2531 - Court on camera

So William Roache is innocent, they say
Well there's a turn-up, somewhat surprising
Coronation Street stars, juries won't say
They're guilty. Maybe they're not. Following
On from the Savile affair, do we bring
Celebrities to court, or does it go
Back to how it was with Savile, thinking
There's no point complaining? And if there's no
Point complaining, what then? Let's hope they go
Under the spotlight, but only if they
Have done wrong, not just because the new thing
Is to allege things when the plaintiffs know
They acquiesced at the time. Juries play
At justice sometimes though, without knowing

2508 - Scandal roundup

I turned on the news, and what did I see?
Four trials of famous people, two three four
Sexual offences composed the first three
Ken Barlow was first through the courtroom door
Next it was DLT accused of more
And then, briefly, Rolf Harris - gooday, mate
Rebekah Brooks, newspaper editor
Brought up the rear. Did the Brookses pervert
The course of justice, as alleged? Let's wait
And see. At the Palais de l'Elysee
Francois Hollande, le President, is floored
By sexual scandal. Wife recuperates
En hopital, a Paris. Merde! Paris!
Nous arriverons la en printemps, alors

1937 - Not a lot of laughs to be had

The Moscow Show Trials continue this year
Of '37, of Old Bolsheviks
Army men, and anyone causing fear
In Stalin's mind that he could be out-tricked
And less popular than them, and so strict
Methods of gaining confessions were used
Those who weren't shot after the sure verdict
Were sent to labour camps and there misused
Mostly soon dying anyway. The fuse
Of war was lit in the east, China's near
Neighbour Japan invading with some quick
Victories but terrible massacres
Falangists also wreak abuse through war
In Spain, where Nazis mount aerial attacks

1124 - Safe European homes?

Hats off to world-famous British justice,
The envy of all benighted nations!
Examples of its recent victories -
Six years for the man who’d abused for months
And then killed his girlfriend’s two-year old son…
He should be out in three. The mother’s free
(She’s suffered enough.) Next, the old woman
Of seventy, done for assault on the
Teenager, part of a gang said to be
Throwing stones at her window. She got pissed
Off, jabbing him in the chest. Well, this sends
A good message out, eh? Society
Must not protect itself! Call the police
(…But don’t bother if the offender’s young)