The Crown Prosecution Service has sought to explain the legal process in a criminal trial after new developments in the Southport case were made public.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales.
They are leading the prosecution in the case against Axel Rudakubana, who was arrested and charged with the murder of three young girls at the Hart Space in Southport in July.
The case has sparked international attention and has been the subject of intense worldwide debate on the spread of misinformation.
The police involved have faced considerable criticism online, fuelled by political discourse, with claims that the force is ‘hiding’ or ‘holding back’ information from the public.
The debate, which has continued to escalate following the widely publicised update by police yesterday (Tuesday, 29 October), has prompted the Crown Prosecution Service to speak out on the legal process once a charge has been made in a criminal investigation.
A spokesperson for the CPS said, “Once someone has been arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, there are strict limits on what information can be made available by the authorities and reported on in the media or on social media before the case comes to court.”
Rudakubana is expected to appear in court in early 2025, facing a series of charges.
The latest charges include one offence under the Terrorism Act after allegedly accessing a PDF entitled “Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual.”
He will also face a charge for the “production of a biological toxin, namely ricin, contrary to Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974.”
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy emphasised that ricin was not used at Hart Street and there is no risk to the public.
A CPS spokesperson continued, “The strict limits are because, for justice to be done, the jury in any court case must make their decision based solely on the evidence in the trial.
“If there is widespread discussion of the facts beforehand or public speculation about the case, the trial risks being prejudiced, which could affect justice being served.”
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