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21 July plotters lose appeal bid | 21 July plotters lose appeal bid |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four men serving at least 40 years for the failed 21 July suicide bombs have lost a Court of Appeal bid to challenge their convictions. | Four men serving at least 40 years for the failed 21 July suicide bombs have lost a Court of Appeal bid to challenge their convictions. |
Three judges rejected applications brought by Muktar Said Ibrahim, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Hussain Osman for leave to appeal. | Three judges rejected applications brought by Muktar Said Ibrahim, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Hussain Osman for leave to appeal. |
Last July, the men were jailed for life for conspiracy to murder. | Last July, the men were jailed for life for conspiracy to murder. |
They had tried to detonate rucksacks filled with explosives on three Tube trains and a bus in 2005. | They had tried to detonate rucksacks filled with explosives on three Tube trains and a bus in 2005. |
The explanation why the date will not be twinned in the annals of its venerable history with the murderous outrage perpetrated on 7 July 2005 is simple: it was sheer good fortune Sir Igor Judge | |
The planned attacks came two weeks after 52 people were killed and more than 770 were injured when four suicide bombers blew up parts of the London transport network. | The planned attacks came two weeks after 52 people were killed and more than 770 were injured when four suicide bombers blew up parts of the London transport network. |
The ruling on Wednesday was made by Court of Appeal judges Sir Igor Judge, Mr Justice Forbes and Mr Justice Mackay. | The ruling on Wednesday was made by Court of Appeal judges Sir Igor Judge, Mr Justice Forbes and Mr Justice Mackay. |
The three of them also dismissed applications brought by Mohammed and Osman against their sentences. | |
Sir Igor said: "On 21 July 2005, London came within a vanishingly short breath of wholesale murder by terrorists. | |
"The explanation why the date will not be twinned in the annals of its venerable history with the murderous outrage perpetrated on 7 July 2005 is simple: it was sheer good fortune." | |
"These were merciless and extreme crimes. As they were rightly meant to be, the sentences were severe and extreme. Beyond doubt, however, they were utterly justified." | |
'Ludicrous defence' | |
At last year's trial, the four told Woolwich Crown Court the plot had been an elaborate hoax aimed at drawing attention to Britain's part in the occupation of Iraq. | |
But Sir Igor said that, after a lengthy examination of the evidence, the court was entitled to record that the defences of the four to the charge of conspiracy to murder were "ludicrous". | |
During the appeal hearing last month, Nigel Sweeney QC, for the Crown, said the conviction applications had "no merit". | |
But counsel for Ibrahim and Omar argued the trial judge had "erred in law" by ruling that safety interviews - urgent or emergency interviews by police on the grounds of safety - were admissible. | |
Further arguments centred on an alleged confession by Osman to two prison officers. | |
Counsel for Mohammed and Omar said the judge should have permitted them to question the prison officers to test the reliability of the alleged confession. | |
However, Sir Igor said the trial had been marked with "conspicuous fairness and commanding judicial control". |