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Bomb plot case 'a waste of money' | Bomb plot case 'a waste of money' |
(18 minutes later) | |
Authorities have been criticised for pursuing a case against two teenagers who were cleared of planning a bombing at their school in Greater Manchester. | Authorities have been criticised for pursuing a case against two teenagers who were cleared of planning a bombing at their school in Greater Manchester. |
A jury took 45 minutes to acquit Ross McKnight, 16, and Matthew Swift, 18, of planning to murder teachers and pupils at Audenshaw High School. | A jury took 45 minutes to acquit Ross McKnight, 16, and Matthew Swift, 18, of planning to murder teachers and pupils at Audenshaw High School. |
The pair had always maintained the plot, said to be inspired by the US Columbine massacre, was a "fantasy". | The pair had always maintained the plot, said to be inspired by the US Columbine massacre, was a "fantasy". |
Roderick Carus QC, for Ross McKnight, said the case was a waste of money. | Roderick Carus QC, for Ross McKnight, said the case was a waste of money. |
Both teenagers, from Denton, Greater Manchester, had denied conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. | Both teenagers, from Denton, Greater Manchester, had denied conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. |
Journal entries | Journal entries |
They were alleged to have been obsessed with the Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who murdered 12 students and a teacher before turning their guns on themselves in Colorado on 20 April 1999. | They were alleged to have been obsessed with the Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who murdered 12 students and a teacher before turning their guns on themselves in Colorado on 20 April 1999. |
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) based much of the Manchester Crown Court case against the teenagers on journals and diaries they kept. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) based much of the Manchester Crown Court case against the teenagers on journals and diaries they kept. |
These contained details of a plan termed "Project Rainbow", along with maps and plans of the school. | These contained details of a plan termed "Project Rainbow", along with maps and plans of the school. |
Both Harris and Klebold had kept similar documents before their attack. | Both Harris and Klebold had kept similar documents before their attack. |
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) flew two detectives to Colorado ahead of the trial to talk to Columbine lead investigator Kate Battan, who was listed as a witness in the Manchester case but never called. | Greater Manchester Police (GMP) flew two detectives to Colorado ahead of the trial to talk to Columbine lead investigator Kate Battan, who was listed as a witness in the Manchester case but never called. |
As the jury's verdict demonstrates, this was a waste of public money, hundreds of thousands of pounds Roderick Carus QC | As the jury's verdict demonstrates, this was a waste of public money, hundreds of thousands of pounds Roderick Carus QC |
No explosives or firearms were discovered following the arrest of the teenagers in March, which came after Ross McKnight made a drunken phone call to a female friend boasting about carrying out Project Rainbow. | No explosives or firearms were discovered following the arrest of the teenagers in March, which came after Ross McKnight made a drunken phone call to a female friend boasting about carrying out Project Rainbow. |
Defence counsel said the journals were the scribblings of teenagers with "over-active imaginations" and the defendants themselves dismissed their writings as "fantasy". | Defence counsel said the journals were the scribblings of teenagers with "over-active imaginations" and the defendants themselves dismissed their writings as "fantasy". |
Speaking after his son's acquittal, Ray McKnight - a serving GMP officer - said he never doubted his son was innocent. | Speaking after his son's acquittal, Ray McKnight - a serving GMP officer - said he never doubted his son was innocent. |
He said: "It's been purgatory, absolute agony. Neither have been in trouble with the police before and have been in jail for the last six months." | He said: "It's been purgatory, absolute agony. Neither have been in trouble with the police before and have been in jail for the last six months." |
Decision 'respected' | Decision 'respected' |
After the verdicts, Mr Carus was scathing about the prosecution case and said the teenagers should have just been given "a slap on the wrists". | After the verdicts, Mr Carus was scathing about the prosecution case and said the teenagers should have just been given "a slap on the wrists". |
"I think this was an unnecessary, heavy-handed prosecution against two young lads who could have been dealt with in a more sensitive way. | "I think this was an unnecessary, heavy-handed prosecution against two young lads who could have been dealt with in a more sensitive way. |
"As the jury's verdict demonstrates, this was a waste of public money, hundreds of thousands of pounds. | "As the jury's verdict demonstrates, this was a waste of public money, hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
"Bearing in mind their ages it's farcical to think that this was ever a serious design." | "Bearing in mind their ages it's farcical to think that this was ever a serious design." |
Head teacher Stephen Turner: "They were perfectly normal, ordinary boys at school" | Head teacher Stephen Turner: "They were perfectly normal, ordinary boys at school" |
But John Lord, reviewing lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, defended the decision to prosecute the teenagers. | But John Lord, reviewing lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, defended the decision to prosecute the teenagers. |
"The case brought against Matthew Swift and Ross McKnight was, we believe, one that was as equally strong as serious," he said. | "The case brought against Matthew Swift and Ross McKnight was, we believe, one that was as equally strong as serious," he said. |
The BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said it was the Attorney General, Lady Scotland QC, who gave final approval for the case to proceed. | The BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said it was the Attorney General, Lady Scotland QC, who gave final approval for the case to proceed. |
Asst Ch Con Terry Sweeney, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said senior officers and the CPS felt it was in the public interest to take the case to court. | Asst Ch Con Terry Sweeney, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said senior officers and the CPS felt it was in the public interest to take the case to court. |
Class re-evaluation | Class re-evaluation |
"In this case the jury took the decision not to convict and we respect their decision," she said. | "In this case the jury took the decision not to convict and we respect their decision," she said. |
The head teacher of Audenshaw school, Stephen Turner, said he could not speculate on the decision taken by the CPS. | The head teacher of Audenshaw school, Stephen Turner, said he could not speculate on the decision taken by the CPS. |
"Clearly the police investigated thoroughly and presented information to the CPS and that decision was taken by them and we respect that decision," said Mr Turner. | "Clearly the police investigated thoroughly and presented information to the CPS and that decision was taken by them and we respect that decision," said Mr Turner. |
"Our experience of both of them was that they were perfectly normal, ordinary boys, clearly both of them achieved well at their exams." | "Our experience of both of them was that they were perfectly normal, ordinary boys, clearly both of them achieved well at their exams." |
During the trial it emerged Matthew Swift's interest in the US massacre was sparked after being shown the Michael Moore documentary, Bowling for Columbine, in a school general studies class. | During the trial it emerged Matthew Swift's interest in the US massacre was sparked after being shown the Michael Moore documentary, Bowling for Columbine, in a school general studies class. |
Mr Turner said the school would now re-evaluate what was shown in the classes. | Mr Turner said the school would now re-evaluate what was shown in the classes. |