact, thank you... You just embodied the typical troll.
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So .... what you`re saying is no one should stand up for justice then. Please check your facts as well - don`t just believe what the MSM spurt out.
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I think she was driven to suicide by the embarrassment she felt over her cowardly "anonymous" attacks on the McCanns.
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Say's who ?
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+2
She didn't send ant tweets to the mccanns, nor did she contact them in anyway. The Mccanns said they didn't read them, didn't have a presence on social media, but wanted examples made!
People discuss things on forums on all manner if topics. I've yet to see a comment any worse than, they deserve to feel guilty for the rest of their lives or something to that effect. I've seen worse said about politicians, actors and my local councillors than that. As long as it's not directly targeting the person,miss not trolling. It's discussing. You are allowed to hold a different opinion you know., well you used to have!
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Thank you for mentioning the comments from the really vile element of McCann supporters. They are far worse than anything that Brenda said. She was stating her opinions, she did not threaten the McCanns or break the law.
If the media was more honest and printed all the discrepancies of the McCann story, there would be no need for people to vent their frustrations on social media sites.
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You don't think telling them she hates them and hope they die are not bad??????????????????// She apparently made a lot of comments like this.
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I haven't seen those ones, I know people have said that she made thousands of tweets but can you show me more than one comment where she made threats ?
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Apparently / Maybe / Could be /
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Can you produce one of those comments, in context, within the conversation thread, and including reference to whom it was addressed?
Not. A. Single. One.
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well said Marian Grove , The papers don't tell us half of it on any story , What they do like though is spreading fear .
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Why some on here are against this woman I don't know , She was one of thousands asking the same things about this case , Sky news are to blame for singling her out . Thing is today nobody is entitled to an opinion , And because this woman had her own opinion , She took her own life ( so they say ) . There is enough people on here slating other stories , similar to what this woman did , So should you be singled out and put on primetime news ? NO .
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There quite some difference to having an opinion (and airing it) and committing slander.
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Nothing she said by way of question or accusation was not found in the freely available case file of the Policia Judicia. It isn't a crime to raise published evidence and make challenges or ask questions about it. In fact, the action is fundamental to avoiding authoritarian corruption and totalitarianism. To prove 'slander' or 'libel' by all means go to court and prove that the evidence is false and the conclusions drawn from it are notreasonable. Makes me wonder why the interest parties never have. Should be easy.
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Thank you James Murray for showing a tiny part of the other side of the coin. Rainne is extreme and obviously unhinged, but there is a large group on Twitter comprising of supporters of the family whose sole purpose is to incite arguments and if possible threats in order to collect them, find out the real life background of the twitterer and pass it on to those that monitor the social media on behalf of the family. Kate's cousin admitted to doing just that during the libel hearing in the Lisbon court recently.
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Brenda Leyland had her real life details (pics, location, family members info) bandied around McCann supporter sites for MONTHS prior to her doorstepping by Martin Brunt, because she questioned the parents
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Correction. It isn't a libel hearing. It's a civil claim for damages.
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NASTY EVIL LOOKING PIECE OF S##T
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This is an example of what McCann supporters post.
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Easy to blame the real trolls for Brenda's death, but truth is, British media are the real culprits. To this day you are still lying about her and pretending she was a troll who abused the McCanns. She wasn't. She never sent them a single message, nor did she threaten or abuse them. She was simply one of many who has read the police files and believed a gross miscarriage of justice had taken place. 'pro-McCann' trolls were ALWAYS the real trolls - stalking real lives and sending really vile hate @ anybody who dared question McCann's 'kidnapper' narrative.
Brenda was merely campaigning for justice for Maddie, something mainstream media appears to scared to do in case the McCanns sue. Again. They've sued a LOT of people who question their version of events.
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Here here
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1) She COULD NOT have "read" the police files as much of them is not published or available to the public so your comment (no matter how well intended) does not really stand up does it? . . . 2) There has been no trial as yet and no charges brought against anyone so how can there have been a "gross miscarriage of justice"? . . . 3) Trolls NEVER EVER use their real names when they post - is YOUR real identity really "openjools"?
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1) She had read enough to know there are serious questions about McCann involvement and those questions don't appear to have been answered.
