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Yeah, I'd like to see him try.
The guy is a nasty piece of work.
What goes around, comes around.....
The guy is a nasty piece of work.
What goes around, comes around.....
Posted: 22:48 Dec 12 2003
The best justice that money can buy
www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1103238,00.html
For those who've yet to have the pleasure, Nicholas van Hoogstraten is the multi-millionaire property baron who, in the sixties, spent four years in Wormwood Scrubs due to ordering a grenade attack on a Jewish clergyman he claimed owed him money, described five tenets as who died in a fire in one of his luxury properties in the eighties as "unemployed, drug dealers, drug users and queers. Just scum, really", and was described by a judge as a "self styled emissary of Beelzebub". (Pah, those obscure legal euphemisms egh?)
He admits paying two thugs currently residing at her majesty's pleasure for murder to go and beat up former business rival Mohammed Raja, but claims he couldn't possibly foresee they'd kill him. The court of appeals agreed. Mr van Hoogstraten's first words to the press were that he plans to sue "just about everybody" involved in his prosecution, including the dead victim's family.
British justice, the finest in the world!
(Edited by Byron 12/12/2003 22:34)
For those who've yet to have the pleasure, Nicholas van Hoogstraten is the multi-millionaire property baron who, in the sixties, spent four years in Wormwood Scrubs due to ordering a grenade attack on a Jewish clergyman he claimed owed him money, described five tenets as who died in a fire in one of his luxury properties in the eighties as "unemployed, drug dealers, drug users and queers. Just scum, really", and was described by a judge as a "self styled emissary of Beelzebub". (Pah, those obscure legal euphemisms egh?)
He admits paying two thugs currently residing at her majesty's pleasure for murder to go and beat up former business rival Mohammed Raja, but claims he couldn't possibly foresee they'd kill him. The court of appeals agreed. Mr van Hoogstraten's first words to the press were that he plans to sue "just about everybody" involved in his prosecution, including the dead victim's family.
British justice, the finest in the world!
(Edited by Byron 12/12/2003 22:34)
14 Replies and 1531 Views in Total.
Posted: 22:48 Dec 12 2003 
Unfortunately, with some £500 mil by way of a fighting fund, I think you might.
What goes around comes around ... mostly around to Hoogstraten's bankbalance it seems.
What goes around comes around ... mostly around to Hoogstraten's bankbalance it seems.
Posted: 22:59 Dec 12 2003
If he thinks he's gonna scare the CPS, I say, bring it on....
The guy is scum and I don't care if he, or his cronies, read that comment.
The guy will get what's coming to him one day, I'm sure...
(Edited by Whistler 12/12/2003 23:02)
The guy is scum and I don't care if he, or his cronies, read that comment.
The guy will get what's coming to him one day, I'm sure...
(Edited by Whistler 12/12/2003 23:02)
Posted: 23:01 Dec 12 2003 
*Sigh*, makes me proud to be British... there's something in my eye... *sniff* I'm just waiting for the honest and truthful (*snigger*) opinion of our honourable tabloid press (*almost breaks up in fits of laughter*) on this particular matter (that is, if it isn't overshadowed by some earthshattering "news" about Ian Huntley or Michael Jackson)...
by Byron
British justice, the finest in the world!
Hear hear!
by Whistler
The guy is scum and I don't care if he, or his cronies, read that comment.
CPS? ¿Qué? ¡No entiendo!
And who the hell is this (*desperately tries to avoid posting something unpostable, almost fails miserably*
) guy's lawyer? Fletcher Reede?? (For those who didn't catch that rather obscure Jim Carrey reference, click here.) 
Posted: 14:20 Dec 13 2003 
Crown Prosecution Service, petal. The people who, officially, decide whether the police have a case they can prosecute, and then bring the prosecution.
by Alan
CPS? ¿Qué? ¡No entiendo!
It is terrifying that they've let a guy like this out...
Posted: 15:00 Dec 13 2003 Ta Bee!
by Bee
Crown Prosecution Service, petal. The people who, officially, decide whether the police have a case they can prosecute, and then bring the prosecution.
Posted: 16:09 Dec 13 2003
There is some good news at least Whist -- if all this gets a bit much, there's now someone you can call.
(!)
(!)
Posted: 23:23 Dec 13 2003 You mean you and i agree? Finally!
by Byron
British justice, the finest in the world!
