Was the retraction video coached?

One of the accusations the conspiraloons use to try to keep the Hoaxtead myth rolling is the claim that the children’s retractions were forced, coached, or even hypnotically implanted (yeh, right!) by the interviewing officer.

Yesterday one of our regular readers, Emma, posted a very insightful comment that we think clears things up nicely.

(Please note: survivors of sex abuse might find the following material triggering.)

Drifloud/Abe posted a link to the last retraction video on twitter today implying it was directed and led:

What Abraham fails to understand is that girl child was interviewed first, and further glaring inconsistencies in the story-so-far emerged.

Steve was compelled to probe and challenge, and to give permission, and encourage, subjects to speak honestly. This is true for any criminal investigation, even children. With all the other intelligence and evidence that was uncovered about Ella and Abraham, these factors had to all be kept in mind simultaneously by the interviewing officer.

With children it is appropriate to tell them that they will not get into trouble if they have lied. Steve gave permission to the child to change his statement if necessary, without fear of punishment for not being truthful.

As the boy revealed things had not happened as he had stated in the earlier interviews, with no sense of reprisal he became emboldened and gradually pulled back the covers, inch by inch, confident now that he had nothing to fear. That’s why he had the courage to ask to not ever have to see Abraham again at the end.

Viewing that video again only strengthened my views, and illustrated the very real struggle the children had put up to Abraham, unsuccessfully:

Steve: ‘So has anyone ever put anything in your bottom?’
Boy: ‘No’. (shakes head vigorously)
Steve: ‘Nothing?’
(Boy confirms Steve’s ‘nothing’? by continuing to shake his head, indicating ‘No’.
Steve: ‘And have you ever seen a plastic willy?’
Boy: ‘No, I never even seen one in my life, seen one’.
Steve: ‘How did you think of that idea, was it you that thought of it, or…’
Boy: ‘No, no, yeah, I am the one that thought of it, when he found out of us touching he said, he said ‘yes they put real willies in my bottom’, Abraham said, ‘yes, he said they put real willies in your bottom’, and then I said ‘ no they don’t’ and he said ‘yes they do’ and I said ‘no they don’t’, and then he said ‘don’t argue,yes they do’, and then he says, then he says, ‘they all have plastic willies don’t they?’, and i say ‘no they don’t…’

Boy continues this with circular hand gestures:

‘Yes they do’,
‘No they don’t’,
‘Yes they do’,
‘No they don’t’,
‘Yes they do’,
‘No they don’t’

…indicating the to and fro/arguing between him and Abraham – congruent body language, again.

Steve: ‘Ah, ok, so no one’s put any plastic or real willies in your bum?’
Boy shakes his head, no, confirming Steve.
Steve: ‘And I heard that from the doctor one of your ears is hurt, as well.’
Boy:’Yeah’
Steve: ‘How did that happen?’
Boy: ‘It’s because he slapped me really hard.’
Steve: ‘Who slapped you?’
Boy; ‘Abraham’.
Steve: ‘When did he do that?’
Boy: ‘In Morocco when, um, he slapped me, he slapped me, as hard as he could’. (emphasises ‘hard’)
Steve: ‘Why did he do that?’
Boy: ‘Because he said ‘You’re lying, I’m lying, I’m lying, I’m lying…’

Many thanks for carefully transcribing this, Emma.

We think it shines a light on an important piece of evidence, one that’s been twisted beyond all recognition by Abe and those who still follow him.