2) A failure to prosecute is as much a miscarriage of justice as a prosecution with questionable results. Don't you think that there has been a miscarriage of justice over the HOC pedophiles? Jimmy Saville?
3) This is my real twitter account and my real name and full address is known to my MP, who I have contacted more than once. I'd never even thought about being 'anonymous' until I saw this witch hunt and attempt to shut down our voices - openjools was simply a handle. I'm still not anonymous, but I'll be damned if I am going to make work easy for folks who would stalk, harass and lie about me me simply because I don't believe the McCanns.
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oh and by the way Terence Allan, I am probably less anonymous than YOU. It's very easy to create a name to post behind. You got any proof that Terence Allan isn't just a name you made up so that you could create an illusion of openness?
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You need to get up to speed Terry. When Scotland Yard were asked by journalists for access to the available evidence they were instructed to consult the freely available case file of the Portuguese Policia Judicia, available on the internet in Portuguese or a creditable English translation. In fact, the journalists actually quoted directly and extensively from the English translation produced by people who believe the evidence rather than the official story.
Brenda, going by her tweets, was tweeting because she'd read the files and was astounded at the volume of evidence covered up by media representation in the UK.
With regard your point 3,its an illogical argument. Its the internet. No one even knows if your 'real name' is a real name...
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a nasty women.not right in the head.as she proved.
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How come you can comment on this woman, but you can't, on those dreadful, mcanns, this case is easily solved, , just ask THEM, what they did with the body,,,,,
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Well we know why don't we
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Your evidence for this is?
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Live by the sword.
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Apparently the pen is mightier than the sword, and Brenda showed no evidence of owning a blade. In fact she didn't make any judgement harsher or harder than the one you're making. You need to consider what it is about this case that forces you to believe that some people are worthy of harsh criticism while others have an extraordinary right to be protected from it.
Re: Daily Express Today
Lets hope the McCanns attempts to distance themselves from their little helpers irritates
one of them and they tell all about who they are 'working for'
It is not very loyal to say you have nothing to do with the very people fighting your corner online
one of them and they tell all about who they are 'working for'
It is not very loyal to say you have nothing to do with the very people fighting your corner online
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Re: Daily Express Today
Maybe a lot more people will also now wake up to the asshattery that this case has been for 7+ years and finally wake up to the Injustice of it all, and finally demand some justice for a 3 yr old little one that was set up by the very ones who should of protected her and her siblings at all costs.
The whole campaign has been an anti smear campaign for the McC's , and to paint them as victims, but not as victims of their own making. Maybe people would be more sympathetic if they could own their mistake of leaving 3 babies all alone in a holiday apartment while they went out to have some fun, and acted like they were genuinely sorry for their fatal mistake that has cost them their child.
I don't know how anyone in such a situation could have such brazen attitude and not instead hang their heads in shame. The whole fiasco is sickening.
The whole campaign has been an anti smear campaign for the McC's , and to paint them as victims, but not as victims of their own making. Maybe people would be more sympathetic if they could own their mistake of leaving 3 babies all alone in a holiday apartment while they went out to have some fun, and acted like they were genuinely sorry for their fatal mistake that has cost them their child.
I don't know how anyone in such a situation could have such brazen attitude and not instead hang their heads in shame. The whole fiasco is sickening.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Joss, perhaps they can't admit their mistake of leaving the three children alone when they went out to have fun because they didn't make this mistake.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Do you mean they stayed at home and took care of their children instead?? Or do you mean they are in denial about it all??Ladyinred wrote:Joss, perhaps they can't admit their mistake of leaving the three children alone when they went out to have fun because they didn't make this mistake.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Not 100% Pro McCann - so before its whooshed like many other articles have been.
McCann troll Brenda Leyland driven to suicide by Twitter death threats
DEATH threats were allegedly sent to the woman found dead in a hotel just after she was publicly accused of trolling Kate and Gerry McCann over their missing child Madeleine.
By: James Murray
Published: Sun, October 12, 2014
Brenda Leyland McCann Twitter troll who committed suicide Ms Leyland was confronted by Sky News over McCann twitter abuse [REX]
In tragic irony, the hate messages directed at lonely divorcee Brenda Leyland were tweeted by someone who aggressively defended the McCanns on the internet.
