Category: News

An interesting court case begins today which could have an affect on freedom of speech, hence why I’m mentioning it. It centres on a civil servant from Newcastle, Darryn Walker, who posted a story entitled Girls (Scream) Aloud on a web site, which details the kidnap, torture and murder of the talentless group of windbags who call themselves what passes for a musical act in Britain these days.

I’ve not read it (yet), but it only took about 30 seconds on Google to find a link to a link to it (direct link is here) so go ahead and feel free to turn yourself into a blood-crazed celebrity stalker/killer. What worries me is that elsewhere on my blog I’m fairly certain I’ve detailed what I’d like to do with the Spice Girls (some of them in particular, especially that celebrity stick insect that passes for David Beckham‘s wife) and George W Bush. Maybe I’ve not gone past the invisible line that requires a court case.

Not that anyone knows what that line is as Mr Walker is being prosecuted under the Obscenity laws which are about as vague as a Labour Party policy statement. Essentially, he has to have written something that could offend any reasonable person. Or something. Of course, someone then has to decide what/who constitutes a reasonable person.

William Reese-Mogg? Mary Whitehouse? James Ferman?

Or John Carpenter? Hitler? Richard Laymon? Me?

I’ll need to dig more into the story. I’m curious to know who reported him, on what grounds he was arrested and how exactly he’s being prosecuted. Obviously it’s a public prosecution but why were charges brought? Was is Girls Aloud’s management, a fan, a random busybody…?

And what happens if he’s found guilty? I can see a lot of internet sites which focus purely on the porn side of the celebrity lifestyle becoming very worried indeed.

If there’s one plus side to this – and it’s a very small one – it’s that the author of the offending content is the one being taken to court. This, at least, is an improvement on the usual state where the publishing website could have been involved even though they may have had no knowledge of the individual post. This is always a worry when allowing comments on a blog, or when hosting a forum.

However, I don’t know if I’ll be able to follow the story or if it’s going to disappear like so many do. One headline and then no further details unless something outstanding happens, like the band themselves appear to defend him.

I guess we’ll have to see. In the meantime, I’m off to read what he wrote. Thing is, regardless of how depraved, sick, twisted or “obscene” I find it, the guy’s actually done no harm whatsoever in writing it. Hell, he’s probably only putting into writing what a lot of people feel about these overpaid, under-talented bimbos.

And, as ever, no matter whether I agree with him or not we’re a nation which claims to allow freedom of expression. A loss for him in this case could be one more nail in that coffin.

Update: OK, I’ve read it (although I notice it’s credited to someone with a different name than the guy on trial) and it’s pretty gruesome. It’s also rather repetitive. And I’ve also read novels which have as much violence and sadism in them, yet they’re still available in bookshops and libraries. I guess this is another one of those “internet is a bad place” trials, then.