Wednesday September 27 | 2017
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Thumbs up for the Hospice in the Weald 10k run
GROUNDS FOR APPEAL Mysterious protest posters appear in Calverley Page 2
SPORTING LEGEND PHOTO: Rose Bainbridge
Dame Kelly Holmes reveals her secret past Page 4
CROWD PLEASERS: Hundreds of runners took part in the Hospice in the Weald 10k run on Sunday. The fundraisers enjoyed the glorious late summer sunshine and helped raise thousands of pounds for charity. The organisers said: “The atmosphere was fantastic.” The hospice hopes to raise £70,000 from its annual race. For more see page 10.
Torrington murder trial collapses
IT’S CRUNCH TIME
Enjoy a taste of the new crop of seasonal apples Page 66
Judge states ‘legal reasons’ are behind decision to discharge jury By Adam Hignett and Katie Harris newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
THE Torrington car park murder trial was unexpectedly called off yesterday leading the Judge presiding over the case to voice his ‘regret’ at being forced to discharge the jury. Giles Metcalf died on March 7 of asphyxiation from fumes and burns after his sleeping bag was set alight using lighter fluid whilst he slept in the stairwell of the town car park. It was the 43-year-old’s first night sleeping rough and his badly burned body was
discovered at 3am. Dean Lewis, 34, of no fixed address, and James Marshall-Gunn, 30, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, were both arrested on suspicion of murder, a charge they both denied. However, almost exactly a week after their trial had begun on September 18, Judge Philip Statman felt compelled to bring the proceedings to an unexpected halt by discharging the jury of eight men and four women for legal reasons. He told jurors: “You will see the defendants are not here today. The situation is this: I regret to have to tell you I must discharge you as a jury from any further
consideration of this case. “I make it absolutely clear that it is nobody’s fault. Certainly, none of your fault. It is one of those things which I am unable to give you any further information about at this time.”
Prejudicial The Judge warned jurors at Maidstone Crown Court they should not speak about the evidence they have heard. John Roberts, Partner at Kent law firm Gullands Solicitors, said juries can be discharged for ‘a number of reasons’ and
therefore the trial will have to start again with a fresh jury. He explained: “The most likely explanation for the jury having been discharged in this case, given the comments of the Judge, is that prejudicial material has inadvertently been disclosed to the jury and the nature of it is such that the Judge has decided that a conviction could be deemed unsafe if they continued to try the case. “Sometimes the jury could be simply directed to ignore certain things but, in this case, the Judge has clearly decided that the only safe option is to start again.”
WINNING WAYS
Rusthall players return to fighting form Page 90