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| Lynette White police corruption trial: DPP orders review of case collapse | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A review of the collapse of the biggest police corruption trial in UK legal history has been ordered by Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer. | |
| Eight police officers were cleared in December of perverting the course of justice in relation to the 1988 murder of Cardiff prostitute Lynette White. | Eight police officers were cleared in December of perverting the course of justice in relation to the 1988 murder of Cardiff prostitute Lynette White. |
| A judge at Swansea Crown Court ruled that they could not get a fair trial. | |
| Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate will review the case, at an estimated cost of up to £30m. | Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate will review the case, at an estimated cost of up to £30m. |
| It had been alleged that the former South Wales Police officers had manufactured the case against five men after the murder at a flat in Cardiff's docklands - three of whom were jailed for life before being released on appeal. | It had been alleged that the former South Wales Police officers had manufactured the case against five men after the murder at a flat in Cardiff's docklands - three of whom were jailed for life before being released on appeal. |
| The retired officers all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence against the defendants, halting the trial. | The retired officers all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were cleared after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence against the defendants, halting the trial. |
| It emerged that files relating to complaints by an original defendant had been destroyed - which would undermine the defence's confidence in the disclosure process. | |
| The revelation came five months into the trial and ended a case which had cost up to an estimated £30m. | The revelation came five months into the trial and ended a case which had cost up to an estimated £30m. |
| Alun Michael, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said the review "must leave no stone unturned". | |
| "We need to know why things went wrong, why so much money was spent on the investigation and then it wasn't carried through," he said. | |
| Mr Starmer said he had asked Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) to carry out a review of the management of the prosecution in the perjury trial. | |
| "It is important that the public can have confidence in the way the CPS conducts its cases and the Inspectorate will examine the issues with the utmost thoroughness," he said. | "It is important that the public can have confidence in the way the CPS conducts its cases and the Inspectorate will examine the issues with the utmost thoroughness," he said. |
| "Inevitably this will take time but will be completed as soon as is practicable and a report prepared for the DPP. | "Inevitably this will take time but will be completed as soon as is practicable and a report prepared for the DPP. |
| "South Wales Police has decided to refer their part in this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and we will work in tandem with the IPCC inquiry into what happened. | "South Wales Police has decided to refer their part in this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and we will work in tandem with the IPCC inquiry into what happened. |
| "Both organisations are committed to sharing all relevant information with each other and arrangements are being made to ensure there is meaningful liaison between the two inquiries." | "Both organisations are committed to sharing all relevant information with each other and arrangements are being made to ensure there is meaningful liaison between the two inquiries." |
| Original investigation | Original investigation |
| Tony Paris, Yusef Abdullahi and Stephen Miller - who became known as the Cardiff Three - were wrongly jailed for life in 1990 for the murder of Miss White. | Tony Paris, Yusef Abdullahi and Stephen Miller - who became known as the Cardiff Three - were wrongly jailed for life in 1990 for the murder of Miss White. |
| They were freed in 1992 after their convictions were quashed. | They were freed in 1992 after their convictions were quashed. |
| The case was reopened in September 2000 when new evidence was brought to light. Advances in DNA led to the arrest of security guard Jeffrey Gafoor who in July 2003 was jailed for life for the murder. | The case was reopened in September 2000 when new evidence was brought to light. Advances in DNA led to the arrest of security guard Jeffrey Gafoor who in July 2003 was jailed for life for the murder. |
| In 2004 the IPCC began an inquiry to establish what went wrong with the original investigation into the murder. | In 2004 the IPCC began an inquiry to establish what went wrong with the original investigation into the murder. |
| A year later former police officers were arrested and questioned on suspicion of false imprisonment, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in public office. | A year later former police officers were arrested and questioned on suspicion of false imprisonment, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in public office. |
| Former officers Graham Mouncher, Thomas Page, Richard Powell, John Seaford, Michael Daniels, Peter Greenwood, Paul Jennings, Paul Stephen have now all been acquitted. | Former officers Graham Mouncher, Thomas Page, Richard Powell, John Seaford, Michael Daniels, Peter Greenwood, Paul Jennings, Paul Stephen have now all been acquitted. |
| Civilians Violet Perriam and Ian Massey also denied two counts of perjury and were also cleared. | Civilians Violet Perriam and Ian Massey also denied two counts of perjury and were also cleared. |