CPS News Brief

John Terry acquitted

Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, said:

“The very serious allegation at the heart of this case was one of racial abuse. It was our view that this was not “banter” on the football pitch and that the allegation should be judged by a court. The Chief Magistrate agreed that Mr Terry had a case to answer, but having heard all of the evidence he acquitted Mr Terry of a racially aggravated offence. That is justice being done and we respect the Chief Magistrate’s decision.”

Hannah Bonser convicted of the murder of Casey Lyanne Kearney

Hannah Bonser has today been found guilty of the murder of 13 year old Casey Lyanne Kearney in Elmfield Park in Doncaster on 14 February 2012.

Richard Hebbert, the CPS lawyer who had conduct of the case, comments on the verdict:

“The manner of Casey’s death in many ways embodies the worst fear of every parent. Having set out to go to the house of a friend early on Valentine’s Day afternoon, circumstances combined cruelly to put her in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a pointless waste of a promising young life.

“The prosecution case showed from the outset that Hannah Bonser killed Casey and this was accepted by the defence. The issue at trial was how responsible she was for what she did. The opinion of a psychiatric expert instructed by the prosecution to assess Hannah Bonser’s mental state was that whilst she was suffering from a personality disorder she was able to understand the nature of her conduct, form a rational judgement and exercise self-control and on that basis she would be guilty of murder. The prosecution has been conducted on that basis and today the jury agreed with us.

“This has been a tragic case for all who have been touched by it, but, of course none more than Casey’s parents, who, I hope, feel at least that justice has now been done for their daughter.”