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PC Keith Blakelock: Nicky Jacobs found not guilty of Broadwater Farm murder PC Keith Blakelock: Nicky Jacobs found not guilty of Broadwater Farm murder
(35 minutes later)
A man has been found not guilty of stabbing PC Keith Blakelock to death during the 1985 Broadwater Farm riots.A man has been found not guilty of stabbing PC Keith Blakelock to death during the 1985 Broadwater Farm riots.
Nicky Jacobs was cleared of murder after a tense trial at the Old Bailey during which the jury heard an attempt was made to decapitate the officer after he was engulfed by a mob.Nicky Jacobs was cleared of murder after a tense trial at the Old Bailey during which the jury heard an attempt was made to decapitate the officer after he was engulfed by a mob.
The jury decided that Jacobs, now aged 45, was not part of the mob that stabbed at Blakelock, inflicting 43 stab and machete wounds and leaving a knife embedded in his neck. The jury decided that Jacobs, now aged 45, was not part of the mob that stabbed Blakelock, inflicting 43 stab and machete wounds and leaving a knife embedded in his neck.
The police officer's widow, Elizabeth Blakelock, was in court and put her head in her hands as she heard the verdict.The police officer's widow, Elizabeth Blakelock, was in court and put her head in her hands as she heard the verdict.
Jacobs, who had denied murder, was the seventh person to be tried for the Blakelock killing.Jacobs, who had denied murder, was the seventh person to be tried for the Blakelock killing.
The Blakelock family said they were "extremely sad and disappointed at the verdict".
The jury, which also cleared Jacobs of manslaughter, deliberated for six hours and 15 minutes.The jury, which also cleared Jacobs of manslaughter, deliberated for six hours and 15 minutes.
Jacobs was 16 at the time of the murder and had previously been convicted of affray in 1986 for his part in the disturbances. He was photographed at the scene throwing petrol bombs at the police.Jacobs was 16 at the time of the murder and had previously been convicted of affray in 1986 for his part in the disturbances. He was photographed at the scene throwing petrol bombs at the police.
He was charged last year with murder of the police officer after a multimillion pound reinvestigation by Scotland Yard, which hunted across the decades to convict someone for the murder of one of their own.He was charged last year with murder of the police officer after a multimillion pound reinvestigation by Scotland Yard, which hunted across the decades to convict someone for the murder of one of their own.
Key evidence against him came from three witnesses whom even the Crown Prosecution Service conceded were problematic. After the verdict, Scotland Yard defended its use of witnesses who had such questions about their character and reliability. Key evidence against him came from three witnesses who even the Crown Prosecution Service conceded were problematic. After the verdict, Scotland Yard defended its use of witnesses with questionable character and reliability.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the nature of the riot meant witnesses would be imperfect and in 1985 there was no CCTV and forensics were less advanced. He said: "We've had to work with what we've got." Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the nature of the riot meant witnesses would be imperfect and in 1985 there was no CCTV and forensics were less advanced.
Two of the witnesses had been given payments for inconvenience when helping police but, Rowley said, not for testifying in the trial of Jacobs. He said: "We've had to work with what we've got."
He added: "Sadly, Keith's widow, family and friends still have not seen anyone brought to justice for his murder. The dignity, extraordinary patience and courage they have shown in their nearly 30-year quest for justice is humbling.He added: "Sadly, Keith's widow, family and friends still have not seen anyone brought to justice for his murder. The dignity, extraordinary patience and courage they have shown in their nearly 30-year quest for justice is humbling.
"We will not give up on bringing Keith's killers to justice. There are people who know exactly who took part in the attack on Keith and people who took part themselves. It is not too late for you to come forward. Almost 30 years on peoples' lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted. Help us now.""We will not give up on bringing Keith's killers to justice. There are people who know exactly who took part in the attack on Keith and people who took part themselves. It is not too late for you to come forward. Almost 30 years on peoples' lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted. Help us now."
Outside court on Wednesday, Winston Silcott, whose 1987 conviction for murdering PC Blakelock was quashed on appeal in 1991, told the Guardian the police had a vendetta and condemned their actions. Outside court, Winston Silcott, whose 1987 conviction for murdering PC Blakelock was quashed on appeal in 1991, told the Guardian the police had a vendetta and condemned their actions.
Silcott said: "It was a joke, a total injustice. This is a police vendetta. The police are bitter. They promised the blakelock family justice, by hook or by crook. They are interested only in vengeance. Justice has been done." Silcott said: "It was a joke, a total injustice. This is a police vendetta. The police are bitter. They promised the Blakelock family justice, by hook or by crook. They are interested only in vengeance. Justice has been done."
The riots on Broadwater Farm, Tottenham, were some of the most vicious civil disturbances seen in Britain, with officers and rioters engaged in close battle.The riots on Broadwater Farm, Tottenham, were some of the most vicious civil disturbances seen in Britain, with officers and rioters engaged in close battle.
