Police in crisis after jury rejects £10m terror case

[spindrifter]

From The Times (London)
September 9, 2008

Police and prosecutors were locked in crisis meetings last night after what they believed to be the strongest terrorism case ever presented to a court was rejected by a jury.

At the end of a £10 million investigation and trial lasting more than two years, jurors were unable to decide whether or not a group of British Muslims were part of a plot to blow transatlantic airliners out of the sky.

The outcome of the case - which featured al-Qaeda-style martyrdom videos made by six defendants - will be seen as a severe blow to Britain’s anti-terrorist effort.

<snip>

The jury’s indecision in the face of a detailed Crown case raises questions about the public perception of the terror threat that could undermine government attempts to introduce further security legislation.

<more>

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/public_law/article4710879.ece

[sasquatch]

1. I don't know what to say about this

[aquart]

2. Is that the case where they didn't have passports or plane tickets?

I would have tossed it with prejudice, it was that bad.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. How much the Crown paid out is not a testament to the strength of the case

They overcharged, and the jury rejected their bullshit. It's not that complicated.

Look at bin Laden's driver. They charged the guy like he was planing operations. A military jury rejected that bullshit, too.