§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the remand prisoner held in custody for 491 days by 31st May 1977 is awaiting trial or sentence; if the former, what is the alleged offence; if the latter of what he was committed; and why he has been on remand for so long.
459W
§ Mr. JohnThe remand time of 491 days to which the Question refers applied to six persons who were charged with related offences of murder, conspiring to murder, kidnap, conspiring to kidnap, causing grievous bodily harm or conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm. On 17th June 1977 two of these persons were found guilty of murder and one of conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm, and three were discharged. Of the 491 days spent in custody up to 31st May 1977, there were 113 before committal, 176 between committal and the commencement of proceedings and 202 during the course of this complex trial.