The Sunday Express has passed on the five disgraceful messages to Leicestershire Police who are preparing a report for the coroner over the unexplained death of mother-of-two Ms Leyland, 63.
They were sent on Friday, October 3, from someone calling themselves Rainne and addressed directly to Ms Leyland’s Twitter account, @sweepyface.
The following day her body was found at the Marriott Hotel in Leicester where she had fled to after being identified as the sender of tweets expressing her views on the Madeleine mystery.
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her. The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
The next adds: “You have reached the end of your torturing campaign against the McCann family, understand.”
The third message is a direct threat against her life with the sadistic author stating: “Death is waiting and watching for u @sweepyface..Do you feel it????”
The next attack was so disgusting it is unsuitable for publication.
The last message states: “Sweepyface, we’re coming for you. Do you feel us?? The decent kind folk who pray for this family and their sad loss.You go to hell *****.”
Police are trying to establish the details of the sick pro-McCann troll, who may face prosecution, and discover whether Ms Leyland read the messages and if she discussed them with any family or friends prior to her death. A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: “We are investigating the circumstances around the death. If any offences are disclosed, we will investigate appropriately.”
There is no suggestion that Kate and Gerry McCann or any members of their wider family know Ms Leyland’s troll.
Ms Leyland was confronted about her Twitter comments about the McCanns by Sky News, which revealed that Scotland Yard detectives on the Operation Grange squad were examining a so-called dossier of anti-McCann trolls.
She was not named in the report and crime reporter Martin Brunt did not say she lived at Burton Overy, a village just 15 miles from the McCanns’ home in Rothley, Leicestershire. However, her identity quickly became known.
After the report Gerry McCann told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Clearly something needs to be done about the abuse on the internet. I think we probably need more people to be charged. We do not have any significant presence on social media or online and I’ve got grave concerns about our children as they grow up and start to access the internet.
“I’m glad to see the law around this area has been reviewed. We need to make examples of people who are causing damage.”
A friend of Ms Leyland said she “couldn’t live with herself” after being outed and feared going to jail.
I’ll really miss her, yes she was eccentric and opinionated but she was flamboyant and fun too
A neighbour
The neighbour, who had been due to accompany university-educated churchgoer Ms Leyland to a harvest festival the day after her death, said: “We never dreamed she was trolling the McCanns. That was very wrong.
“Brenda was a proud, very bright, articulate and upstanding lady and the thought of a prosecution and a prison sentence hanging over her would have devastated her. Sadly she couldn’t live with herself.
“I’ll really miss her, yes she was eccentric and opinionated but she was flamboyant and fun too.”
Today we can reveal fresh momentum in the investigation to find out what happened to Madeleine, who vanished from a holiday home in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007.
Scotland Yard detectives are due to fly to Portugal tomorrow for a meeting with Portuguese officers and possibly Ines Sequiera, the new prosecutor for the case, who is reported to be “utterly determined” to crack it.
They want their Portuguese counterparts to interview three of seven suspects for a second time and search their homes.
McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell, responding to alleged online death threats against Brenda Leyland, said yesterday: “We will not be commenting. It is a matter for the coroner.”
A source close to Kate and Gerry said: “Abuse online seems to go in either direction but it has nothing to do with Kate and Gerry. They do not encourage or condone anything online. People seem to say anything they want.”
McCann troll Brenda Leyland driven to suicide by Twitter death threats
DEATH threats were allegedly sent to the woman found dead in a hotel just after she was publicly accused of trolling Kate and Gerry McCann over their missing child Madeleine.
By: James Murray
Published: Sun, October 12, 2014
Brenda Leyland McCann Twitter troll who committed suicide Ms Leyland was confronted by Sky News over McCann twitter abuse [REX]
In tragic irony, the hate messages directed at lonely divorcee Brenda Leyland were tweeted by someone who aggressively defended the McCanns on the internet.
The Sunday Express has passed on the five disgraceful messages to Leicestershire Police who are preparing a report for the coroner over the unexplained death of mother-of-two Ms Leyland, 63.
They were sent on Friday, October 3, from someone calling themselves Rainne and addressed directly to Ms Leyland’s Twitter account, @sweepyface.
