§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Solicitor-General what reports he has received concerning the disappearance of William Beausire in Santiago in 1974; and what requests he has received for a private prosecution. [106029]
The Solicitor-GeneralSolicitors acting for a number of individuals applied for Law Officer consent to prosecute Senator Pinochet for offences of torture and hostage taking. The papers included reference to William Beausire. On 11 February 1999, the then Attorney-General considered the application and took advice from Treasury Counsel. The solicitors were advised that consent to prosecute was declined. The basis of that decision is that the relevant legislation is not retrospective and the material supplied by the solicitors in support of the application provided insufficient admissible evidence to justify a prosecution.