This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7792501.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Three jailed for murder case lies Three jailed for murder case lies
(20 minutes later)
Three people who admitted lying at the Lynette White murder case have each been jailed for 18 months for perjury.Three people who admitted lying at the Lynette White murder case have each been jailed for 18 months for perjury.
Mark Grommek, Leanne Vilday and Angela Psaila all gave evidence at the original trial almost 20 years ago.Mark Grommek, Leanne Vilday and Angela Psaila all gave evidence at the original trial almost 20 years ago.
Ms White was found stabbed to death in a flat in the docks area of Cardiff on Valentine's Day in 1988. Three men were wrongly jailed for her murder.Ms White was found stabbed to death in a flat in the docks area of Cardiff on Valentine's Day in 1988. Three men were wrongly jailed for her murder.
The judge at Cardiff Crown Court told them it was as bad a case of perjury as he had seen.The judge at Cardiff Crown Court told them it was as bad a case of perjury as he had seen.
Stephen Miller, Yusef Abdullahi and Tony Paris were wrongly jailed for the murder in 1990. They were later released after a hearing at the Court of Appeal cleared them.Stephen Miller, Yusef Abdullahi and Tony Paris were wrongly jailed for the murder in 1990. They were later released after a hearing at the Court of Appeal cleared them.
Two other men - cousins Ronnie and John Actie - were also charged with murder along with Mr Miller, Mr Abdullahi and Mr Paris, but they were acquitted at the trial at Swansea Crown Court in 1990.Two other men - cousins Ronnie and John Actie - were also charged with murder along with Mr Miller, Mr Abdullahi and Mr Paris, but they were acquitted at the trial at Swansea Crown Court in 1990.
At Grommek's perjury trial in October, the jury were told by the prosecution how his false evidence led these men being charged with murder.At Grommek's perjury trial in October, the jury were told by the prosecution how his false evidence led these men being charged with murder.
You were seriously hounded, bullied, threatened abused and manipulated by the police during a period of several months leading up to late 1988 Mr Justice MaddisonYou were seriously hounded, bullied, threatened abused and manipulated by the police during a period of several months leading up to late 1988 Mr Justice Maddison
It became one of Britain's most notorious miscarriages of justice and in 1992 the convictions of the three jailed men, who became known as the Cardiff Three, were quashed and they were freed.It became one of Britain's most notorious miscarriages of justice and in 1992 the convictions of the three jailed men, who became known as the Cardiff Three, were quashed and they were freed.
The real killer - Jeffrey Gafoor, a loner security guard from Llanharan, near Bridgend, who was a client of Ms White - eventually admitted the murder in 2003 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.The real killer - Jeffrey Gafoor, a loner security guard from Llanharan, near Bridgend, who was a client of Ms White - eventually admitted the murder in 2003 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
At the sentencing on Friday, the court heard how some of the officers involved in the 1988 case were being investigated.At the sentencing on Friday, the court heard how some of the officers involved in the 1988 case were being investigated.
Jailing Grommek, Vilday and Psaila, Mr Justice Maddison said it was difficult to imagine a more serious case of perjury.Jailing Grommek, Vilday and Psaila, Mr Justice Maddison said it was difficult to imagine a more serious case of perjury.
But he said: "It's been submitted on your behalf, accepted by the prosecution, and I accept it myself, you are to be sentenced on the basis all three of you were vulnerable in different ways.But he said: "It's been submitted on your behalf, accepted by the prosecution, and I accept it myself, you are to be sentenced on the basis all three of you were vulnerable in different ways.
"You were seriously hounded, bullied, threatened abused and manipulated by the police during a period of several months leading up to late 1988, as a result of which you felt compelled to agree to false accounts they suggested to you.""You were seriously hounded, bullied, threatened abused and manipulated by the police during a period of several months leading up to late 1988, as a result of which you felt compelled to agree to false accounts they suggested to you."
Mark Grommek lived in the same apartment block as Lynette WhiteMark Grommek lived in the same apartment block as Lynette White
Grommek, 50, originally pleaded not guilty to three charges of perjury at his trial but changed his plea to guilty after a judge said his treatment by police investigating the murder did not amount to a defence of duress.Grommek, 50, originally pleaded not guilty to three charges of perjury at his trial but changed his plea to guilty after a judge said his treatment by police investigating the murder did not amount to a defence of duress.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Grommek initially said he knew nothing of the circumstances of Ms White's death.Cardiff Crown Court heard Grommek initially said he knew nothing of the circumstances of Ms White's death.
However, in late 1988, he changed his story, saying he had seen four men outside the James Street flat.However, in late 1988, he changed his story, saying he had seen four men outside the James Street flat.
The prosecution in his trial accepted that Grommek had been "mistreated" by the police. The prosecution at his trial accepted that Grommek had been "mistreated" by the police.
Leanne Vilday and Angela Psaila did not stand trial after pleading guilty straight away. At the sentencing, Grommek's barrister David Aubrey QC, said officers had threatened his client with violence, furniture was thrown around the interview room and he was threatened with being charged with murder.
In Psaila's defence, Sasha Wass QC said she had been told by officers her blood had been found at the murder scene
Ms Wass said: "Miss Psaila was used as an instrument by unscrupulous police officers to try and secure convictions the police badly needed.
"She would never have lied in court had her will not been over-borne by those officers."
Vilday's barrister, Lord Alex Carlisle QC, said she had also been threatened with being charged with murder.
The court heard that at one point Vilday had been driven to Wigan by police to be hypnotised to find out if she knew any more about the killing than she had told officers.
The sheer wickedness and dishonesty of the police and remorseless systemic corruption in this case is difficult to believe Lord Alex Carlisle QC
"At the end, the hypnotism expert pronounced her truthful, that she appeared not to know anything about the way Lynette White was murdered or who murdered her, but the police brushed this extraordinary event aside, continued to pressure her," said Lord Carlisle.
"The sheer wickedness and dishonesty of the police and remorseless systemic corruption in this case is difficult to believe, but it's true beyond a doubt and it is accepted by the prosecution."
He said it would be "an utter scandal" if none of the police officers involved in the case were brought to trial themselves.
Vilday and Psaila did not stand trial after pleading guilty straight away.
Grommek lived above a flat in Butetown in which 20-year-old Ms White was stabbed to death in the docks area of Cardiff on Valentine's Day in 1988.Grommek lived above a flat in Butetown in which 20-year-old Ms White was stabbed to death in the docks area of Cardiff on Valentine's Day in 1988.
He was arrested and charged along with Psaila and Vilday in February 2007 after the case was reviewed.He was arrested and charged along with Psaila and Vilday in February 2007 after the case was reviewed.
After the sentencing, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is supervising the South Wales Police investigation into the actions taken by police officers during the original investigation, said the next stage of probe could be discussed with the force and the Police Complaints Authority.