The following day her body was found at the Marriott Hotel in Leicester where she had fled to after being identified as the sender of tweets expressing her views on the Madeleine mystery.
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her. The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
The next adds: “You have reached the end of your torturing campaign against the McCann family, understand.”
The third message is a direct threat against her life with the sadistic author stating: “Death is waiting and watching for u @sweepyface..Do you feel it????”
The next attack was so disgusting it is unsuitable for publication.
The last message states: “Sweepyface, we’re coming for you. Do you feel us?? The decent kind folk who pray for this family and their sad loss.You go to hell *****.”
Police are trying to establish the details of the sick pro-McCann troll, who may face prosecution, and discover whether Ms Leyland read the messages and if she discussed them with any family or friends prior to her death. A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: “We are investigating the circumstances around the death. If any offences are disclosed, we will investigate appropriately.”
There is no suggestion that Kate and Gerry McCann or any members of their wider family know Ms Leyland’s troll.
Ms Leyland was confronted about her Twitter comments about the McCanns by Sky News, which revealed that Scotland Yard detectives on the Operation Grange squad were examining a so-called dossier of anti-McCann trolls.
She was not named in the report and crime reporter Martin Brunt did not say she lived at Burton Overy, a village just 15 miles from the McCanns’ home in Rothley, Leicestershire. However, her identity quickly became known.
After the report Gerry McCann told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Clearly something needs to be done about the abuse on the internet. I think we probably need more people to be charged. We do not have any significant presence on social media or online and I’ve got grave concerns about our children as they grow up and start to access the internet.
“I’m glad to see the law around this area has been reviewed. We need to make examples of people who are causing damage.”
A friend of Ms Leyland said she “couldn’t live with herself” after being outed and feared going to jail.
I’ll really miss her, yes she was eccentric and opinionated but she was flamboyant and fun too
A neighbour
The neighbour, who had been due to accompany university-educated churchgoer Ms Leyland to a harvest festival the day after her death, said: “We never dreamed she was trolling the McCanns. That was very wrong.
“Brenda was a proud, very bright, articulate and upstanding lady and the thought of a prosecution and a prison sentence hanging over her would have devastated her. Sadly she couldn’t live with herself.
“I’ll really miss her, yes she was eccentric and opinionated but she was flamboyant and fun too.”
Today we can reveal fresh momentum in the investigation to find out what happened to Madeleine, who vanished from a holiday home in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007.
Scotland Yard detectives are due to fly to Portugal tomorrow for a meeting with Portuguese officers and possibly Ines Sequiera, the new prosecutor for the case, who is reported to be “utterly determined” to crack it.
They want their Portuguese counterparts to interview three of seven suspects for a second time and search their homes.
McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell, responding to alleged online death threats against Brenda Leyland, said yesterday: “We will not be commenting. It is a matter for the coroner.”
A source close to Kate and Gerry said: “Abuse online seems to go in either direction but it has nothing to do with Kate and Gerry. They do not encourage or condone anything online. People seem to say anything they want.”
Re: Daily Express Today
Joss wrote:Do you mean they stayed at home and took care of their children instead?? Or do you mean they are in denial about it all??Ladyinred wrote:Joss, perhaps they can't admit their mistake of leaving the three children alone when they went out to have fun because they didn't make this mistake.
IMO, MBM was not "taken" when the parents claim she was. I don't believe she was abducted.
Guest- Guest
Re: Daily Express Today
I think with this comment by the lovely Rainne, (insert sarcasm),
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her. The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
Wouldn't a comment like that these days border on an act of Terrorism??
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her. The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
Wouldn't a comment like that these days border on an act of Terrorism??
Joss- Posts : 1960
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Re: Daily Express Today
Thanks for clarifying, :) I agree, i don't think she was abducted either.Ladyinred wrote:Joss wrote:Do you mean they stayed at home and took care of their children instead?? Or do you mean they are in denial about it all??Ladyinred wrote:Joss, perhaps they can't admit their mistake of leaving the three children alone when they went out to have fun because they didn't make this mistake.
IMO, MBM was not "taken" when the parents claim she was. I don't believe she was abducted.
Joss- Posts : 1960
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Re: Daily Express Today
Criminal threats is the crime of putting someone in fear.
