In a trial that concluded last year four of five defendants were acquitted of conspiracy to poison Londoners with ricin and other substances. Despite the fact that no ricin was ever found at the time of the verdict the media, especially the tabloid press, gave one the impression that cleared defendants were nonetheless guilty.
Two of the four who were cleared by the jury were subsequently rearrested and scheduled for Algeria where they may pass imprisonment, abuse and torture. One of the two has now been granted leave to stay but the second, Mr. Y, is to be deported.
Today two of the jurors from the case speak out about the trial, the acquittal and the subsequent treatment of the defendants. Their comment piece concludes:
Two of the four who were cleared by the jury were subsequently rearrested and scheduled for Algeria where they may pass imprisonment, abuse and torture. One of the two has now been granted leave to stay but the second, Mr. Y, is to be deported.
Today two of the jurors from the case speak out about the trial, the acquittal and the subsequent treatment of the defendants. Their comment piece concludes:
"we two jurors have been deemed "brave" and "unusual" for taking a stand. We feel neither. We feel angry and betrayed by a government we thought we could trust that seems bent on chiselling away at civil liberties. Neither of us was politically active. The case of Mr Y and the others has changed that".
No comments:
Post a Comment