ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
raid
Dad Photographer
Bob Shell was a successful editor, and he helped me getting started in marketing some of my images in the eighties. It is quite disturbing to read about the whole issue you are referring to, Chris.
edited:
Bob's studio in Radford is close to Blacksburg (Virginia) where I went to graduate school. That's how one day got to meet Bob Shell.
edited:
Bob's studio in Radford is close to Blacksburg (Virginia) where I went to graduate school. That's how one day got to meet Bob Shell.
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Didier
"Deed"
A sad story. Whether Bob, who's competent advices on the CVUG I have always appreciated, is guilty or not, only he knows. There hasn't been an evidence, and a judgement by a jury, especially in a southern state like Bob lives, is just a russian roulette. In my country (Switzerland), the abandon of jury courts is discussed on parliamentary level to attach more importance to the benefit of doubt principle. No evidence, no judgement, period. I prefer knowing culpable people being free than innocent people being in jail.
Didier
Didier
Didier
Didier
FrankS
Registered User
I'm surprised by that verdict. Seems like there was a lot of room for doubt.
Finder
Veteran
Well, I am disturbed that a man of Mr. Shell's age is engaging in such behavior. He did not appear to be just taking photos.
Sadder still is a young woman is dead.
This is a very sad story.
Sadder still is a young woman is dead.
This is a very sad story.
Calvin
Established
Didier said:
What is the final outcome of the abandon of jury court in your country?
raid
Dad Photographer
Bob posted about many strange events occuring in his trial. I hope that no witch hunt took place there.
Didier
"Deed"
Calvin said:
We still have jury courts, but happening less and less. The legislative body (eg. both national parliament chambres) is discussing the abandon in the context of a mayor criminal law modernization. So far there wasn't a significant opposition against the abandon, as an involved friend of mine said, a professort of law at the University of Fribourg and consulting expert in the parliament's commission. But such things may take many years until they finally change, here. Because when the whole new law packet is ready, any political party may want a referendum about it. But fact is, we haven't seen a jury court since years.
D.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Mods, why was it necessary to move this from
Photography General Interest to Off Topic?
Chris
Photography General Interest to Off Topic?
Chris
R
RML
Guest
In Holland we don't have juries. Judging and sentencing is done by 1-3 judges with ample opportunity for both defendant and complainant to discuss their case.
Somehow I get the idea they stacked several charges just to make sure Bob Shell wouldn't go free at all. Anyway, I assume he'll be up for parole in a decade. And if he really was framed somehow, I hope he'll put up a fight.
Somehow I get the idea they stacked several charges just to make sure Bob Shell wouldn't go free at all. Anyway, I assume he'll be up for parole in a decade. And if he really was framed somehow, I hope he'll put up a fight.
gb hill
Veteran
I drive by his studio quite often and didn't even realize it. The story bothers me somewhat, like the part where he suposedly put morphene in the wine glass and Bob said it was enchineca, but the jury didn't "believe" him. What about evidence? I know you can't get every detail out of a news story but I wonder, did they test the wine glasses? How can you convict someone simply because you don't believe them. I read the other day where a man was released from prison for rape but after a decade was innocent because DNA proved he didn't do it. Then there is the Darryl Hunt story here in N.C. that proved the same. It's crazy around here. It's guilty til proven innocent and if you can't afford a lawyer then your up s*#t creek without a paddle your going to prison. Simply wonderful legal system we have I tell you.
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ywenz
Veteran
why is everyone jumpin to conclusions? have you read the court documents yet? or are ppl simply takin the side of a photog by default?
kshapero
South Florida Man
gb hill said:
Statstics have proven time and time again that 99.4% of the time the guilty guy is the guilty guy. Of course, I would never want to see an innocent man be sent to prison or worse, but I will take those stats any day of the week. With all due respect, I call that a damn good legal sysytem. I am more worried about all the guilty ones that go free on a technicality of some sort. Thats where the system needs work. Anyway so long Bob Shell, we loved you when....
FrankS
Registered User
Perhaps, but studies also show that 78.3% of statistics quoted are made up on the spot. 
Seriously, it sure would suck if you ever found yourself in that 0.6%!
Seriously, it sure would suck if you ever found yourself in that 0.6%!
Didier
"Deed"
gb hill said:
That's exactly the problem I mentioned about jury courts. Especially in such a case, where it's "about sex, drugs, adultery and death", and this in a conservative southern state, the jury is not expected to be neutral and objective. Either they don't like the accused and convict him, or they like and acquit him. Mostly they just want to hang 'em hi. It's a pure opinion justice.
Alas, I don't think Bob was a choirboy, but I believe he would have deserved a fairer lawsuit.
Didier
gb hill
Veteran
ywenz said:
I'm not taking the side of the photographer. Like I stated in my post the paper article certainly can't detail everything, but as going by what the artical does state "that the jury didn't believe him" then what evidence was that based on? Could be shotty newspaper reporting I suppose. I also agree on the 99.4% statistics that those charged are guilty, but it doesn't take away from the fact that the legal system here has become a complete money racket.
FrankS
Registered User
Didier said:
I agree.
In conservative southern states it is also interesting to see what else is illegal besides drug use and negligence causing death. I always thought the US was based on as little government as possible, yet there it is, in the bedroom.
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
I wonder how this case would have played in New York or Los Angeles. Like Diidier said, rural southern states are a lot more conservative than either of the coastal states.
I wonder if there will be an appeal? At this point were I in Bob's shoes I'd rather be poor and free than spend the rest of my life in jail.
I wonder if there will be an appeal? At this point were I in Bob's shoes I'd rather be poor and free than spend the rest of my life in jail.
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
FrankS said:
I always found the "Virgina Is For Lovers" ad campaign funny after I learned that oral sex, even between adults, is illegal in VA.
Much as some would think that government intrusion in the bedroom is a recent development, it really isn't. Remember, the US was founded by the Puritans, and as such have been legislating sexual mores for about 400 years...
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
He was convicted by a jury of giving drugs to someone that resulted in her death. That plays the same anywhere on earth. Quite frankly I am not ssure why anyone is defending him at this point. It is incredibly bad for photography, and perpetuates the idea that photographers are predaters.
I hope he gets his thirty years. He was convicted period. I don't feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for the 19 year old girl whom he obviously victimized. No one has said anything about her yet.
I hope he gets put away and we never hear from him again.
I hope he gets his thirty years. He was convicted period. I don't feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for the 19 year old girl whom he obviously victimized. No one has said anything about her yet.
I hope he gets put away and we never hear from him again.
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