California Penal Code 422 PC defines the crime of "criminal threats" (formerly known as terrorist threats).
A "criminal threat" is when you threaten to kill or physically harm someone and
Criminal threats can be charged whether or not you have the ability to carry out the threat...and even if you don't actually intend to execute the threat.2
Examples
Examples of conduct leading to a criminal threats charge include (but are by no means limited to):
Defenses
Even if a threat was made, it is a defense to a criminal threats charge if
Or it may be the case that there was no threat, and the accuser is making a false allegation.
Penalties
Penal Code 422 PC is a wobbler, which means that prosecutors may file it as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If you are convicted of the misdemeanor, you face up to one year in a county jail. If you are convicted of the felony, you face up to four years in the California state prison.3 Using a dangerous or deadly weapon increases your sentence by one year.4
And because a criminal threats conviction is a "strike" under California's
three strikes law, you must serve at least 85% of your sentence before you are eligible for release.
http://www.shouselaw.com/criminal_threats.html
California Penal Code 422 PC defines the crime of "criminal threats" (formerly known as terrorist threats).
A "criminal threat" is when you threaten to kill or physically harm someone and
- that person is thereby placed in a state of reasonably sustained fear for his/her safety or for the safety of his/her immediate family,
- the threat is specific and unequivocal and
- you communicate the threat verbally, in writing, or via an electronically transmitted device.
Criminal threats can be charged whether or not you have the ability to carry out the threat...and even if you don't actually intend to execute the threat.2
Examples
Examples of conduct leading to a criminal threats charge include (but are by no means limited to):
- threatening to shoot another person while you are holding a gun,
- a recently fired employee calling the former boss and saying "you and the office staff better watch your backs,"
- texting your ex that you're going to set fire to her apartment.
Defenses
Even if a threat was made, it is a defense to a criminal threats charge if
- the threat was not specific, but was vague or ambiguous,
- the recipient of the threat could not have reasonably feared for his/her safety,
- the recipient of the threat wasn't actually in fear,
- the recipient's fear was merely fleeting or momentary, OR
- you only made a threatening gesture and did not convey your threat verbally, electronically or in writing.
Or it may be the case that there was no threat, and the accuser is making a false allegation.
Penalties
Penal Code 422 PC is a wobbler, which means that prosecutors may file it as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If you are convicted of the misdemeanor, you face up to one year in a county jail. If you are convicted of the felony, you face up to four years in the California state prison.3 Using a dangerous or deadly weapon increases your sentence by one year.4
And because a criminal threats conviction is a "strike" under California's
three strikes law, you must serve at least 85% of your sentence before you are eligible for release.
http://www.shouselaw.com/criminal_threats.html
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Re: Daily Express Today
2. What kind of hate speech on the Internet is not protected by the First Amendment?
Internet speech that is merely critical, annoying, offensive or demeaning enjoys constitutional protection. However, the First Amendment does not provide a shield for libelous speech or copyright infringement, nor does it protect certain speech that threatens or harasses other people. For example, an E-mail or a posting on a Web site that expresses a clear intention or threat by its writer to commit an unlawful act against another specific person is likely to be actionable under criminal law. Persistent or pernicious harassment aimed at a specific individual is not protected if it inflicts or intends to inflict emotional or physical harm. To rise to this level, harassment on the Internet would have to consist of a "course of conduct" rather than a single isolated instance. A difficulty in enforcing laws against harassment is the ease of anonymous communication on the Internet. Using a service that provides almost-complete anonymity, a bigot may repeatedly E-mail his victim without being readily identified. Blanket statements expressing hatred of an ethnic, racial or religious nature are protected by the First Amendment, even if those statements mention individual people and even if they cause distress in those individuals. Similarly, denial of the Holocaust -- though abhorrent -- is almost never actionable under American law. The Constitution protects the vast majority of extremist Web sites that disseminate racist or anti-Semitic propaganda.
3. Has anyone ever been successfully prosecuted in the United States for sending racist threats via E-mail?
There is legal precedent for such a prosecution. In 1998, a former student was sentenced to one year in prison for sending E-mail death threats to 60 Asian-American students at the University of California, Irvine. His E-mail was signed "Asian hater" and threatened that he would "make it my life career [sic] to find and kill everyone one [sic] of you personally." That same year, another California man pled guilty to Federal civil rights charges after he sent racist E-mail threats to dozens of Latinos throughout the country.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Portia wrote:
And why does the article expressly mention the wider family of the Mecs? Isn't that rather odd?
