Page 10 of the following gives a good explanation re circumstantial evidence:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284166/Evidencev3_0EXT.pdfWhat concerns me is that much of the circumstantial evidence seems to have emanated from RB based on the content of his diary. I don't doubt for one moment that the relatives genuinely believed, and continue to believe JB guilty, but according to CC they had no understanding of the severity of SC's mental illness:
RB's diary entry dated 11th Aug '85:"I spent the whole night trying to construct what had happened from the facts given by the media, Jeremy's statement and my inspection of the house; which together with the memories of conversations with both Jeremy and Nevill, I convinced myself I knew who had committed the MURDERS. It was a story started when Jeremy was at school, he had confided in his best friend that he was an adopted child, the friend, in turn broke the confidence and announced to the entire school that he was a b........, from which time he was nic-named 'The b........' - He never made another friend".
http://jeremybamberforum.co.uk/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=246.0;attach=635The above text is taking from RB's diary entry above. He then continues his character assassination.
Excerpt From Colin Caffell's Book"One of the most striking things about that day, although not altogether surprising for me, was the fact that, the more I talked to June and Nevill's relations, the more I realised none of them actually knew anything had been seriously wrong with Bambs - not even June's sister Pam. Many of them said that had they known, they would have been more than willing to help and share the burden. Why hadn't I contacted them and told them all about it? I couldn't believe what I was hearing and could only reply by saying that I didn't feel it had been my business to betray the Bamber's confidence. They were very private people whose decisions I had to respect - whether right or wrong. These people had no idea how much I'd need them as allies to convince June and Nevill of how strongly I felt Bamb's treatment should have been changed".
"Their lack of awareness was probably a tremendous blessing, because without a full appreciation of her illness - which, for me, had acted like a smoke-screen to the truth - they were absolutely convinced Bambs couldn't have done it and, unbeknown to me then, were already pressing the police into further investigations, albeit with little initial success."