In 2017 I asked Jeremy via a third party about the tactics that Rivlin had prepared for the Trial. The following text is agreed by Jeremy as accurate. Jeremy said that Rivlin did not discuss tactics and said that he doesn't believe that he had any. Jeremy said Rivlin would not challenge the police and when Jeremy told him that he (Rivlin) had to expose the relatives as liars Rivlin told him "I can't do that". When Jeremy expressed to Rivlin that he ought to try to show that Sheila was responsible he said that he wasn't allowed to do that because Sheila wasn't being prosecuted, he was.
Jeremy said that during the trial Rivlin didn't challenge anyone, which is apparent from reading trial testimony. Indeed, Rivlin defended himself when Drake was giving him a mild dressing down by pointing out that he had only accused one witness, Julie Mugford, of lying on oath.
Jeremy said he is convinced that Rivlin had already conceded defeat before the trial commenced and was just going through the motions.
To be honest Bill I think you’ve written a very honest post and I do believe in part some off that. A lot is decided before trial on the Questions and the Judge decides what line it takes and what goes in. I do believe the Judge would have steered away from the Sheila on trial as well. It is an eye opener for anyone going to court when you think, well this should be included and that should be included, when in fact it doesn’t get a mention. I think that is why a lot who get convicted tend to blame their Barrister after and say they were let down, when in fact it’s the Judge who has refused it to allow it in.
The Later about Rivlin conceding defeat, Im not sure about, it was a high profile case and it was watched (media) and covered by interest by a lot of the public, Rivlin was on show so he would try his best, maybe because his hands were tied it made it look that way Bill, but considering he didn’t do a bad Job I don’t think he would purposely let him down though. I do think he thought Bamber guilty and I know it’s not proven but, maybe there was some truth in the story about the Defence Psychiatrist branding him a Psychopath and this played on him a little, who knows?