APRIL NEWS!!

 

Another Agonizing wait ensues

 

Hello Readers,

                    Well!, it’s been quite a busy month this one, that saw my case attract quite a lot of media interest.

It all started with the initial article about my case and my forth coming appeal in the Guardian Newspaper on the 16^th of April. Included with the article was that terrible old photo of me shaven headed, brown Thai prison uniform (red armband standing for possible death sentence prisoner) shackled stepping off the prison bus at the Court in Bangkok Thailand, the day of my sentencing!

That day still haunts me to this day.

Almost un-acceptable to believe now, my arrest was over 6 years ago, 4 years 7 months of that spent in prison in Thailand, all a bad nightmare, but forever a physical scar.

Duncan Campbell Chief investigative reporter of the Guardian Newspaper wrote an accurate and favorable article bringing to light some important points my appeal raises. We thank you kindly Duncan for a fair and unbiased article, it was very encouraging and pleasing to see a Newspaper such as the Guardian publish such an article. (See last month’s newsletter)

The following days saw many other newspapers all carry similar fair and unbiased favorable articles, most noted was my local paper The Leicester Mercury on the 17^th, 24^th and 27^th of April, I (we) thank you for your accuracy and honesty.

Also many regional TV news channels mentioned my case and appeal as did ceefax and teletext who carried the story for a few days.

Let’s hope all this interest in our appeal has a positive effect on the outcome and common sense of Justice prevails.

A detailed account of what our appeal is all about can be now found on the Home page of this website and is also listed on the left hand column “Navigation” of the Home Page under the title:- “Steven Michael Willcox application to the High Court for Judicial Review to be heard 23^rd April 2009”

I will spare you all the infinitesimal details in this newsletter and now only give you the briefest of what went on and happened.

As you all know my Judicial Review (Appeal) hearing was scheduled for April 23^rd at the High Court London. Our hearing was very well attended by numerous family, friends and various interested parties, reporters, all too many to mention individually. My sincere thanks to you all for your support and concern. I will write you all after the outcome of the appeal.

Originally our hearing was only listed for 3 hours on the Thursday morning, however our case was not concluded that morning and the hearing ran the full day. Quite un-expectedly at the end of the day it could still not be concluded and our Legal team had to return on the following day, the hearing went all morning.

Due to the complexity of the case, the Judgment could not be given on the day (April 24^th)

The Judges reserved Judgment to a date to be confirmed by the Court. We expect the Judgment to be given in the next 2-3 weeks.

Clearly a lot was said by both parties during the hearing and I don’t propose to attempt to relay to you here with the Judgment still outstanding. I don’t want to tempt fate or tip anybodies hand do I?

But I will say this:- Both Judges were prepared to listen to the submissions Mr. Fitzgerald Q.C. made on my behalf and they listened with great interest.

At this stage obviously I don’t want to say too much at all, as is always the case with me and my on going incarceration nothing is clear cut and now another desperate wait ensues.

Keep watching this space “Website” for the latest developments!!

 

Mr. Eric McGraw, Author and Managing Editor of Inside Time Newspaper, who attended our appeal, will shortly publish an article this month in fact on my case and appeal, details can be found on www.insidetime.org you’re a true gent Eric and should be applauded for the extremely important work you do. Many thanks Eric!

 

To the numerous reporters who’ve requested an interview with me, please understand I have to put my family first and consider the consequences of such interviews and how it could affect their lives. Even positive articles could have a very negative and in the case of our son Oak even a harmful effect. Oak is now only five and a half years old. To date Oak does not realize I am imprisoned, Oaks gone through a massive culture shock and change with his permanent move from Thailand to England, he’s adjusted tremendously to life here. I dare not risk any setbacks. Kids can be cruel at times and I dare not risk at present, more media coverage which could lead to it becoming common knowledge amongst Oaks school friends, his dad is imprisoned. Although I don’t intend to hide from or lie to Oak about where I am and the circumstances that led to my incarceration, I don’t want to bring it to his attention until it is absolutely necessary.

Thanks to the great sensitivity shown by our local newspaper The Leicester Mercury and their reporter Gemma Peplow the photo they included with their article was not the shocking photo shown in the Guardian of me in shackles.

Oak saw the Head and Shoulders photo of me in the Mercury and he took it upon himself to assume it was a photo of daddy at work or work related. I hadn’t the heart to say otherwise and pray in the near future I won’t have to say otherwise.

The Guardian photo he didn’t see, would have left no doubt of my imprisonment.

In a way I am very relieved, yet in the same breath I feel guilty for letting Oak assume wrongly.

In another way I am glad the National paper the Guardian chose the most shocking of the two photos of me, taken at the time of my arrest and sentencing. A lot remains un-said of my story, a lot more needs to be said to hopefully bring about change for the better of prisoners before now and after.

Many in authority may not be happy to hear my views and testimony; it’s my final option to go public.

Hopefully that national media coverage will give us the maximum impact; it’s certainly got a lot of people very interested. I spent seven months in shackles “twenty four seven”, and those shown in the photo are the smallest of the two sets of shackles I wore.

“God, they bring back painful memories!!

Back on the topic of media and my concerns with that effect on our son Oak, well to be honest readers, I am praying for the answer to our dreams and a favorable outcome with my appeal. I don’t want to have to explain to oak at all about me his dad being in prison. Why traumatize Oak un-necessary with the fact I his dad is in prison. Hopefully Oak at such young age will not have to know and at a later age all can be easier and with more understanding on Oaks side be explained, certainly with less risk of a harming effect on Oak.

Saying that though, God forbid the appeal goes against us. As I would then have to have a serious re-think and possibly my last and only option would be an all out Publicity drive and campaign with my case.

I must sound like a right hypocrite one minute saying I want to protect my son and keep out of Publicity and the next starting a publicity drive and campaign. The truth is I win the appeal I fade away into the family life I am so desperate for.

To lose I swear I will never go away I will make as much noise and throw every bit of dirt I have. To some in authority you may read this as a personal threat, well its not I am not taking out personal vendettas here.

It’s about a son, a husband, a dad, being a dad is about being there for Oak and for that I will fight tooth and nail forever!!

I just want to be a son, a husband, a dad, enjoy life with my family, be there to guide and protect, provide for and to love.

Surely even the most hardliners against drug crimes would agree I’ve served (my families served) their time for my crime.

When “Justice does more social damage than the crime, it is no longer Justice”.

Our agonizing wait continues!!!

 

Wishing you all good health and happiness

                                                                  Love Steve Willcox