Strange News, Politics, Sport, and Celebrity on the Anorak
Splash News on Michael Jackson’s death - “It’s like the FA Cup final”
Shannon Matthews: Karen Matthews Arrested, Sentenced To Life In Jail And Counting The Kids
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Shannon Matthews
DAILY EXPRESS: “SHANNON: NOW HER MOTHER IS CHARGED WITH CHILD NEGLECT”
The mother of kidnapped schoolgirl Shannon Matthews was charged last night with perverting the course of justice and child neglect. Karen Matthews, 32, was dramatically charged after two days of questioning by detectives.
She will appear before Dewsbury Magistrates’ Court this morning. If found guilty, the mother-of-seven could face a maximum penalty of life behind bars.
Life?
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Shannon Matthews’s mother charged by police”
The most serious charge of perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, although 10 years is the largest sentence passed in the last 100 years.
100 years?
THE TIMES: “Mother of Shannon Matthews charged with neglect”
Ms Matthews was criticised yesterday by her sister, Julie Poskitt, for apparently not knowing how many children she had. “When Shannon first went missing, Karen told everyone that she had six children,” Mrs Poskitt said. “It took her days to remember she had seven. I remember screaming at the telly, because even though I’m not their mother, I knew she had seven.”
THE SUN: “Estate is like a nastier Beirut”
One resident on Moorside Road, where Karen Matthews lived, told how cops who raided his home uncovered a stash of adult porn.
He said: “There’s nowt wrong with that. We’ve all got porn. Tell me a man who hasn’t porn in his house.”
“Shannon’s far better in care”
Anila Baig, the Sun’s sometimes-woman –in-a-hajib, is looking at the matter:
Karen Matthews is a disgrace and an insult to mums everywhere after allegedly admitting she knew where Shannon was “from day one”.
There are claims of a twisted plan to have the nine-year-old “kidnapped” based on an episode of Channel 4 show Shameless.
Shameless? More like shameful, sick and disgusting, if true.
Such are the facts. How many children does Karen Matthews have, Anila? She has “seven children by five different men”.
DAILY MAIL: “Shameless Britain isn’t a comedy - it’s a tragedy”
Says Allison Pearson: “Dysfunctional families get along fine in the end and horribly deprived, bright little boys can grow up to be celebrated writers of award-winning dramas just like … well, Shameless’s creator Paul Abbott.
The show’s spirit is best summed up by anti-hero Frank Gallagher’s cheery chant: “Make Poverty History - Cheaper drugs now!” Hilarious. Unless, of course, you happen to be a real child living in that kind of couldn’t-care-less home. Anyone find the plight of Shannon Matthews funny? Thought not. Yet her family could come from Central Casting for Shameless Britain.
A TV show (a work of fiction) and the lives of Shannon Matthews and her family. Which one do you find laughable, if either?
As Mel Brookes said: “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”
We can laugh at it all, even Ms Pearson.
Shameless Britain is not a comedy. It’s a daily tragedy whose victims, like Shannon Matthews, are all too real.
Oh, please, Ms Pearson. Stop. Stop. You’re killing us…
THE GUARDIAN: “Shannon’s mother charged over abduction”
At a news conference at Dewsbury police station, Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Peter Mann said: “The CPS has continued to work with police in connection with this case since Shannon was found on Friday March 14. Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, was arrested on April 6 and has been interviewed by West Yorkshire police.
“Having carefully considered all of the evidence provided in the file by West Yorkshire police, we have decided that there is sufficient evidence and have authorised that Karen Matthews be charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect.
Five members of the child’s family have been arrested in connection with her abduction, including 22-year-old stepfather Craig Meehan and Meehan’s uncle Michael Donovan.
Five.
THE INDEPENDENT: “Mother of Shannon Matthews charged with child’s neglect”
The latest development in the rapidly changing case came after it was reported that Mrs Matthews, 32, had allegedly confessed to knowing the whereabouts of the nine-year-old, and that a number of people claiming to be the girl’s relatives made direct approaches to Kate and Gerry McCann asking for money from the fund for their missing daughter Madeleine.
Mrs Matthews, who will appear at Dewsbury magistrates’ court this morning, was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. She is the fourth family member to be arrested over Shannon’s disappearance after a school swimming trip on 19 February.
Four. Such are the facts.
Christina Patterson: Making the most of motherhood
If the allegations in this more-gripping-even-than-The Apprentice case are true, then Karen Matthews, like Frank Gallagher, is certainly resourceful. And while single women across the country – and the Atlantic – agonise over their inability to bag a man, Karen, it seems, has an embarrassment of riches. The younger man who kissed for the cameras. The older man, it’s alleged, in whose “divan drawer” poor Shannon was found. The four other fathers. And all without even a lick of lipstick!
Anyone laughing, Ms Pearson? Smiling..?
And if they’re true, she’s certainly a good actress. That crumpled, puffy face. Those tearful pleas for a safe return. That grateful clasping of friends’ and neighbours’ hands. Give the woman an Oscar – or, at least, a part in The Bill.
