Posted on 03/21/2006 6:38:34 PM PST by iPod Shuffle
Man did not rescue child for fear of 'pervert' slur
ALEX CORNELIUS
A BRICKLAYER who passed a toddler walking alone in a village shortly before her fatal fall into a pond said yesterday he did not stop to help in case people thought he was trying to abduct her.
Clive Peachey, from Cornwall, told an inquest jury in Stratford-upon-Avon that he had passed two-year-old girl, Abby Rae, in his van shortly after 10am on 28 November, 2002.
This was just moments after the toddler disappeared from the Ready Teddy Go nursery in the Warwickshire village of Lower Brailes, according to staff.
Abby was found an hour later in an algae-covered garden pond and rescued by her mother, Victoria Rae.
She was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital by air ambulance but was pronounced dead.
Mr Peachey, of Liskeard, told the inquest he had passed the little girl as she tottered towards the road in High Street.
He said: "I kept thinking I should go back. The reason I didn't go back was because I thought people might think I was trying to abduct her.
"I was convinced her parents were driving around and had found her."
Mrs Rae, 36, wept as Mr Peachey gave his evidence to the packed hearing.
She had earlier read emotionally from a statement as she relived the moment she dragged her daughter from the pond.
Two nursery employees had gone into the garden during their search but told the inquest they did not see the pond because it was covered in green vegetation.
The inquest was adjourned until today.
Stupid decision.
This story is so tragic, yet I understand his thinking.
Still, in this day and age, can you fuly blame him?
Weird story i bet theres alot more to this than meets the eye I will stay tuned thanks
Are you really looking for an answer?
All the bad ones are, in hindsight.
A very sad story. The responsibility for the little girls death must be shared by every child molestor that ever lived.
About a year and a half ago, I was involved in an incident like this. Driving through a residential neighborhood early in the morning, I came across a small boy about 5-6 years old, obviously lost and confused. I pulled over and asked him where he lived so that I could take him home. Then I realized that if I put him into my car, I would probably have a lot of explaining to do. Fortunately I had a cellphone so I called 911. A police car showed up and I explained what had happened. The police officer looked at me very suspiciously and asked me a lot of questions before he finally let me go. I have no idea how the child got home but I'm thinking I made a wise choice not to get more actively involved in the situation.
That is a cop out.
I disagree. It was not stupid. Just sad.
I see exactly why he did what he did. THAT is what demonization of men has done.
And a society that forgets "innocent until proven guilty" and declares guilt on the 24 hour news networks.
Very sad for the girl :(
In France, he would have been arrested. In France, there is a legal duty to aid others, and it is a crime not to.
Not so in Anglo-Saxia.
If the man had a cell phone, he could have called Police, or he could have immediately alerted others to the child and let them call police.
Stop child, call police, end of story
Had he helped the child and one person screamed J'accuse! he'd be on Greta Van Susteren or Nancy Grace's show faster than you can say satellite uplink.
How sad that we have come to this.
bttt
No, just a terrible indictment of what has come to be!
When anyone has to weigh political correctness against right and wrong, it is a sorry state of affairs!
Have you, personally, got the balls, to do right, in the face of all adversity? How much of your secure life, are you willing to risk?
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