Son of sex abuse victim who killed herself backs defence lawyer

 
Frances Andrade
PA
27 March 2013
WEST END FINAL

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The son of a sex abuse victim who killed herself after she was accused of lying in court insisted today that the defence lawyer did nothing wrong.

Frances Andrade, 48, was found dead at her Guildford home a week after she gave evidence against her former music teacher, Michael Brewer, who was jailed for six years yesterday.

Her son, Oliver, has criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for not supporting his mother enough when she gave evidence.

But today he echoed comments of the trial judge who said Kate Blackwell, QC, who was defending Brewer, had acted professionally and performed her task in an “exemplary manner”.

“I would like to say I do agree with the judge in this,” Mr Andrade told ITV’s Daybreak. “She has been vilified in the press and she didn’t do anything wrong herself. She did her job. Any person would have done the same.”

Asked about the hurt his mother suffered during cross-examination, Mr Andrade replied: “That was not due to her (Ms Blackwell). That was due to the system and the lack of support around it. I don’t find her responsible at all.” Brewer, former music director at the Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, was labelled “a predatory sex offender” as he was sentenced at Manchester crown court yesterday.

Brewer’s ex-wife, Kay, 68, was jailed for 21 months after she was convicted at the same trial of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was 18.

Mr Andrade said of Judge Martin Rudland: “The thing you have to note here is the judge was very fair. He made a very, very powerful and strong statement when doing the sentencing.”

Mr Andrade said his mother had left a “lasting impact” in encouraging victims of sexual abuse to come forward. “We’re going to remember her as a wonderful mother and amazing person,” he said.

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