High Court halts trial of alleged sex abuse case from 40 years ago over fears of an unfair trial

The trial of a man charged with raping and indecently assaulting his sister-in-law some 40 years ago has been halted by the High Court.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons prohibited the DPP from taking any further criminal proceedings against the man on grounds there would be a real risk of an unfair trial because of the deaths of four witnesses who were members of the complainant's family and because of the "great length of delay" since the alleged events.