I get the impression the newspaper doesn't very much like the Mecs and their wider family. IMO, of course
I think the Express is making reference to Kate's cousin Michael Wright and his self styled Internet monitoring service.
margaret- Posts : 585
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Re: Daily Express Today
The Royal Editor of the Express (no less) has now given us her view on the whole issue.
8 comments so far and none of them agree with the Royal Editor (no less) Camilla Tomboy or sumat.
I sometimes think these people are on a different planet.
Wasn't Pinky a Royal reporter at one time?
Get over yourself cos I don't think anybody really cares what you think Camilla Tomboy.
Edited to add link - http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/camilla-tominey/521746/Camilla-Tominey-McCanns-trolls-wake-up-selfies-the-real-Prince-Phillip
8 comments so far and none of them agree with the Royal Editor (no less) Camilla Tomboy or sumat.
I sometimes think these people are on a different planet.
Wasn't Pinky a Royal reporter at one time?
Get over yourself cos I don't think anybody really cares what you think Camilla Tomboy.
Edited to add link - http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/camilla-tominey/521746/Camilla-Tominey-McCanns-trolls-wake-up-selfies-the-real-Prince-Phillip
plebgate- Posts : 6729
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Re: Daily Express Today
The Express are circling like a shark...and the McCanns know it.
Most powerful people desire revenge on their enemies and they think of little else. I doubt Desmond is any different - he must wish to avenge the humiliation the Express went through.
Most powerful people desire revenge on their enemies and they think of little else. I doubt Desmond is any different - he must wish to avenge the humiliation the Express went through.
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Re: Daily Express Today
Well it almost makes you want to weep , you would have thoought our Martin Brunt the Epitome of Investigative Journalist (he thinks) would have delved a little deeper to see who the real trolls are and not use Brenda as the ultimate scapegoat as his definition a troll. If Brenda had used the utterings of Darling Rainne, then yes she would have been a Troll and Brunty would and could have ousted her !!!Joss wrote:I think with this comment by the lovely Rainne, (insert sarcasm),
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her. The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
Wouldn't a comment like that these days border on an act of Terrorism??
So where are you now Brunty to apologize for the Biggest Mistake Of Your Life and Career in telling the World Brenda was a troll when we all know her only crime was she did not believe the Fairy Tale being told by the Mcs.
But now we have found one of the worst and nastiest trolls for you but she is batting for the Mcs, I hope you are going to go out and hound her and show her to the World what a nasty piece of work she is ???
You had better be careful Brunty in handling this as it could looks as if you are bias in your investigating !!!
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Re: Daily Express Today
Exactly. Don't think MB will be doing anymore investigative journalism anytime soon if at all. His investigative journalism sucks.jozi wrote:Well it almost makes you want to weep , you would have thoought our Martin Brunt the Epitome of Investigative Journalist (he thinks) would have delved a little deeper to see who the real trolls are and not use Brenda as the ultimate scapegoat as his definition a troll. If Brenda had used the utterings of Darling Rainne, then yes she would have been a Troll and Brunty would and could have ousted her !!!Joss wrote:I think with this comment by the lovely Rainne, (insert sarcasm),
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her. The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
Wouldn't a comment like that these days border on an act of Terrorism??
So where are you now Brunty to apologize for the Biggest Mistake Of Your Life and Career in telling the World Brenda was a troll when we all know her only crime was she did not believe the Fairy Tale being told by the Mcs.
But now we have found one of the worst and nastiest trolls for you but she is batting for the Mcs, I hope you are going to go out and hound her and show her to the World what a nasty piece of work she is ???
You had better be careful Brunty in handling this as it could looks as if you are bias in your investigating !!!
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Re: Daily Express Today
Joss wrote: *snipped*
But now we have found one of the worst and nastiest trolls for you but she is batting for the Mcs, I hope you are going to go out and hound her and show her to the World what a nasty piece of work she is ???
Maybe Carole Malone could write about it - she likes to opine about people who are a 'piece of work'?! Nahh, thought not!
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