Fiona Onasanya Retrial

[Spicerack]

Jury, surprisingly in my view, couldn't come to a majority decision.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/26/jury-fail-reach-verdict-case-labour-mp-fiona-onasanya1/

[jackthehat]

//She is a proven liar and has admitted three charges of perverting the course of justice// .......I can't see that in *any* of the articles.

[New Judge]

"//She is a proven liar and has admitted three charges of perverting the course of justice// .......I can't see that in *any* of the articles."

I think it's brother Festus who has admitted the three charges, Naomi. It would be very unusual for the admissions to similar offences to become known whilst the defendant was still facing a trial for another offence. It would be bound to prejudice the trial.

[naomi24]

Ahh, so it is NJ.

[jackthehat]

As I said, *not a proven liar*, then.

We will have to wait until some time after December 11th to ascertain her guilt, or otherwise.

[Spicerack]

Well she certainly 'lied' by saying she filled in the NIP form (as is required by law)
She didn't get to the Old Bailey on the strength of a minor speeding offence. She got there as a result of several interviews with the police who decided she was lying and convinced the CPS of the same.
(no mean feat, I'd say, given her position and how TPTB treasure community cohesion)
If she isn't a liar, an awful lot of other people are.

[Gromit]

We did not hear the evidence in Court, so it not obvious that they were guilty, despite the previous confession and trial.
We must assume that the prosecution case was abysmal and uncompelling to the jury.

[New Judge]

Indeed gromit. It's always easy to read what is written in the press (which may take you five to ten minutes) and reach your verdict. Jurors in this case have been listening to evidence from both sides for a week or so. They were also guided on the legal niceties by the judge who no doubt told them that they must be sure "beyond reasonable doubt" of the defendant's guilt.

Never a good idea to suggest "they should have found her guilty" from the comfort of your armchair whilst reading your favourite newspaper

[jno]

decided she was lying and convinced the CPS of the same

no, just convinced the CPS there was a reasonable case for prosecution. This wouldn't be the first time such a case has gone wrong.

[Spicerack]

This was a case of perverting the court of justice, jno.
If they convinced the CPS there was a case to answer, they convinced them she was lying.

[Spicerack]

^course

[jno]

no, just that there was a prospect of conviction.

The prosecutor must first decide whether or not there is enough evidence against the defendant for a realistic prospect of conviction.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/decision-charge

[Ellipsis]

There was a case to answer and there's still a case to answer. There is to be a retrial as the jury could not reach a majority verdict.

That's people, presented with the same evidence, reaching different conclusions. Hard to believe, isn't it?

[MWG14]

Guilty as charged.

[Calibax]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-46602635

[jackthehat]

*Now* she's a proven liar and ought to be dealt with as such....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-46602635

[Spicerack]

I was surprised she and/or her counsel changed the story from the last trial. I wonder could they have had a planA and a planB depending on the make up of the jury.