OK, so to cheer you all up, couple of months back a guy here got killed by 3 attack dogs as he was breaking inot a scrap yard. The yard was signed with warnings etc etc so he was fair game really (well, to me he was).
Anyhoo, the lil doggies are alive and well, still guarding the yard and no charges or law suites have been filed against the owner.
Now thats what i call justice!
Posted: 00:18 Dec 14 2003 Well, I guess the next time society needs another witch hunt, we know where to come
by Cat
(quotes)
Now thats what i call justice!
Posted: 00:43 Dec 14 2003 I surely damn with faint praise, but when it's compared to all the other systems out there, I don't think Britain's attempt fares that badly.
by Cat
You mean you and i agree? Finally!
Until we collectively grow up to point where Anarchism becomes viable, we're going to need some sort of justice system, and for all its inequalities and risable quirks, I think ours gets it right much of the time.
But never let that stand in the way of a good rant!
Posted: 01:53 Dec 14 2003
Anarchism? Don't get me started.
Anyway, I happened to be watching TV when he was released and saw him as he was interviewed as he left the court by the press pack. He didn't say he was going to sue everyone, and in fact refused to answer when asked if he would be taking legal action. In fact, he pretty much refused to comment on anything.
However, it was reported that in court he had threatened to sue everyone.
Minor quibble, but thought I'd better put the record straight.
Also, it is my understanding that the bulk of his wealth is frozen and not accessible for legal reasons, so while still very comfortably off, he does not have the access to money he once had.
Finally, I must confess to be a little confused that a man who admits to sending two thugs to beat up a competitor can be considered an innocent. Or be allowed to go into buisiness again. Or be allowed to walk the streets as a free man. Whether he could have known that the beating would turn into a killing is irrelevent, surely.
Anyway, I happened to be watching TV when he was released and saw him as he was interviewed as he left the court by the press pack. He didn't say he was going to sue everyone, and in fact refused to answer when asked if he would be taking legal action. In fact, he pretty much refused to comment on anything.
However, it was reported that in court he had threatened to sue everyone.
Minor quibble, but thought I'd better put the record straight.
Also, it is my understanding that the bulk of his wealth is frozen and not accessible for legal reasons, so while still very comfortably off, he does not have the access to money he once had.
Finally, I must confess to be a little confused that a man who admits to sending two thugs to beat up a competitor can be considered an innocent. Or be allowed to go into buisiness again. Or be allowed to walk the streets as a free man. Whether he could have known that the beating would turn into a killing is irrelevent, surely.
Posted: 23:19 Dec 14 2003 Could have sworn I heard him say it on PM the day he was released.....
by Jayjay
However, it was reported that in court he had threatened to sue everyone.
Minor quibble, but thought I'd better put the record straight.
I could be wrong, it has been known.
Posted: 23:45 Dec 14 2003
Maybe he said it later on, but I remember distinctly seeing him leave court with his lawyer, with the usual press pack swarming in, eventually stopping, being asked questions, and not answering when asked about taking his own legal action. As such:
is not factually correct. In truth I can't remember what his first words were, but I'm sure it was something smug, but not about sueing anyone.
by Byron the Terrible
Mr van Hoogstraten's first words to the press were that he plans to sue "just about everybody" involved in his prosecution, including the dead victim's family.
Posted: 02:28 Dec 15 2003
The quote concerning Nicholas van Hoogstraten's charitable intentions towards his prosecutors came from that day's Independent. Unfortunately the publication has started charging for its website, but the Grauniad makes a similar statement.
"On leaving court, Mr Van Hoogstraten - who had a criminal record at the age of 12, described his politics as being 'o the right of Attila the Hun' and became a vocal supporter of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe - threatened to sue 'just about everybody' involved in his prosecution."
The Indy phrased it similarly, and I took it to mean as he faced the scrum. So an error perhaps, but not I think an egregious or unreasonable one.
(Edited by Byron 15/12/2003 19:15)
"On leaving court, Mr Van Hoogstraten - who had a criminal record at the age of 12, described his politics as being 'o the right of Attila the Hun' and became a vocal supporter of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe - threatened to sue 'just about everybody' involved in his prosecution."
The Indy phrased it similarly, and I took it to mean as he faced the scrum. So an error perhaps, but not I think an egregious or unreasonable one.
(Edited by Byron 15/12/2003 19:15)
Posted: 19:12 Dec 15 2003