CENTRAL NEWS / CG KENDALL 1 JO

CENTRAL NEWS / CG

KENDALL 1

JOHN KENDALL,37, WHO IS STILL ON THE RUN AFTER BEING

AIRLIFTED TO FREEDOM FROM GARTREE’S HIGH SECURITY PRISON BY

HELICOPTER, IS TO BE TRIED AT THE OLD BAILEY FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND

ARMED ROBBERY IN HIS ABSENCE.

‘THIS HIGHLY UNUSUAL COURT PROCEEDURE IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE

KENDALL HAS ALREADY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES,’ A COURT

OFFICIAL EXPLAINED.

THE TRIAL WAS DUE TO GO AHEAD NEXT MONDAY BUT TECHNICAL

DIFFICULTIES HAVE RESULTED IN A POSTPONEMENT.

IT IS NOW THOUGHT

THE TRIAL WILL BE HEARD IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS – WHETHER OR

NOT KENDALL IS RECAPTURED IN THE MEANTIME.

MR TIMOTHY LANGDALE IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR FOR THE PROSECUTION

AND KENDALL MAY BE DEFENDED BY MR RICHARD FERGUSON QC.

A PREVIOUS TRIAL OF KENDALL,WHOSE HOME IS AT KING’S COURT,

PLAISTOW,EAST LONDON, WAS HALTED IN SEPT.

WHEN JUDGE ROBERT LYMBERY QC

WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A BID TO NOBBLE A WOMAN JUROR.

THE WOMAN CONFESSED THAT SHE HAD BEEN OFFERED A #1,000 BRIBE

AND HAD BEEN PROMISED ANOTHER #4,000 IF THERE WAS A NOT GUILTY

VERDICT ON THE ATTEMPTED MURDER, ROBBERY AND FIREARM CHARGES.

KENDALL, WHO WAS ALSO FACING A CHARGE OF ESCAPING FROM A

PRISON VAN, WAS INTO THE FIFTH DAY OF HIS TRIAL WHEN IT WAS STOPPED.

THE JUDGE RULED THAT THE WOMAN JUROR APPROACHED ‘WOULD NOT BE

IN A POSITION ANY MORE CONSCIENTIOUSLY TO GIVE A TRUE VERDICT

ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE WITHOUT BEING IN SOME WAY PREJUDICED.

‘

MORE FOLLOWS

NOTE TO NEWS DESK: PLEASE SHOW TO LAWYERS AS THIS MAY BE THOUGHT TO

PREJUDICE A FAIR TRIAL FOR KENDALL WHETHER HE IS THERE OR NOT.

ENDS NOTE.

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KENDALL 2

AT A HEARING ON TUESDAY LAST JUDGE LYMBERY REJECTED AN

APPLICATION BY MR FERGUSON THAT THE TRIAL SHOULD BE PUT OFF UNTIL

KENDALL CAN BE PRESENT.

THE JUDGE SAID THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE WERE

‘EXCEPTIONAL, IF NOT UNIQUE.

‘

HE ADDED THAT KENDALL HEARD THE CASE AGAINST HIM AND GAVE

EVIDENCE IN HIS DEFENCE DURING THE ABORTIVE TRIAL LAST SEPTEMBER.

THE JUDGE SAID:’IT MAY BE THAT THE NEWS WILL FILTER THROUGH

TO MR KENDALL THAT HE IS LIKELY TO BE TRIED IN HIS ABSENCE.

‘

HE ADDED:’IT IS AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT ANY

DEFENDANT SHOULD ESCAPE TRIAL BY VOLUNTARILY ABSENTING HIMSELF

INDEFINITELY, PARTICULARY IN THIS CASE WHEN HE KNOWS THE ALLEGATIONS

AGAINST HIM AND HAS A RIGHT TO COME AND PUT HIS OWN CASE IF HE SO

WISHES.

‘

JUDGE LYMBERY ORDERED THAT THE CASE BE TRIED AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE.

END.

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