Karen Matthews walks into a police station - tell me if you’ve heard it before…
Posted: 9th, April 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (18) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
- Madeleine McCann: The Story In Pictures
- Michael Jackson Dies Without His Nose On
- The Most Bizarre X-Ray Pictures
- Asda Puts Cock Soup On Top Shelf: 28 Smuttiest Foods Ever
- Hayden Panettiere Presents The World's Best Misspelled Tattoos
- The Real Story Of How Michael Jackson Died
- Michael Jackson Presents More World’s Best Misspelled Tattoos
- The Best Communist Russia Album Covers
April 9th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Being pedantic.. (!!) Mary Bell didn’t write the book herself although she was interviewed for it. (I’m looking at it on the bookshelf)
Jeffrey Archer didn’t write anything about his actual crime, just the following incarceration.
The way round all of this, that many a real crim has taken (Eddie Richardson for one) is to write about EVERYTHING you’re not convicted of and scoot around the edges of the actual offence.
‘Proceeds of Crime’ is a very ambiguous phrase.
Sharron Matthews could write a lengthy tome about her childhood, relationships and deprived life but leave out the actual ‘abduction’. Best seller material there.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:04 am
The most serious charge of perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, although 10 years is the largest sentence passed in the last 100 years.
your joking aint you,murderers dont get that long!!
April 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am
… charged with Child Neglect.
Now there’s a thought.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:47 am
I doubt very much if the McCs will now be hastening to add their two-pennorth of sympathies to this particular case and probably screaming backwards from any association with them !! perhaps now when and if, another child goes missing ( God forbid) we shall be spared their eternal band-waggon jumping and extending of their sympathies to all and sundry which I can never understand since they are still suspects in their own child’s disappearance
April 9th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Every one knows the delectable Karen is traumatised and innocence personified, did our resident Anorak body language experts tell us so, body language my arse.
How much longer can the pool have refs giving them free penalty kicks, must be the body language.
April 9th, 2008 at 6:30 am
the whole thing is sad and getting sadder by the day. the trail of tears is lengthening.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:52 am
I regret to inform Young Mr. Anorak he may be confused.
It is not considered “nice” to make money from or profit from crime, although he succeeds in doing it everyday ( IMHO, lol, SWALK and the Forces’ favourite GYKOICH)
Double killer Mary Bell published a book back in 1998 which caused a bit of a yah boo sucks reaction (Premier Tone Blair thought it in bad taste but, just so you never forget, Tone did not feel nearly as badly as the the families of Martin Brown,4, and Brian Howe ,3, killed - judgement was double manslaughter - in 1968 by the then 11-year-old Bell).
Any attempt to profit from crime may very well attract the the attention of:
The Assets Recovery Agency (yes there really is one)
Its powers include:
* new powers to seize status-setting acquisitions - such as diamond jewellery and plasma screen TVs - from those charged with crimes such as burglary and robbery
* seizing both cash and assets like boats and cars that have been used in crimes, or are the proceeds of crimes
* including recovery of the proceeds of crime as part of criminal sentencing
* offering citizens a percentage of the seizures for whistle-blowing on fraud committed against the government
* removing the time limit for seizing crime-related assets
If?? Ms Matthews is brought to trial and found guilty she may very well have to give up any status symbols she has . She has allegedly already given up on her toy boy. and, if convicted, may have no choice or say in the future of her children. Regrettably, that may already be the case.
….and you were warned…once again first and foremost by Anorak, the seers’ guide to the news.
It is also still illegal to identify the whereabouts of 51-year-old Mary Bell or 31-year-old Maxine Ann Carr the former girlfriend of convicted Soham double murderer Ian Huntley.
So I won’t … but I wish I could.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Mr Archer had done that for years though, and his wife accepted it, so he said. It could have been and still is, one of those marriages where the wife does not want to divorce!
I don’t have a quote for this, but it was widely reported and he spoke about it on TV, etc.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:37 am
‘He didn’t harm or neglect anyone though’
Mrs Archer may not have held that same opinion when it was widely publicised that her husband had visited a prostitute ?
April 9th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Yes, Mr Archer is doing well, and, is popular on talk shows. He didn’t harm or neglect anyone though.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:19 am
Penster/Anorak
Ex jailbird Jeffrey Archer (2002) springs to mind in this regard
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2301717.stm
April 9th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Do you get the feeling there is more to this story than meets the eye. Who is cutting and coloring Karen’s hair. Obviously no one has told her what to say yet.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:13 am
When she gets out she can do as she likes. Should she be found guilty and jailed, that is…
April 9th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Can she really Anorak? Convicted crims here (Oz) are not allowed to profit from their crimes by selling stories and writing books behind bars. If and when Ms Matthews is charged and convicted will she be able to do so? Good thing she had a cut and a colour first.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:55 am
She can sell her story to the tabloids for big money now
April 9th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Karen is certainly a jolly good actress. really felt for her. She did have her hair done though, with a bit falling down from the side! The way she looks now, well, what a silly woman. Shannon is OK and the other kids too, for the time being.
April 9th, 2008 at 3:38 am
Ginger is the new blonde
April 9th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Karen Matthews hair is even more groomed than Kate Mccann’s. Glossy, smooth, no regrowth. Very unCHAV.