Controversial cases could go to trial again

SECOND trials in notorious cases such as the murders of Stephen Lawrence and Damilola Taylor could go ahead under a sweeping reform of the trial system announced by the British Home Secretary yesterday.

David Blunkett wants to dilute the 800-year-old principle of double jeopardy which prevents anyone being tried twice for the same crime.

The change will be retrospective, so suspects already acquitted could find themselves back in the dock if there is "compelling new evidence".

And it will apply to a far wider range of crimes than previously thought not only murder but armed robbery, rape and manslaughter.

It is part of a sweeping criminal justice White Paper which also said jurors should be allowed to hear of defendants' previous convictions, previous acquittals and "hearsay" evidence.

Some dangerous or violent offenders will be kept in prison indefinitely, even if they have not been sentenced to life, it added.

And under another change proposed yesterday, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, the young killers of toddler James Bulger, would not have been tried in an adult court.

Hundreds of young offenders charged with serious crimes each year will now be tried at youth court rather than Crown court. "We are trying to provide a blueprint for the next decade. With the development of DNA and forensic science it would be entirely wrong to rule out compelling new evidence that actually does show the person committed the crime," Mr Blunkett said.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will have to personally give the go-ahead for police to re-investigate the suspect.

If there is "new and compelling evidence" the Court of Appeal will be asked to quash the original acquittal and order a re-trial.

"If there are people out there who have committed murder and rape, I don't think anyone can justify, with their hand on their heart, saying that because it's a difficult issue we shouldn't be able to prevent that person committing such acts again," Mr Blunkett said.

Human rights campaigners claimed the proposals would prolong the ordeal of innocent people wrongly targeted by the justice system.

John Wadham, director of Liberty, said: "For innocent people, even once acquitted, their ordeal won't be over."

Law Society president David McIntosh said they had "serious reservations" about the double jeopardy proposals.