Cliff Hatton
Well-known member
I have spent close to 5 hours (over several days) re-reading threads on this topic both on here and on the old Fishingwharehouse site and to be perfectly honest, and looking from a legal standpoint, I see absolutely no concrete evidence to support the propositions from, either side.
Personally, I am not convinced but would not, and do not,
suggest that either party are not being anything short of honest as they view the situation.
There is a lot of circumstantial evidence but little or
no demonstrable evidence, the type of which one would
rely upon in Court. This being due to the fact that it is
a deduction based on the facts, but in this case those facts are simply not demonstrable.
There is a lot of character evidence, from both sides,
which while that attempts to prove a person's actions has
no weight unless supported by phyical evidence which in
this case appears to have been lost.
In addition there seems to be a host of anecdotal evidence which goes to explain an action, but on its own cannot be given guaranteed credence, as it can be "cherry picked" to support a proposition.
It seems that this is the classic case of "he said, she said" and while it is laudible that friends have continued to fight what they see, or deem to be, an injustice until and unless evidence of a legal standard is offered there can be no solution.
Given that one party are not regular contributors to FM, and therefore do not see these threads, then maybe the best way forward it to just let this prickly topic rest?
Hi, Peter.
From a 'legal standpoint' as you put it, there is copious, GLARING, 'concrete evidence' to support our contention and I'm rather disappointed that you haven't picked this up. What's not 'concrete', Peter, about the Moor Hall Angling Club's minutes which prove that Martin was in Hornchurch, Essex when Selman and the Carp Society say he was in Canada catching giant carp?
What's not 'concrete' about the unanimous testimony of an entire club committee stating that the original photos showed only typical English lake surroundings and positively NO mountains or power stations?
And - perhaps above all - what's not 'concrete' about the fact that dare not speak its name apparently? That of Selman's unwavering, 25 year, 'one million per cent' contention that the fish were caught from a lake in British Columbia which, overnight, was astonishingly changed to 'one million per cent' Lennox power station?
From a 'legal standpoint', Peter, these 3 points alone would have Selman and the Carp Society eating very humble pie.