Our thanks to Steve for this. An extract:
“It can now be reported that the original trial collapsed after a legal mistake, when it emerged Rachel Drummond, a key defence witness, was a court custody officer who had conducted welfare checks on Beal in her cells.
Ms Drummond had given evidence which, in the words of original judge Adrienne Lucking KC, described observing a relationship that had the hallmarks of abuse, although she had not seen Beal for about seven years.
But after Ms Drummond’s employment became known during cross-examination – Judge Lucking said there was no way to “ensure a fair verdict and a safe conviction”.
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