The attorney of the Libyan reputable liable for the demise of Yvonne Fletcher has provoked outrage by way of claiming the murdered police officer could have wanted him to receive a contemporary trial.
John Murray, the police officer who cradled WPc Fletcher as she lay dying, mentioned he used to be shocked and disgusted on the attempt to attribute emotions to a colleague gunned down outside the Libyan embassy 38 years in the past.
The Prime Courtroom dominated remaining yr that Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, an in depth ally of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, was once liable for WPc Fletcher’s homicide in April 1984. Mabrouk, who had declined to participate in his own trial, has now steered a London-primarily based barrister to check out to have the ruling overturned.
Samantha Kane, his legal professional, stated: “The murder of Laptop Fletcher was mindless but if she was alive these days she would definitely agree in having a proper trial and a fair trial that upholds the guideline of legislation.”
Ms Kane urged that the original trial, held over three days in November, was once “part-baked”, adding: “We don’t conduct trials in this us of a in this method. What we need to manage is the guideline of regulation and that may be what Computer Fletcher might have sought after.
“i think my shopper is a scapegoat. From what i know to this point.”
Mabrouk used to be arrested in reference to the killing in 2015, however the case used to be dropped because crucial evidence could not be used on grounds of nationwide security, prompting Mr Murray to launch a civil claim.
Mabrouk, who were dwelling in Studying, Berkshire, was once expelled from the uk and did not contest the trial from his home in Libya, in spite of being emailed legal papers and invited to testify via video link.
On The Other Hand, on January 26, he telephoned Iraqi-born Ms Kane, who runs an Arabic language legislation channel at the web, and recommended her to begin complaints to overturn the judgment.
In her letter to Mr Murray’s attorneys, Ms Kane stated: “i am reasonably stunned that a judgment used to be passed down when Mr Mabrouk was now not within the u . s ., nor capable of enter the rustic.”
Ms Kane demanded to look copies of the case information.
The lengthy quest for justice for WPc Yvonne Fletcher
In his answer, Matthew Jury, the coping with spouse of McCue Jury & Companions, talked about that the High Court Docket judge had dominated that Mabrouk had “had every chance to take part” and declined to do so.
Mr Jury additionally demanded that Ms Kane remove from her web page a claim that she “has challenged judgment in absentia in relation to the civil claim for the homicide of COMPUTER Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in 1984”.
Mr Jury wrote: “At absolute best, this kind of public remark is untimely. On The Other Hand, it will be seen as misleading.”
The capturing of WPc Fletcher, 25, used to be one among essentially the most notorious police killings. She used to be policing a demonstration against Gaddafi whilst pictures were fired from the Libyan embassy in St James’s Square.
The Prime Court Docket ruled that Mabrouk, who was once a part of a small workforce that controlled the embassy, had “obviously assisted” in a “commonplace layout” to shoot protesters on the day. He was in custody at the time of the taking pictures and did not fire the fatal bullets.
John Murray, the police officer who cradled WPc Fletcher as she lay loss of life, mentioned that the legal professional’s comments had been a ‘massive slur on Yvonne’s reminiscence’ Credit: Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph
Mr Murray stated on Friday: “Mabrouk used to be too cowardly to take part within the trial and be subject to cross-exam. He was given every chance to shield himself. to say he didn’t have an opportunity to protect himself is absolute rubbish.”
Requested about the claim that WPc Fletcher would want a retrial or the appeal to be lodged, Mr Murray stated: “that is disgraceful. i am stunned. that is a large slur on Yvonne’s memory.”
Mr Jury said “It’s simply perverse for Mabrouk, by way of his attorney, to dare to plead that WPc Fletcher would have sought after him to have a good trial. indisputably she might, and the Prime Court Docket ensured that he did. He simply selected to not attend.
“Meanwhile, not only did his movements rob her of her existence, but his silence has denied her justice for decades. If Mabrouk in reality cares about justice and honest trials, he will have to come ahead now and identify all of these liable for Yvonne’s homicide and provides an entire account of what took place that day. We’d be at liberty to talk with him.”