Re-opening of murder cases to be allowed

NEW measures that will allow courts to re-open murder and serious sexual assault cases if fresh evidence comes to light have been announced by Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern.

The Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 will end the existing ban on retrials of people who were acquitted, even where important evidence emerges about their involvement in the offence.

It will also allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to order a retrial where the original prosecution was “tainted” due to the intimidation of jurors or witnesses or where it emerges that a witness committed perjury.