CPS News Brief

CPS response to the Daily Telegraph re honour-based violence

A version of this letter was published in the Daily Telegraph on Friday 11 November 2016

 

Sir, 

Your thinly sourced article [‘CPS afraid to tackle honour crimes’, 7 November], presents a wholly inaccurate picture. 

The CPS makes charging decisions in every instance without sway to political correctness or any other outside influence. Our role is to examine the evidence, decide whether it is sufficient to present to a jury, and then prosecute if it is in the public interest to do so.

We have devoted considerable effort to improving the prosecution of honour-based crimes, including the implementation of a new CPS Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriage Action Plan. Our experience, and that of stakeholders, has shown that it is often difficult for witnesses and complainants in these cases to support a prosecution from beginning to end. They are, understandably, often reluctant to criminalise their families, and can feel isolated. This is why it is so important to provide support all the way through a police investigation and prosecution. 

Despite these complexities we have seen our highest ever volumes of forced marriage referrals, charges and prosecutions. 

The specific case highlighted by Detective Sergeant Singh in your article was carefully considered and dealt with. The case simply could not have been brought due to both evidential and witness issues. Crucially, the evidence provided to us by the police did not support a charge of forced marriage and the trial could not go ahead without the complainant’s evidence. The CPS must and will not prosecute a case if it does not comply with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, regardless of the views of anyone – including a  police officer - or to “send a message to a community”.

Jenny Hopkins

Chief Crown Prosecutor and Violence Against Women and Girls (VaWG) Champion for the CPS

Teenagers sentenced to life imprisonment for Lincolnshire murders

A teenage girl and her boyfriend have today been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of a woman and her daughter in Lincolnshire.

The girl and boy, who were both aged 14 at the time of the killing, were convicted of the murders of Elizabeth and 13-year-old Katie Edwards in Spalding in April 2016.

The boy pleaded guilty while the girl was found guilty by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court following a trial last month (Oct 2016).

The two made a plan to kill their victims as a result of a disagreement with Elizabeth Edwards. Having discussed it together, the boy told the girl he wanted to kill them both. She agreed and the two began to formulate their plan, which resulted in Elizabeth and Katie being killed in their beds.

Karen Thompson, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor at CPS East Midlands, said:

“This is one of the most distressing and disturbing cases that I have ever encountered.

“The CPS has from the outset been confident that the appropriate charge for both defendants was one of murder. We were not willing to accept any lesser charge based on the defendants’ mental health difficulties, so the case was rightly taken to trial.

“The male defendant accepted his guilt on the first day of trial. The other defendant maintained her not guilty plea but, after the jury heard all the medical evidence presented they concluded that any difficulties that she may have had did not prevent her forming an intent to kill. She was therefore convicted of the murder of both victims.

“Our deepest sympathies are now with the extended family and friends of Elizabeth and Katie Edwards as they attempt to come to terms with this horrific crime.”

Man charged with murder over the death of his father

Bipin Desai has been charged with murder, with assisted suicide in the alternative, in relation to the death of his father, Dhirajlal Desai. 

A CPS spokesperson said:

“After an assessment of the evidence provided to us by the police it has been decided that Bipin Desai should face one charge of murder, with assisted suicide in the alternative, in relation to the death of his father, Dhirajlil Desai, on 26 August 2015. He will also face two charges of theft. 

“Bipin Desai will next appear at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on 10 November 2016.

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

“May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against Bipin Desai will now be commenced and of his right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Notes

Details of charges:

One charge of murder – victim one year of age or older

One charge of Intentionally do an act capable of encouraging / assisting the suicide of another

Two charges of theft

Man sentenced to 26 months for stalking

A 42-year-old man has today been sentenced to 26 months imprisonment at Wolverhampton Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to stalking a man who later took his own life.

Between May and July 2015, Jamie Jones from Penkridge, Staffordshire, posted 23 video clips onto YouTube making allegations against the victim.

When the victim became aware of these videos he reported the matter to the police. 

A file was then forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service who authorised the charging of Jamie Jones with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. 

Paul Reid, District Crown Prosecutor from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Stalking and harassment can have a devastating impact on the lives of those who become victims as well as their family and friends.

“As demonstrated in this prosecution, the actions of Jamie Jones led to the victim taking his own life.

“Stalking and harassment is a criminal offence and we would encourage anyone who is a victim of such crimes not to suffer in silence but to report the matter to the police.”