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numeral
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 Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:43 pm Post subject: Defence scientist's death case dropped |
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| Quote: | http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2036656,00.html
Case dropped over defence scientist's death
Manslaughter charge against government bomb expert is scrapped as new evidence comes to light
Antony Barnett
Sunday March 18, 2007
The Observer
Manslaughter and gross negligence charges against a senior government explosives expert accused of killing another scientist have been dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service said that new evidence meant the trial could not proceed.
In August 2002 government chemist Terry Jupp died after a joint British and US weapons experiment went wrong. It is understood he was involved in research looking at the composition of home-made fertiliser bombs used by Islamic terrorists. Jupp had mixed a 10kg charge using three types of ingredients when it ignited and between 60 and 90 per cent of his body was burnt.
The injured scientist was airlifted to hospital, but he died six days later from septicaemia.
A lengthy investigation by the Ministry of Defence Police and the Health and Safety Executive led to criminal charges being brought against Dr Maurice Marshall, one of the world's leading explosives experts, who works at the government's Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
The DSTL is part of the Ministry of Defence and was previously called the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, the body that employed Dr David Kelly, who killed himself after being named as the source in the BBC's story alleging that the government had 'sexed up' its Iraq weapons dossier.
Earlier this month the criminal case against Marshall was dropped after a 'high-level review' that involved the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith. Marshall has always maintained his innocence.
Gareth Patterson, who was leading the prosecution, said: 'Things have recently changed. Further information has recently come into the possession of the Crown Prosecution Service. The difficulties of the sensitivities of this case are such that I cannot go into too much detail about the information in open court.' |
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numeral
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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The Observer article has had the following added to it.
| Quote: | Sources believe that both the United States and British military authorities were concerned that, should the criminal case continue, highly sensitive information could have been released on the nature of the experiments being conducted.
A CPS spokeswoman confirmed that Goldsmith was involved in the decision not to continue with the case. But she added: 'The decision was taken by CPS lawyers based on new evidence that came to light. The decision not to continue the case was not down to a public interest argument.'
The tragic experiment took place at the Newlands Battery in Shoeburyness, Essex, which is now run by the private contractor Qinetiq. It is understood that a number of government scientists are unhappy about how they are being treated by the DSTL over a series of dangerous incidents, but they re unable to speak out because they are governed by the Official Secrets Act. Some of them believe that the systems in operation across DSTL facilities are dangerously outdated.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: 'We respect the court's decision. We care about all of our members of staff and we are doing everything we can to prevent such an accident happening again. Terrence Jupp was a valued member of staff and we are very sorry to the family for their loss. DSTL takes health and safety very seriously.'
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that, now the criminal case had collapsed, it was considering taking action against the DSTL for allegedly breaching the health and safety laws.
antony.barnett@observer.co.uk |
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Craig W
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:35 am Post subject: |
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Interesting stuff, numeral. One possible iterpretation, reading between the lines, is:
The man died while practising false flag mock-Islamic terrorist attacks using fertiliser-based bombs at DSTL (now Qinetiq).
The UK and US military authorities, who were collaborating on this project, do not want us to know that that is what they were doing.
Hence, the "powers that be" have pulled the plug on the CPS prosecution to prevent any damaging publicity and revelations about the project.
Fortunately for those wishing to hide the truth, the nature of the new evidence which has brought about the collapse of the case cannot be revealed "for reasons of National Security".
Other staff involved in the project are prevented from speaking on the matter by the Official Secrets Act.
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