§ 16. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received a request from the hon. Member for Ilford, North to refer to the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal a newly discovered alibi in the case of Patrick Murphy, convicted of murder; what action he took; on what grounds he considered appropriate any inquiries other than those necessary for the taking 206W of the alibi statement; why he has taken so long to reach his decision; and if he will make the reference forthwith.
§ Mr. R. CarrMy predecessor first received representations from my hon. Friend last December. A statement was obtained from the new witness to whom my hon. Friend refers and my Department has undertaken a full review of other aspects of the case with a view to assessing the significance of this statement. I am studying the reports which I have received, and also the transcript of a recent television programme. I hope shortly to reach a conclusion on this complex case, which I shall communicate to my hon. Friend.