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Scots Justice In The Dock AgainThe angus Siclair case is raising more concerns about the conduct of Crown Office.
Could they have led more evidence against this Animal?
Is it time that there was a charge which could read Murder With Previous Convictions?
Is it possible that Crown just didn't want the other case highlighted of Frances Barker which has links to sinclair yet had Someone else Convicted for This Murder.
The big question for Crown Now Is:
Has the person convicted of the Frances Barker Murder Protested his INNOCENCE??.
Please read this herald Article for more info:
Crown Office in the dock after Sinclair cleared CALUM MacDONALD September 11 2007
ACQUITTED: Angus Sinclair outside the High Court in Edinburgh.
Scotland's official prosecutors were last night facing accusations of deep incompetence after the collapse of the World's End trial resulted in the acquittal of a serial sex killer.
Angus Sinclair, 62, who has already been convicted of two killings and a string of serious indecent offences, was yesterday cleared of murdering Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, both 17, after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence against him.
But as politicians lined up to question the Crown Office's handling of the World's End case, particularly its decisions to lead so little available evidence, there were also allegations from senior police figures in Strathclyde that a tactical decision meant four families in Glasgow had also been denied full justice.
They had wanted the Crown to charge Sinclair with the murders of Anna Kenny, Hilda McAuley, and Agnes Cooney, who all died similar deaths to Helen and Christine in 1977, and they also believed he could be held responsible for killing Frances Barker earlier that year.
advertisementThe Strathclyde Police view was based on an FBI profiler who said the same man had carried out all six murders. However, senior officers claim, the Crown had already secured a conviction for the death of Ms Barker, and was unwilling to risk a claim for miscarriage of justice, deciding instead to separate off the World's End deaths, for which the Crown had stronger forensic evidence.
One Strathclyde officer said last night: "What they feared was this would have exposed the Frances Barker case as a miscarriage of justice. Following on from Shirley McKie and Lockerbie, there was no appetite for another. I was convinced Sinclair would walk unless they included all the cases together."
Another senior officer involved in the World's End case, said: "It was the Crown that decided it did not want to proceed at this time with the Glasgow cases. There is no forensic evidence in the Glasgow cases, so there is now no way they could be prosecuted.
"If they had been rolled up together then it would have been different, but the Crown was keen to go for what it saw as a safe option."
Concern about the Crown's tactics was heightened by the mysterious disappearance yesterday morning of the man presenting the case against Sinclair.
Advocate-depute Alan Mackay was not in court when Lord Clarke threw out the charges, upholding a defence motion after just eight days of evidence in a case scheduled to last six weeks.
The judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to put forward enough evidence linking Sinclair to the murders, and agreed with defence counsel Edgar Prais, QC, that the Crown had failed to prove the girls had been abducted, raped, and robbed before they were murdered.
Mr Mackay was said to have been "depressed" by the decision and took a train to England before contacting his wife later from an unknown location, saying he was safe but "needed some time". Lothian and Borders Police said they were treating him as a missing person and were trying to trace the prosecutor.
It raises disturbing questions about the way the prosecution office worked
Politicians called for an inquiry into the collapse of the trial. Margo MacDonald, Independent Lothian MSP, has lodged a question with the First Minister, asking whether an inquiry will be heard into Sinclair's acquittal.
She said: "It raises disturbing questions about the way in which the prosecution office worked. I understand they led less than a fifth of the evidence they had. It appears as though somebody has slipped up somewhere."
Margaret Curran, Labour's Scotland justice spokeswoman, said it was "deeply disappointing" the trial had been thrown out due to lack of evidence. Her Tory counterpart, Bill Aitken, added it was right that questions would be asked in the days to come.
The father of Helen Scott said he still believed Sinclair was involved in his daughter's death. Speaking outside the High Court in Edinburgh, Morain Scott, 77, said: "I am absolutely shattered."
Jim Reehill, whose sister Catherine was killed by Sinclair in 1961, said: "I'm just glad he is locked up and can't hurt anyone else."
Lothian and Borders Police said they had no plans to reopen the investigation. Sinclair was accused of acting alongside his brother-in-law, Gordon Hamilton, who has since died, in the girls' rape and murder.
A police spokesman said: "We put together a thorough and detailed case for the Crown Office and today's announcement is disappointing. Our primary concerns are for the families of Christine Eadie and Helen Scott. No-one can imagine the torment they have been put through over the past 30 years."
A spokeswoman for the Crown Office said: "Following a thorough and lengthy investigation conducted by the police working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Crown considered there was sufficient evidence to indict Angus Sinclair for the appalling murders of Helen Scott and Christine Eadie.
