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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Connors family servitude retrial: Jury discharged | Connors family servitude retrial: Jury discharged |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The case against four members of a Bedfordshire traveller family accused of keeping vulnerable men captive to work unpaid has collapsed. | The case against four members of a Bedfordshire traveller family accused of keeping vulnerable men captive to work unpaid has collapsed. |
| Tommy Connors Sr, 53, and his sons Tommy Jr, 27, James, 25 and Patrick, 21, had denied keeping the men in servitude. | Tommy Connors Sr, 53, and his sons Tommy Jr, 27, James, 25 and Patrick, 21, had denied keeping the men in servitude. |
| A jury at Luton Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on any of the charges against them. | A jury at Luton Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on any of the charges against them. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service is considering if there will be a retrial. | The Crown Prosecution Service is considering if there will be a retrial. |
| The jury in the case had been deliberating for more than two days. | The jury in the case had been deliberating for more than two days. |
| Judge Michael Kay told them: "The time has now come that I must discharge you on the basis that you have been trying for almost three days. Thank you for your efforts." | Judge Michael Kay told them: "The time has now come that I must discharge you on the basis that you have been trying for almost three days. Thank you for your efforts." |
| The four defendants each faced three charges of conspiracy to keep a person in servitude and three charges of conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour. | |
| 'Long, hard struggle' | |
| The court heard homeless men were given accommodation at the Green Acres site at Little Billington, near Leighton Buzzard. | |
| Jurors were told the men worked laying block paving but were threatened with violence if they asked for wages. | |
| The family said the men were free to come and go at any time. | The family said the men were free to come and go at any time. |
| Andy Smith, solicitor for three of the defendants, said: "It has been a long, hard struggle for all members of the Connors family and the wider Irish travelling community. | |
| "As you are aware, a number of my clients have been exonerated after two lengthy and arduous crown court trials." |