Guildford Four barrister asked to defend Saddam

THE barrister who helped free the Guildford Four from jail has been asked to defend Saddam Hussein against charges of mass murder.

BBC’s Newsnight programme said Anthony Scrivener QC, a former chairman of the Bar Council, will travel to Iraq to represent the former dictator at his trial, due to start on October 19.

But a representative of his chambers said although Mr Scrivener had been approached about acting for Saddam, he had not yet taken on the job.

Martin Hart, senior clerk to his chambers, said: “Mr Scrivener has been approached by the people involved in the case but it is wrong to say that he has been instructed on the case.

“I don’t know how many other people have been approached or if Mr Scrivener will be instructed to undertake the case.

“He’s not in a position to make a decision at this stage. It can only come to fruition through the fullness of time, if (Saddam’s) people come back to him and the circumstances are right and nothing in the case fails to meet other obligations a barrister must make.”

He said Mr Scrivener would be unable to comment about the case.

“He cannot comment about any case, whether it be Saddam Hussein or Mrs Mop, even if he has not yet taken it. There is a possibility he might take this case, so it would be inappropriate to comment.”

While defending Saddam would be by far the most high-profile trial of Mr Scrivener’s career, he is no stranger to notorious cases.

As well as representing the Guildford Four, he is due to work with the Derry solicitor Desmond Doherty who has been heavily involved in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

In 2000, at the inquiry into the Paddington rail crash, he represented the trade union Aslef and the families of the two drivers involved.

He has defended Sion Jenkins, who faces a third trial accused of the murder of his foster daughter Billie-Jo, this month.

He also defended Norfolk farmer Tony Martin in his trial for shooting a burglar.