There are times when it's right to speak up, and there are times when you should keep your big fat gobs shut.
Family stands by convicted Inverness rapist David Brown as they insist ‘the truth will come out’https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... d-council/The wife of convicted rapist David Brown has defended her husband in a lengthy Facebook post.
Anne-Marie Brown’s statement, published two days after news of Brown’s conviction and sentencing in May, has since been widely shared across social media and in WhatsApp messages.
The post, which was made in response to news coverage of her husband being jailed, has resurfaced as controversy over Highland Council’s decision to allow Brown to retain his taxi operator’s licence continues to grow.
David Brown controversyPublic debate over the council’s licensing decision is continuing.
The decision not to suspend her husband’s licence after he was jailed for raping one of his taxi passengers is due to be reconsidered by Highland Council after widespread criticism and the resignation of four members of the licensing committee.
Mrs Brown has since applied to the local authority for a taxi operator’s licence in her own name.
In her statement, Mrs Brown said her family continued to stand behind her husband despite his conviction.
“As a family we stand by David’s innocence in this situation,” she wrote.
“Anyone that knows him personally knows it’s not in his character to do anything like this.”
David Brown, 61, of Croy, was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, with his sentencing later taking place at the High Court in Stirling.
He was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
In the Facebook post, which was written on May 17 before Highland Council’s licensing committee’s decision, Mrs Brown said the family had become the target of criticism within their community.
“Unfortunately as a family this is something we have to look at, see and deal with every single day,” she wrote.
“We have most definitely been targeted within this village. The pressure on us is unbearable most days.”
She also criticised anonymous comments on social media, writing: “Those hiding behind anonymous names grow a set and stand up for what you clearly believe.”
‘Hopefully the truth will come out’Mrs Brown said the court case had been subject to “a complete media ban”, meaning, she said, no reporters had been present in court, and argued that public discussion had not reflected what was heard during the trial.
She also disputed aspects of the prosecution case, claiming there had been “absolutely no DNA evidence” linking her husband to the offence and describing the case as “his word against hers”. Those are Mrs Brown’s claims.
Mrs Brown further stated her husband had faced “five aspects to the charge”, saying he had been acquitted on four before the jury returned a guilty verdict on the fifth.
Highland Council headquarters.She also referred to what she described as “ongoing further investigation” connected with the case, but said she could not comment further.
“But in time hopefully the truth will come out,” she wrote.
Concluding her statement, Mrs Brown criticised Scotland’s justice system, writing: “The justice system in Scotland is flawed in so many ways.”
Brown remains in jail following his conviction.
The Press and Journal has spoken to members and staff of the Highland licensing committee who, when shown the Facebook statement, said it was “very similar” to what Mrs Brown said in the licensing committee meeting when her husband’s taxi operators licence was reviewed following his conviction.
They also revealed that Brown wrote a letter from prison to individual councillors, asking the committee to keep his operator’s licence.
We have put these claims to Highland Council.
In Full: Wife’s defence of husband
Mrs Brown’s statement in full reads: “I’m going to post a comment only once on this situation. As everyone is aware there is always 2 sides to every story.
“Firstly as a family we stand by Davids innocence in this situation. Anyone that knows him personally knows it’s not in his character to do anything like this.
“Outwith this village we have had nothing but support and respect from individuals. Who fully support us and the situation we all find ourselves in.
“Unfortunately as a family this is something we have to look at, see and deal with every single day.
“For people to make claims to say as a family we have not had to deal with drama is laughable. We have most definitely been targeted within this village.
“The pressure on us is as unbearable most days. I don’t look for and pitty or any reaction. However, those hiding behind anonymous names grow a set and stand up for what you clearly believe.
“It’s nice to know who we can speak to in the village and who we can’t. Yes he did live his life everyday since that day. He had every right to based on his innocence.
“This case had a complete media ban and not one reporter sat in that court room to report on any aspect at all. At any point from start to finish. As seen in several story lines since the 17th April the story has changed on several occasions no doubt the story will keep changing.
“Some very important statements being changed and lots being omitted. People opinions will be what they are based on what they are reading and not on the what was discussed in court and definitely not the facts.
“At some point in our lives i’m sure we will hear of someone we know having been wrongly convicted of something they didn’t do. No matter what the seriousness of the situation. It happens every single day to people out there.
“There was absolutely no DNA evidence etc linking him to having done anything. He certainly never admitted to having done anything consensual it was a case of his word against hers.
“There was 5 aspects to the charge 4 he was found not guilty on. The 5th unfortunately the Jury returned a guilty verdict for.
“Doing the job we do everyday. The job he did with full disclosures etc for over 30 years. We are in a very vulnerable position regards accusations made against us.
“Not just with situations like this but an unbelievable amount of factors. Unfortunately due to ongoing further investigation involving this case i can’t say anymore details than that. But in time hopefully the truth will come out.
“People will continue to believe what they want and also say what they want. Nothing i can say will change that.
“I just felt the need to post a comment to say what i had to.
“As said at the start i will not be responding to this post anymore. I have purposely stayed away from posting on Social Media as i know there is still stuff ongoing in the background which will prove David’s innocence.
“The justice system in Scotland is flawed in so many ways. I hope that people making comments never find themselves or their families in a similar position to us in the future.”
Login
Register
FAQ
