One of the more unusual conclusions to a murder case is the decision by the prosecution to offer no evidence.
This happened in two of last year’s cases with the result that the suspects were acquitted without the need to stand trial. Only one of these was reported in the media and no reasons were given for the decision.
The first case concerned the death of Gilbert Barber, an 80 year-old man who died after a suspected assault at his home in Harley Street, central London, in early March 2013.
It took another eight months for further medical evidence to cast doubt on the link between the attack and Mr Barber’s death ten days later and the suspect was acquitted.
The second case concerned a fight in Finsbury Park, North London, which ended in the death of Matthew Fallon, 45, on 21 March 2013.
This time further evidence emerged that supported the suspect’s claim to have acted in self defence and he was acquitted seven months later in October 2013.
It could now be argued that both of these cases should be removed. However it is our current policy to retain all cases in which a suspect is charged with murder or manslaughter, no matter how they are resolved.
UPDATE: In February 2014 the prosecution dropped the case against Ali Tasci, who was accused of the murder of Selhouk Behdjet in 1994.