HC Deb 07 April 1977 vol 929 c592W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not seek to establish procedures whereby the next of kin of persons who have died while charged with criminal activity, before such charges have been resolved, may seek a hearing to clear the name and honour of the deceased person.

Mr. John

In many cases it will be impossible to discover the truth once the defendant has died, but in any event I cannot see that it would be right to spend public money on proceedings or to demand the attendance of witnesses when the issue has ceased to be a matter for the criminal courts.