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Pair 'plotted royal pardon deal' Pair 'plotted early release deal'
(about 3 hours later)
Two drug traffickers facing a long spell in prison tricked the then home secretary into granting them a royal pardon, a court has heard. Two drug traffickers facing a long spell in prison tricked the then home secretary into releasing them under Royal Prerogative, a court has heard.
John Haase and Paul Bennett were arrested in 1993 as part of an investigation into heroin smuggling.John Haase and Paul Bennett were arrested in 1993 as part of an investigation into heroin smuggling.
To gain early release, they then gave false information to authorities about guns which led to a number of seizures, Southwark Crown Court heard.To gain early release, they then gave false information to authorities about guns which led to a number of seizures, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Mr Haase and Mr Bennett deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.Mr Haase and Mr Bennett deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Haase's wife Debbie, 37, of Merseyside, and another woman, Sharon Knowles, 36, of Merseyside, also deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Mrs Haase also denies possessing firearms and ammunition.Mr Haase's wife Debbie, 37, of Merseyside, and another woman, Sharon Knowles, 36, of Merseyside, also deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Mrs Haase also denies possessing firearms and ammunition.
'False information''False information'
Prosecutor Gibson Grenfell QC said: "This case is concerned with the manipulation of the criminal justice system, whereby the first two defendants, Hass and Bennett, who knew they were facing very long terms of imprisonment, set out to and did, secure a large reduction in that sentence by providing information to the authorities which was in highly important respects false." Prosecutor Gibson Grenfell QC said: "This case is concerned with the manipulation of the criminal justice system, whereby the first two defendants, Haase and Bennett, who knew they were facing very long terms of imprisonment, set out to and did, secure a large reduction in that sentence by providing information to the authorities which was in highly important respects false."
He said they gave information about 28 caches of guns and explosives which were found across the Liverpool and Manchester areas between 1993 and 1995.He said they gave information about 28 caches of guns and explosives which were found across the Liverpool and Manchester areas between 1993 and 1995.
The seizures included guns left in a car parked near the Irish ferry port at Holyhead, north Wales.The seizures included guns left in a car parked near the Irish ferry port at Holyhead, north Wales.
Mr Grenfell said the pair pleaded guilty to the drugs charges in August 1995 and were sentenced to 18 years.Mr Grenfell said the pair pleaded guilty to the drugs charges in August 1995 and were sentenced to 18 years.
But both were given secret deals which meant they were free within a year.But both were given secret deals which meant they were free within a year.
Secret releaseSecret release
Mr Grenfell said: "The judge was told that the lives of Haase and Bennett would be at risk if what they had done by way of providing information became publicly known". Mr Grenfell said: "The judge was told that the lives of Haase and Bennett would be at risk if what they had done by way of providing information became publicly known.
"To preserve appearances and avoid any risk of them being identified as informants, he sentenced each of them in open court to 18 years' imprisonment."To preserve appearances and avoid any risk of them being identified as informants, he sentenced each of them in open court to 18 years' imprisonment.
"However, he wrote privately to the then home secretary Michael Howard, inviting consideration of the exercise of what is known as the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, suggesting that an appropriate sentence would be five years imprisonment."However, he wrote privately to the then home secretary Michael Howard, inviting consideration of the exercise of what is known as the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, suggesting that an appropriate sentence would be five years imprisonment.
"The Royal Prerogative was exercised and as a result both men were released on 4 July 1996.""The Royal Prerogative was exercised and as a result both men were released on 4 July 1996."
The trial continues.The trial continues.