This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7852038.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man cleared over detective injury | Man cleared over detective injury |
| (1 day later) | |
| A fugitive conman has been cleared of intentionally mowing down a female detective as he tried to escape from a police roadblock. | A fugitive conman has been cleared of intentionally mowing down a female detective as he tried to escape from a police roadblock. |
| The Old Bailey had heard Rashpal Singh, 43, from West Bromwich, ran over Det Con Catherine Corbett, 40, as he tried to evade arrest near Heathrow Airport. | The Old Bailey had heard Rashpal Singh, 43, from West Bromwich, ran over Det Con Catherine Corbett, 40, as he tried to evade arrest near Heathrow Airport. |
| Singh was also cleared of dangerous driving and other charges related to the incident in November 2007. | Singh was also cleared of dangerous driving and other charges related to the incident in November 2007. |
| Judge Jeremy Roberts said the collision had been "an accident". | Judge Jeremy Roberts said the collision had been "an accident". |
| Unmarked police cars | Unmarked police cars |
| The detective was left with a severe head injury and still has memory loss. | The detective was left with a severe head injury and still has memory loss. |
| As plainclothes officers approached the car to speak to him, Singh reversed, catching Det Con Corbett with the open passenger door, and injuring two other officers as he smashed into cars. | |
| He was arrested later after being spotted driving in Birmingham. | He was arrested later after being spotted driving in Birmingham. |
| Singh, of Gladstone Street, West Bromwich, was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of causing actual bodily harm to Det Con Matthew Millward and Det Con Stefan Wojcieszyn, and dangerous driving. | Singh, of Gladstone Street, West Bromwich, was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of causing actual bodily harm to Det Con Matthew Millward and Det Con Stefan Wojcieszyn, and dangerous driving. |
| Singh was returned to prison to serve the rest of the sentence from which he had originally escaped. | Singh was returned to prison to serve the rest of the sentence from which he had originally escaped. |
| 'Dangerous job' | 'Dangerous job' |
| He had been on the run for 11 months and was cornered by unmarked police cars as he drove his wife to work at a hotel near the airport. | He had been on the run for 11 months and was cornered by unmarked police cars as he drove his wife to work at a hotel near the airport. |
| Singh told the court he panicked and had not realised the people around his car were police officers. | Singh told the court he panicked and had not realised the people around his car were police officers. |
| Judge Roberts read a note from the jury which expressed sympathy to Det Con Corbett and her family. | Judge Roberts read a note from the jury which expressed sympathy to Det Con Corbett and her family. |
| It said: "We all agree that police officers have a difficult and dangerous job to do. | It said: "We all agree that police officers have a difficult and dangerous job to do. |
| "Reaching a verdict has been tricky on the evidence provided." | "Reaching a verdict has been tricky on the evidence provided." |
| 'Split second' | 'Split second' |
| The judge said: "No one should think the jury's verdict is any reflection on the professional conduct of the West Midlands' officers." | The judge said: "No one should think the jury's verdict is any reflection on the professional conduct of the West Midlands' officers." |
| He said Singh had been cleared and no one else was to blame. | He said Singh had been cleared and no one else was to blame. |
| Singh, who had about 25 aliases, was jailed for six-and-a-half years in Birmingham in November 2005 for 13 offences of deception and for failing to surrender. | Singh, who had about 25 aliases, was jailed for six-and-a-half years in Birmingham in November 2005 for 13 offences of deception and for failing to surrender. |
| After his arrest, Singh told police that he feared for his life during the incident and that he had not seen Det Con Corbett. | After his arrest, Singh told police that he feared for his life during the incident and that he had not seen Det Con Corbett. |
| Singh told the jury a silver Peugeot car pulled in front of him and then he saw a man with a black bar run towards his car. | Singh told the jury a silver Peugeot car pulled in front of him and then he saw a man with a black bar run towards his car. |
| He said: "He was in attack mode, coming towards my car. I had a split second to make a decision. I didn't know who he was or what he was going to do. | He said: "He was in attack mode, coming towards my car. I had a split second to make a decision. I didn't know who he was or what he was going to do. |
| "I decided to get out of there, to get away from the attack because I was in fear of being attacked." | "I decided to get out of there, to get away from the attack because I was in fear of being attacked." |
| It had not occurred to him that the man was a police officer. | It had not occurred to him that the man was a police officer. |
| Det Con Corbett has no memory of the incident and was not called as a witness. | Det Con Corbett has no memory of the incident and was not called as a witness. |
| Part of the case was heard without press and public present. | Part of the case was heard without press and public present. |