The C word

[ciphergoth]

Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

So next week I guess we can expect to see the banners amended to read "Scientology: it's a total c**t"

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if I need to do anything about this one. IIRC we don't tend to bother with Scientology because it's such arrant lunacy, but if they're trying to take 15-year-old kids to court, it's probably worth making the point.

Re: FYI: Section 5:

[drdoug.livejournal.com]

AFAICT, it's not Scientology taking the lad to court at all.

He's been arrested on suspicion of having committed a criminal offence by the Police. Whether he goes to court or not is a matter for the Police, and only the Police - they decide whether to pass the file on to the Crown Prosecution Service or not. If it gets as far as the CPS (which I doubt), they then decide whether to prosecute. The CPS make such decisions based on a) whether there's enough evidence for a realistic chance of conviction and b) whether a prosecution would be in the public interest. I'd be amazed if they decide yes.

Still pretty grim for the boy - he has now officially been arrested for a public order offence, which will haunt him indefinitely (depending on what he decides to do with his life).

Scientology could, I suppose, try a civil case against him for libel, but not even they are that daft.

Re: FYI: Section 5:

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Actually yes, you're right, I think I misread it. It's being done under the public order act, so there doesn't actually need to be a complainant.

I certainly wouldn't be surprised if, when this gets thrown out of court as the obvious nonsense it is, the Cult of Scientology lot don't decide to take up a civil case. They are notoriously litigious.

Re: FYI: Section 5:

[drdoug.livejournal.com]

Actually, just read the Guardian article linked above properly (I'd picked the story up elsewhere) and according to that, a case file has already been passed to the CPS. Doh!

OTOH, it seems he may have been given a summons, rather than arrested, which may (or may not) be better news. My knowledge about summary "justice" is creakily out of date - I've not been on that sort of demo for years and years and things have changed profoundly (and not for the better) since I was on top of that stuff.