Talk:Fred West

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Contents 1 Comment 2 Introductory paragraph 3 Head injury lead to sociopathy? 4 Bigamy 5 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

[edit] Comment

I found this article informative and intresting, however I am trying to find more details on all victims. If anyone can give me any more info please email me on gmkneen@msn.com thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 213.137.3.152 (talk • contribs).

[edit] Introductory paragraph

The introductory paragraph is not factually correct. Fred West was not responsible for the murders. He was accused, charged and was to stand trial, but due to his committing suicide he died an innocent man under British law (he was to be tried under various elements of the Criminal Law of England & Wales). In the UK quoting the introductory paragraph can leave you open to prosecution for slander.

Unfortunately I can not edit this introductory paragraph to wording that is more suitable and accurate. Toxygene 15:08, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

May I just add for clarity that you cannot be 'open to prosecution for slander' on two accounts. Firstly, the written word comes under 'libel' and secondly you cannot sue for libel or slander if the allegedly defamed person is deceased. Don't come around here with your pedantic ways when your knowledge is that of a dilettante to say the least. FeedTheGoat 14:04, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

He wasn't legally responsible, but nor was he legally found NOT responsible, and let's face it, there's little serious doubt that he was, in fact, a serial killer. A quick disclaimer in parentheses might be a good clarification anyway, regardless of the legal implications.

That aside, isn't it the case that slander/libel don't apply to the dead? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 212.9.28.123 (talk • contribs).

I've edited the paragraph to say he is 'believed'... which covers it. Ben Finn 15:39, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

In the inital description, added the word "suspected" to serial killer. Of course there is no common sense doubt about what he did, but I hope that covers the legal issue describing his status accurately, while the phrase "serial killer" is still linked for those who use the searches or relevant links etc. Rrose Selavy 20:40, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

The word "suspected" is unnecessary - there really is no need to be circumspect here. The evidence was overwhelming, he confessed, there is no controversy over his guilt, and he is dead so there are no legal issues of slander or libel to consider, in spite of Toxygene's post. Furthermore, his crimes are reported as fact elsewhere in the article, so it's inconsistent to imply that there is doubt about them in the introduction. "Believed to have murdered at least twelve women" should remain though, as there is doubt over the exact number of people he killed. 81.79.35.188 12:11, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

I have restored doubt. This has nothing to do with libel and everything to do with wikipedia's reputation as sticking to the facts and not making it up (which to say he murdered people when he was only charged is making it up). This article needs an eye kept on it for this reason, SqueakBox 00:51, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Then to be consistent, you should have changed all the other statements saying definitively that West murdered people in the article to claims that he killed them. But you didn't. Now the article just looks stupid -- inconsistency is not good for Wikipedia's reputation. 203.117.143.29 06:51, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

He was a sick murderer and you say he was an "Innocent man under British law"!?? He killed them there is no doubt so don't use stupid semantics.WikiFounder 20:17, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Head injury lead to sociopathy?

Anyone want to clarify/support the claim that "West's sociopathy has been linked to a head injury"? Who has claimed that a head injury caused his sociopathy? What's the supposed connection? Sounds quite ridiculous to me, and should be clarified at least. - Severinus 21:19, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

This was not so much a claim as a suggestion by Gordon Burn in his 1998 book Happy Like Murderers

- Bobble2 16:12, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

• Thanks for the clarification & edit. - Severinus 21:59, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bigamy

"He committed bigamy by marrying Rosemary Letts on 29 January 1972, as he never had divorced."

The previous paragraph states that he had already murdered his previous wife, so is this actually bigamy? Marlinspike 13:39, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

Good point, I would have thought that bigamy was the least of his crimes, even if he had committed it. Though maybe in law, if his wife was considered missing or still alive legally then it might apply but I don't know enought about the details of the timings etc, but otherwise unless some one can provide a legal justification or reference then I think it should be removed. Rrose Selavy

It appears he murdered a woman who was not his wife whom he had impregnated. 24.131.12.228 08:14, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

He did kill his first wife, Rena, some time after killing that girlfriend. It appears she left him around the time of that murder. She later (after he had married Rose) came back looking for her daughter and was killed by them. Rose was charged with her murder. So, yes, he was a bigamist.

A book published before 1998 made the assertion before Burns. LuciferMorgan 19:55, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

I'm not sure this is particularly encyclopedic, but an episode of the American TV show, Law & Order: SVU appeared to be modeled after Fred West and his wife. The episode was titled Resilience and is from season 4. The episode also made a reference to Fred West by Dr. George Huang character. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by OPaul (talk • contribs).