CPS News Brief

CPS authorises charge for murder of Sabrina Moss

Sarah Maclaren, from CPS London Homicide Unit, said:

"The Crown Prosecution Service has today, 29 August, authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge Martell Warren, 22, with the murder of Sabrina Moss, who was fatally shot in Kilburn in the early hours of Saturday 24 August 2013.

“Mr Warren has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

“He will appear before Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 30 August 2013. "This decision was taken under the threshold test of the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"Mr Warren now stands charged with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice this trial.”

Operation Yewtree: Rolf Harris charged with 13 offences

The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised police to charge Rolf Harris with nine counts of indecent assault, contrary to section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and four counts of making indecent images of a child contrary to section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.

Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said:

"We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf Harris, who was initially arrested on 29 November 2012 over allegations of sexual offences. A file of evidence was passed to the CPS on 12 August 2013.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child. The alleged indecent assaults date from 1980 to 1986 and relate to two complainants aged 14 and 15 at the time of the alleged offending."

The charges are:

• Six offences of indecent assault relating to a girl aged between 15 and 16 from 1980 to 1981.

• Three offences of indecent assault relating to a girl aged 14, in 1986.

• Four offences of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.  

Ms Saunders said:

"The decision to prosecute has been taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the DPP's interim guidelines on prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse.We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.

"Mr Harris will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 23 September 2013.

"May I remind all concerned that Mr Harris has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

Man faces charge of assisted attempted suicide

Elizabeth Reid, specialist prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, said:

“I have concluded that Kevin Howe should face one charge of assisted attempted suicide in relation to an incident on 26 May 2013 in Bishop Auckland, in which a man was severely burnt.

“It is alleged that Kevin Howe provided the injured man with the means to set himself on fire.

“Kevin Howe had previously been charged with encouraging or assisting an offence of arson with intent to endanger life. In accordance with our duty to keep all cases under review, I have now concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to replace this charge with one of assisted attempted suicide.

“This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the DPP’s guidelines on cases of encouraging or assisting suicide.

“Kevin Howe will next appear at Durham Crown Court on 9 September 2013."