Fred West and Rosemary West

Police had over 6,000 pages of interview transcripts with enough evidence to ensure Fred would be put away for life. Throughout Rose's 73 interviews, she did nothing but assert her innocence. The charges against her relied on circumstantial and similar fact evidence. Witness testimony from those who endured Rose's abuse would be vital. But there was a risk that witnesses would become non-compliant to avoid the publicity. Then the entire case was a media circus that was questioned whether a fair trial was even possible. In the court of public opinion, both Fred and Rose West were already guilty.