"In all trials, the prosecutor has a duty continually to consider and review the available evidence with a view to deciding how best to proceed with the trial. The Crown was of the view there was sufficient evidence on which to base a prosecution. There is no right of appeal against the acquittal by the judge."
Tom Woods, the former deputy chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police and a leading officer in the case, said: "I am bitterly disappointed for the families of Helen and Christine but I am content that over the 30 years Lothian and Borders Police have done their utmost and have conducted themselves with the highest professional standards. We did all we could."
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Todays Evening TimesApparently the Crown Office were more concerned about Exposing a Miscarriage of Justice than they were of seeking Justice.
What has happened to the old adage that: Justice Must be Seen To Be Done.
Very serious allegations are now surfacing Implicating Crown Office in more Cover Ups in the wake of Lockerbie And the Shirley McKie Affair Surely this only adds credence to the calls for Publice Enqiries into the conduct of Crown Office over the years
When An Acting Policeman comes out with a statement accusing Crown Of Covering up A Miscarriage Will our Government act and Investigate or will they allow the Miscarriage to continue, This remains to be seen.
One thing is certain, Scots Justice is damaged beyond Repair.
See Times Article Here:
Acquittal ends justice hope of 4 city families
Comment | Read Comments (3)
Prosecutors being criticised over the collapse of the World's End murder trial were also accused today of denying justice to four Glasgow families.
Serial sex killer Angus Sinclair, 62, was yesterday cleared of killing Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, both 17, in Edinburgh in 1977 after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence against him.
Criticism over the Crown's handling of the case, which took 30 years to bring to court, has come from both victims' families and politicians who today called for a full inquiry.
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There were also fresh accusations today by senior officers from Strathclyde Police who claim a tactical decision meant four Glasgow families were being denied full justice.
They had pushed for the Crown to charge Sinclair with the murders of Anna Kenny, Hilda McAuley and Agnes Cooney who died similar deaths to Helen and Christine in 1977.
They also believed Sinclair who was brought up in St George's Cross and later lived in Maryhill and Govanhill, could be the killer of Frances Barker, murdered earlier that year.
Strathclyde Police's view was based on the theory of an FBI profiler who said all six murders had been carried out by the same man.
But senior officers claim the Crown had already secured a conviction for the death of Ms Barker and took the decision to separate the World's End deaths for which there was stronger forensic evidence.
One Strathclyde office was reported today as saying: "What they feared was that they would have exposed the Francis Barker case as a miscarriage of justice.
"Following on from Shirley McKie and Lockerbie there was no appetite for another. I was convinced Sinclair would walk unless they included all the cases together."
Another senior officer who worked on the World's End case said: "There is no forensic evidence in the Glasgow cases so there is no way they could be prosecuted."
Concerns about the Crown's handling of the case against Sinclair worsened yesterday after prosecutor Alan Mackay failed to turn up in court to hear Lord Clarke dismissed the charges.
Mr Mackay is understood to have gone to England and is believed to have contacted his family.
Lord Clarke agreed with defence counsel Edgar Prais, QC that the Crown had failed to prove that the girls had been abducted, raped and robbed, prior to being murdered A Crown Office spokesman said the case was brought after lengthy investigation because "the Crown was of a view there was sufficient evidence on which to base a prosecution." There is no right of appeal against the acquittal by the judge.
DNA mystery led to trial being halted
ANGUS SINCLAIR was cleared of the World's End murders because the judge at the High Court in Edinburgh ruled there was not enough evidence against him for the trial to continue.
So the mystery of who killed Christine Eadie and Helen Scott remains.
Police sources suggested before the trial that DNA found inside a knot on a ligature used on one of the bindings to tie them up was the "smoking gun" proof needed to convict Sinclair, a double killer and paedophile who is still serving two life sentences.
But the jury never heard the evidence the media had been tipped off to look out for. The reason why may never be officially revealed.
DNA expert Dr Jonathan Whitaker, from the world-renowned Forensic Science Services lab in Wetherby, Yorkshire, had just begun to answer questions from advocate depute Alan Mackay, prosecuting, when he was interrupted by a legal objection from Sinclair's defence team.
The nature of the objection from defence QC Edgar Prais was never completely explained.
Lord Clarke told the jury yesterday: "I have reached the conclusion there was insufficient evidence in law to entitle you to reach a verdict, therefore you are not required to reach a verdict."
Sinclair had not said a word during the trial - apart from conversations with his lawyers.
Publication date 11/09/07
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6. gerad, london / 11:45pm 24 Jun 2007
The Procurators Fiscal Office has material evidence that 2 Judges who were involved in the Lockerbie case are guilty of perverting the course of justice in 2000, and to date they still refuse to take action cases 0197/16/91........0226/16/91 There is nothing new in the fact that the Crown Office and the Scottish Court system is at the masters service
The above was found on Herald issue
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