this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2026
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UK Politics

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[–] makingrain@lemmy.world -4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"I've been stabbed" didn't result in the same treatment for the actual murderer, did it?

[–] frankPodmore@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No, because the actual murderer had a witness - in fact the 999 caller - who backed him up. The police believed two witnesses over one, until it became apparent that they were lying. Race was irrelevant to that error.

[–] makingrain@lemmy.world -5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You've got your blinkers on. The 999 call even included:

We've been attacked by a white person!'

[–] frankPodmore@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Do you think it's unusual for people to describe their attacker when they make a 999 call?

[–] makingrain@lemmy.world -5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Only his race? Not age, or his clothes? In any other instance, call it for what it is: racism.

Didn't really matter as he was already dying on the ground by that point.

[–] frankPodmore@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've made several 999 calls, unfortunately, both as a witness and a victim, and I'm fairly sure I mentioned the race of the individuals concerned in all of them. Ask me now what they were wearing and I don't remember in detail: the simplest facts about them, like skin and hair colour, are what come to mind. So, no, I don't imagine it's unusual to focus on that. In fact, I would think that 'a [insert skin colour here] man is attacking me' is quite a common thing to hear on a 999 call! Those are very salient and easily memorable details, and they're the kind of thing you can spot even in poor light conditions or when there's a great deal of confusion.

In any case, you seem to be conflating the behaviour of the murderer and his brother, who did lie about a racist attack (but no one's denying that), with that of the police, who you're claiming only handcuffed Novak because of that accusation (or only handcuffed Novak because he was white, which is what you would actually need to prove in order to sustain the claim that the police were racist). But, again, there's no reason to believe this, unless you think it is unusual for police to arrive at a scene and handcuff the person who multiple witnesses are pointing at and saying: 'that's the guy who attacked us'. Imagine if the racial aspect of the situation were inverted, or if all three had been the same race. Would the police have behaved differently? I find that doubtful.

[–] makingrain@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I only mentioned the 999 call as you brought it up.

Before I continue, have you watched the police footage?

[–] frankPodmore@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

I only mentioned the 999 call as you brought it up.

Yes, and I brought it up because it's a key piece of evidence. You seem to agree; however, it doesn't demonstrate what you claim it does. Indeed, that's why I brought it up - it supports my point, not yours!

Before I continue, have you watched the police footage?

I haven't and I don't intend to. I have read several accounts of what happens in the footage, including the judge's description from the sentencing remarks. As long as those descriptions are accurate to what happened, it won't effect my line of argument that I've not watched it.