Graham Coutts' murder conviction overturned

The so-called "violent porn internet killer" who was convicted of murder has had his conviction quashed, according to the Register:

In the original trial, jurors heard how he had viewed extreme violent internet pornography, particularly strangulation fetish sites. Coutts' defence argued that Ms Longhurst's death was an accident during consensual sex.

A trio of appeal judges yesterday upheld a Law Lords decision that the conviction was unsafe. The Law Lords said jurors should have been given the option of a manslaughter verdict.

Via Epicycle.

Feminist Fightback conference agenda

Feminist Fightback is a one day activist conference, initiated by Education Not for Sale Women, for anyone interested in the struggle for women's liberation. The conference is on Saturday October 21, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London. Nearest tube stops are Russell Square, Euston and Goodge Street.

Speakers include Abby Lee, author of the "Girl with a one track mind" blog on feminism and sexual expression; sacked Gate Gourmet workers; NUS Women's Officer Kat Stark; International Union of Sexworkers; Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq; Scottish Socialist women on sexism on the left; health workers on low pay and abortion rights; and many more...All day: stalls, exhibition on Grunwick strike, creche

12-12.40pm Opening plenary: International solidarity for women's liberation Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq; Azar Sheibani, Iranian women's rights activist; Women of Zimbabwe Arise (invited); ENS Women.

12.45-1.45pm Session 1 a) Sex workers organising for their rights Speaker: International Union of Sexworkers b) Trans liberation Speaker: Joanna Stuart; Beaumont Society c) Asian women's struggles Speaker: Amrit Wilson, South Asia Solidarity Group; Faz Velmi, TGWU activist

1.45-2.25pm Lunch Showing of 'Stand Together', film about Grunwick struggle, 1976-8

2.25-3.25pm Session 2 a) Building campaigning women's groups. Speakers: Sussex Uni women's group; Kat Stark, NUS Women's Officer b) Challenging sexism on the left, building a socialist feminist labour movement Scottish Socialist Party women; Jean Lane, author of "Women in a 'man's job': experiences of a woman building worker and trade unionist" c) Feminism without borders: trafficking, asylum and immigration rights Speakers: No Borders network; refugee speaker; Carys Ofoko, Close Campsfield campaign

3.35-4.35pm Session 3 a) Low pay, equal pay and women workers' struggle Amrit Wilson; Marsha Jane-Thompson, Unison London young members' convenor; Maria Exall, CWU; Lorna Campbell, PCS Equalities Officer b) Feminism and sexual expression Speakers: Abby Lee, author of “Girl with a one track mind” blog; Feminists Against Censorship; Backlash; Sofie Buckland, NUS c) Queer liberation Emma Persky, NUS LGBT committee, 2005-6

4.35-4.50pm Break

4.50-5.50pm Session 4 a) Abortion rights campaigning (Women only session) Speaker: Kate Ahrens, Keep Our NHS Public and Unison; others TBC b) Men's role in the fight against sexism c) Film: Bread & Roses, the women's movement in Argentina

5.55-7pm Plenary What way forward for the women's liberation movement? Speakers: Gate Gourmet worker; Cathy Nugent, editor, Solidarity; ENS Women; other speakers Collection for Gate Gourmet workersClosing remarks from Sofie Buckland

Close 7.10pm followed by fundraising social with bands at the Ivy House, 8-10, Southampton Row, London

Feminist Fightback Conference on Saturday

FAC, Abby Lee (author of the "Girl with a one track mind" blog) and Backlash will be speaking about feminism and sexual expression at the Feminist Fightback conference on 21 October. This will take place at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London. (Nearest tube stops are Russell Square, Euston and Goodge Street.)

This is is a one day activist conference, initiated by Education Not for Sale Women. Other speakers on the agenda include sacked Gate Gourmet workers; NUS Women's Officer Kat Stark; International Union of Sexworkers; Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq; Scottish Socialist women on sexism on the left and Kate Ahrens from Keep Our NHS Public on abortion rights.

Blogging for Backlash Day today

I've posted a blog on my Livejournal here and Hazel has posted blogs by both of us on her blog here.

Compensation for Big Brother Contestant

It has been reported that Lesley Sanderson, a contestant from the 2005 series of Big Brother, has received a payout because of a false claim in the Sunday Sport that she had a threesome. Her advocate told the judge that the story caused her "huge distress, humiliation and embarrassment" and that "she found it horrific and extremely upsetting, especially knowing that it would be read by her friends and family. She still finds it difficult to go out socially knowing that people have read the false claims about her."

While I appreciate that Sanderson would want to put the untrue story straight and seek compensation from the paper for printing it, I would also say it's rather sad that we still live in an age where the suggestion that a woman has had a threesome is something that can cause "huge distress, humiliation and embarrassment." The story seems to indicate that, even in 2006, we women are subjected to the same scrutiny as we ever were. We are free to bare our breasts or proudly and publicly refer to their size (as Sanderson frequently did during the show) but enjoying sex with more than one man at a time would be somehow shameful.

It seems that, yet again, the ominipresent Conservative critique wins the day. We might not be expected to play "virgins" anymore, but we're still under pressure to defend our precious reputations by not being seen to do anything that could lead to us being branded as "whores".