@4IS IT A SET UP?
===============
@1
Well it seems that we may have to wait a little longer than we expected before 
we get to see another new episode of Red Dwarf!!!

I'm gob-smacked to hear the news that Craig Charles (the actor that plays 
Lister in the "cult" series) has been arrested, charged, and appeared in a 
London court (today, the 12th of July 1994) in connection of the rape, last 
Friday, of a 38-year old woman. Another man has been charged with the same 
offence and a third man is being sought by the police to "help them with their 
enquiries."

I'm further puzzled because at the preliminary hearing today (which, by 
chance, happens to be Charles' 30th birthday) Craig was refused bail. Refusal 
of bail in rape cases *usually* indicates that a court believes that the 
prisoner would be likely to "do a runner" and flee the country?? 

Do I detect subtle shades of an O J Simpson `runner' re-run here?

I can't see it myself. Charles has currently been filming the seventh series 
of Red Dwarf at Shepperton Studios, West London - a process which takes 12 
weeks. Charles is a die-hard Liverpudlian. Having to live in London for three 
months will already seem like "living abroad for a substantial period" to him.

Where could the Judge, who presided today, possibly think that Charles could 
`skip' to? America?? Shurely NOT? Even Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), who *did* 
get invited over to the US of A, only managed to obtain a temporary permit!

So... France? Germany? Denmark? Belgium? Spain? Any slightly Western European 
country at all?... I think not. Craig can hardly speak English so he wouldn't 
be too keen to be jumping into a thoroughly `alien' environment. Besides which 
they wouldn't have him - Red Dwarf hasn't taken off in the EC.

In that case why have they refused him bail? Well the only place he can "run" 
to is Liverpool... a city where `inner-city deprivation' is rife. Racial 
hatred is high on the agenda from all sides of a multi-ethnic population. 
Rival groups of ethnic drug-dealers roam the streets touting (and using) 
machine-guns to enforce their will. It's a place where rival `organisations' 
are left unchecked (by the local police force) to control prostitution, 
gambling and vice generally...

Yup, if Craig managed to do a `jump-bail' to New York he'd feel quite at home!

Seriously though (and I mean it)... Craig is 30 today and the woman he is 
`supposed' to have raped is 38!!! Well I'm 39 at the moment and I still 
remember what it was like to be `roaring-towards' 30... I'm telling you that 
(at 29) I couldn't imagine fancying a woman in her near-forties, let alone 
raping her in a gang-bang situation!

I suspect that Charles has been set-up... hehehe... now I think about it... 
there was the celebrated case of Errol Flynn <sp?> "In Like Flynn" in the 
forties. Flynn was, supposedly, `hung like a donkey' as Charles' is supposed 
to be... But in Flynn's case the rape victim was "under age"...

Any of our American friends care to elaborate upon my recollection of 
Hollywood history? 

Eeee Gods, history is repeating itself!!!

Steve Williams