I agree with you that whatever your view on the case JM comes across as dreadful. I do not hold back in my total condemnation of her. This is my continuing battle with some members here, particularly Steve_UK, but also to an extent Jane and even Caroline, whom I respect a lot even though I disagree with her on some aspects of the case (but agree more than you might realise on others). However RJ has been fairly balanced in relation to JM. He is certainly not a supporter of her. He has a view on JB based upon people he knows and although I do not share his view I recognise that it is sincerely held and fairly argued. I think sensible debate is the answer here, particularly if we hope to persuade people of our view.
I'm not certain why you should feel the need to battle with me, NGB. I've never concealed my dislike of Julie going back to when I thought Jeremy was innocent. However, I'll admit my dislike of her then may, compared to now, have an uncomfortable resemblance to how Jeremy's 'would be' sees her now. Now, MY view of her is more balanced. I've learned something of her background from someone who knew her family. I've said, on countless occasions, that I find her behaviour appalling. I've said that I'd have been ashamed to have called her my daughter. I'm not certain what more I could say to get across that I don't support her. However, in a court of law -and despite some treating it that way, this forum isn't- everything which isn't white, is black. REAL life isn't like that. None of us are more than products of our upbringings and the standards we've witnessed and experienced -if we see our care-givers "getting away with it" it stands to reason we'll do the same- it's understandable when we're children. Children aren't responsible. It doesn't excuse those behaviours, as adults, we fail to take responsibility for but it helps to explain.
What she did was wrong, almost beyond belief, BUT -and in the legal world of black or white it really doesn't matter what was the driving force behind it- she came good and did the right thing. That the decision was taken not to prosecute her ISN'T her fault, but she may have paid for it since. I wonder, for how long she's expected to pay? How long is this sick vendetta against her going to last? It seems to me that if her "crimes" are measured as being on a par with Jeremy's, the "crimes" of those -some of whom appear to be coming from a position of jealousy- who actively seek to destroy her life and family, are every bit as bad as those they accuse her of.