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Judges reject 'joint enterprise' challenge Judges reject 'joint enterprise' challenge
(35 minutes later)
Judges have refused to overturn guilty verdicts in a "joint enterprise" challenge by men convicted of group attack murders.Judges have refused to overturn guilty verdicts in a "joint enterprise" challenge by men convicted of group attack murders.
The test cases were brought after the Supreme Court ruled in February the law had wrongly been interpreted for more than 30 years.The test cases were brought after the Supreme Court ruled in February the law had wrongly been interpreted for more than 30 years.
The challenges followed the decision that it was wrong to treat "foresight" as a sufficient test to convict a defendant under joint enterprise.The challenges followed the decision that it was wrong to treat "foresight" as a sufficient test to convict a defendant under joint enterprise.
It paved the way for the first appeals.It paved the way for the first appeals.
The test cases involved 13 men convicted in six separate crimes.The test cases involved 13 men convicted in six separate crimes.
The decision to reject their cases was met with cries of protest by supporters of the men sitting in the public gallery at the Court of Appeal.The decision to reject their cases was met with cries of protest by supporters of the men sitting in the public gallery at the Court of Appeal.
There were shouts of "no justice, no peace" when Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas made the judgement.There were shouts of "no justice, no peace" when Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas made the judgement.
One case challenged the safety of the convictions of Tyler Burton and Nicholas Terrelonge, who were found guilty of murdering Ashley Latty in a group attack in Dagenham, east London in May 2014.One case challenged the safety of the convictions of Tyler Burton and Nicholas Terrelonge, who were found guilty of murdering Ashley Latty in a group attack in Dagenham, east London in May 2014.
Rejecting the appeal, Lord Thomas said the Supreme Court judgement would "not have made a difference" to the jury's verdict in the trial and the convictions "were and are safe".Rejecting the appeal, Lord Thomas said the Supreme Court judgement would "not have made a difference" to the jury's verdict in the trial and the convictions "were and are safe".
The joint enterprise law has been used to convict people in gang-related cases if defendants could have foreseen violent acts by their associates. An appeal was also brought on behalf of Asher Johnson, his brother Lewis and Reece Garwood who were given life sentences for the murder of Thomas Cudjoe in Ilford, east London in November 2012.
A fourth convicted man, Jerome Green, was seen in CCTV footage holding a knife and apparently stabbing Mr Cudjoe as he sat in the driver's seat of a car in a garage forecourt.
Lawyers argued there was no evidence of common enterprise between his clients and Green and the images did not show they had been involved in a planned attack.
Rejecting the appeal, Lord Thomas said the verdicts would have been "no different" following the Supreme Court ruling.
He said the court was "satisfied that there was no injustice, let alone substantial injustice".
'Whole evidence'
The joint enterprise law means accomplices can be found guilty of murder even if they did not deliver the fatal blow that led to a death.
It has been used to convict people in gang-related cases if defendants could have foreseen violent acts by their associates.
In February the Supreme Court said that this was being misinterpreted and juries had to decide on the "whole evidence".In February the Supreme Court said that this was being misinterpreted and juries had to decide on the "whole evidence".
The ruling applies to England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most UK overseas common law territories but not in Scotland, which has its own rules on joint enterprise.The ruling applies to England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most UK overseas common law territories but not in Scotland, which has its own rules on joint enterprise.
In his judgement, Lord Neuberger said the decision did not automatically mean all previous joint enterprise convictions were unsafe.In his judgement, Lord Neuberger said the decision did not automatically mean all previous joint enterprise convictions were unsafe.
Campaigners said the change would make the law fairer, but some murder victims' relatives said they were worried about possible appeals.Campaigners said the change would make the law fairer, but some murder victims' relatives said they were worried about possible appeals.