That part Stan would definitely have known, it was his job to think ill of " would be criminals " whether right or wrong. We must also remember that he took an instant dislike to Jeremy, quite possibly because of what Jeremy stood to gain ( my thoughts ) where something like that can't be hidden and is easily rubbed off when you have others involved who are also of the same mindset. So easy when there was nobody to speak up for Jeremy. It was such a top-heavy case in that respect.
"So easy when there was nobody to speak up for Jeremy" Have you never wondered why, Lookout?
I still recall feeling shock when I read you saying that if Jeremy was your grandson you'd have been proud of how he presented himself (in this case, it was in court). It was with some horror that it occurred to me that the mothers/grandmothers of youngsters who are frankly no more than thugs and sh-one-ts, sit in courtrooms saying they feel really proud of their young -probably even the mummies/grannies of those wastes of space who were responsible for the death of the young policeman. My guess is that mums/grandmums will always love their boys, no matter what others say.......................which brings me back to wondering why no one spoke up for Jeremy.
I imagine, if you were suspected of having committed a crime, the general concensus, of all who know you, might be along the lines of you were feisty and sometimes 'difficult' but you definitely wouldn't have done X. In my own case, from all who know me, I can guarantee, their opinion would be NEVER in a million years. These opinions, both from your friends, and mine, would spread beyond ther parameters of our own groups to a wider audience. NONE of this happened for Jeremy. I've never known a single friend of his parents' -there are so few left now- who've supported him. I'm told there was one person from his school but the only person I've known who did support him is my cousin's co in law, a vicar. Those females whose bed he'd shared chose not to hang around to beat the drum for him after he'd been convicted. His only support has come from those who've only known him since his conviction. How can he have got to 25, spent 7 years at a school, been to college, traveled the world -twice-, had numerous jobs around many different people, but have SO few willing to say"He COULDN'T have done this. It simply isn't possible". It makes me suspicious.