| The Dream Solution
- Articles |
12/06/93
- We're free!
By MARTIN PHILLIPS and BILL AKASS
Daily Mirror
THE two sisters convicted of murdering bride Alison Shaughnessy
walked free yesterday as police and the press were accused of
putting them in jail. Michelle and Lisa Taylor were released by
the Appeal Court after being locked up for two years.
But as they gave a triumphant salute and headed for a champagne
celebration, they left a trail of vital questions raised by their
appeal: WHY did surgeon Dr Michael Unsworth-White, a key witness
at their trial last year, change his story? WHY did police not
disclose that he had? And WHY were the jury not told the doctor
tried to claim a £25,000 reward for information he gave
detectives?
The media also came under attack as Lord Justice McCowan declared
the convictions "unsafe and unsatisfactory". He accused
the press of prejudicing the case with "sensational, inaccurate
and misleading" coverage.
And he said this ruled out a re-trial. Relatives of the sisters
cheered and stamped their feet as the court's verdict was announced.
Michelle, 22, and Lisa, 19, glanced at each other but showed no
emotion.
They strode to freedom wearing T-shirts featuring Winston Silcott,
who was cleared on appeal of murdering PC Keith Blakelock during
the Broadwater Farm riots.
They joined hands and raised their arms Michelle said' "We
will not say that by being released justice has been done because
we should not have been put in this position in the first place."
She said she and Lisa had been freed only after the discovery
of a "deliberate mistake" by the police. Michelle thanked
family, friends, lawyers and "the Lord'' for support. Then
the sisters were driven to a church before going home to Forest
Hill, South London.
There, they said: "We never gave up hope. Now we just want
to get to know our family again." Tearful mum Ann said: "It's
been a long struggle. We're still angry." The sisters were
jailed for life last July after a jury heard how Alison, 21, was
stabbed 54 times at her home in Battersea, South London.
Jurors were told Michelle was the former mistress of Alison's
husband John. The lovers worked together at a private clinic in
Lambeth. In her diary, Michelle wrote: "My dream solution
would be for Alison to disappear."
Dr Unsworth White, a neighbour of Alison's, told the jury he saw
two girls-both blonde and one with a pony tail leave the victim's
house and run up the street. Appeal lawyers said his evidence
was crucial.
Yet almost a year earlier Dr Unsworth-White told a detective one
of the girls may have been black. Police headed by Det Supt Chris
Burke failed to disclose his story had changed.
Nor did they reveal the surgeon tried to claim a reward from Alison's
employers, Barclays Bank.
The surgeon's fiancee Dr Sarah Ford also changed her evidence.
Lord Justice McCowan said: "It would have been understandable
if he had said one of the girls might have been black then changed
his mind and said she was dark-skinned.
"But in fact he switched to saying they were both blonde
- a remarkable change of story. "His evidence appeared to
come from an impeccable source.
What a different figure he would have cut if the defence had available
the material now come to light."
The judge, who sat with Mr Justices Douglas-Brown and Tuckey,
slammed Det Supt Burke.
He said: "It is significant he decided there was no need
to disclose the discrepancies to the prosecution legal team. He
was completely wrong. "We can only conclude he did not disclose
it because the prosecution team would in turn disclose it to the
defence."
Dr Unsworth-White refused to comment yesterday. But Dr Ford said:
"He didn't change his story in any way. "He gave his
story to the police and he was questioned heavily on the reward
in court."
Alison's mother Mrs Breda Blackmore did not stay in court to hear
the 50-minute judgement. Before leaving, she said sadly: "The
only judgment we are interested in would be the one which brings
back Alison." Police did not comment on the judge's criticism.
Officers believe Det Supt Burke acted within official guidelines.
But QC Lord Williams, ex-head of the Bar Council, said it was
the police and NOT the press who should take the blame.
He added: "The fundamental thing that went wrong is not what
the press did but that vital evidence was not disclosed by the
police." |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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