Violence erupted on Saturday 5 October 1985 after Cynthia Jarrett died following a police search of her home in Tottenham, after the arrest of her son. The death from a heart attack inflamed tensions and came a week after police had shot a black woman in Brixton, south London.Violence erupted on Saturday 5 October 1985 after Cynthia Jarrett died following a police search of her home in Tottenham, after the arrest of her son. The death from a heart attack inflamed tensions and came a week after police had shot a black woman in Brixton, south London.
By the Sunday evening, rioting broke out on Broadwater Farm estate. By the Sunday evening, rioting broke out on Broadwater Farm estate. Blakelock was part of police serial 502, a unit drawn from Hornsey and Wood Green police stations, trying to protect firefighters who were tackling a blaze endangering flats on the estate. They were armed with just their shields and truncheons.
Blakelock was part of police serial 502, a unit drawn from Hornsey and Wood Green police stations, trying to protect firefighters who were tackling a blaze endangering flats on the estate. A group of youths, some with weapons and masked, attacked them and the officers attempted to retreat. Blakelock was seen to slip by a grass verge where 15 to 20 people encircled him before he was killed. A colleague, PC Richard Coombes, was seriously injured and never resumed full duties.
They were armed with just their shields and truncheons. Blakelock, while on the ground, suffered eight machete wounds to the scalp, a knife driven into the back of the mouth with only the handle visible, 13 knife wounds to the back of the body, and wounds to his hands and arms.
A group of youths, some with weapons and masked, attacked them and the officers attempted to retreat.
Blakelock was seen to slip by a grass verge where 15 to 20 people encircled him before he was killed. A colleague, PC Richard Coombes, was seriously injured and never resumed full duties.
Blakelock while on the ground, suffered eight machete wounds to the scalp, a knife driven into the back of the mouth with only the handle visible, 13 knife wounds to the back of the body, and wounds to his hands and arms.
While the savagery of the attack on Blakelock was not in doubt, the crown had to prove Jacobs had been part of the group that murdered the home beat officer.While the savagery of the attack on Blakelock was not in doubt, the crown had to prove Jacobs had been part of the group that murdered the home beat officer.
The original murder investigation saw abuses by the police. The original murder investigation saw abuses by the police. The Met arrested more than 360 people, held children without access to a lawyer or parents, then charged six people with murder, all of whom were eventually cleared.
The Met arrested more than 360 people, held children without access to a lawyer or parents, then charged six people with murder, all of whom were eventually cleared. Three men were convicted in 1987 and then cleared by the appeal court after allegations emerged that crucial evidence had been fabricated. Three juveniles were acquitted before their case reached the jury.
Three men were convicted in 1987 and then cleared by the appeal court after allegations emerged that crucial evidence had been fabricated . Three juveniles were acquitted before their case reached the jury.
This new prosecution rested on two witnesses who admitted attacking Blakelock, but who insisted they had not used weapons. The two witnesses over two decades of police interviews had given contradictory accounts. A third witness, Q, claimed to have seen the attack and to be able to identify Jacobs.This new prosecution rested on two witnesses who admitted attacking Blakelock, but who insisted they had not used weapons. The two witnesses over two decades of police interviews had given contradictory accounts. A third witness, Q, claimed to have seen the attack and to be able to identify Jacobs.
The evidence against Jacobs also included a rap poem which the prosecution claimed contained admissions that he had stabbed Blakelock. It was first discovered in 1988 while Jacobs was serving an eight year term for affray. The evidence against Jacobs also included a rap poem which the prosecution claimed contained admissions that he had stabbed Blakelock. It was first discovered in 1988 while Jacobs was serving an eight-year term for affray.
In the poem, Jacobs wrote, naming Blakelock: "Me have de chopper, we have intention to kill a police officer PC Blakelock de unlucky fucker him dis an help de fireman." In the poem, Jacobs wrote, naming Blakelock: "Me have de chopper, we have intention to kill a police officer PC Blakelock de unlucky fucker him dis an help de fireman.
"We start chop him on his hand we chop him on him finger we chop him on him leg we chop him on his shoulder him head him chest him neck we chop him all over when we done kill him off lord er feel much better.""We start chop him on his hand we chop him on him finger we chop him on him leg we chop him on his shoulder him head him chest him neck we chop him all over when we done kill him off lord er feel much better."
Courtenay Griffiths QC said the police investigation and decision to put Jacobs on trial was deplorable.Courtenay Griffiths QC said the police investigation and decision to put Jacobs on trial was deplorable.
Of the allegedly incriminating rap lyrics he said : "Bob Marley wrote I Shot The Sheriff but I have not heard of him being put on trial for murder." Of the allegedly incriminating rap lyrics he said: "Bob Marley wrote I Shot The Sheriff but I have not heard of him being put on trial for murder."
Griffiths said the three alleged eyewitnesses, who testified anonymously, were liars or fantatsists. Griffiths said the three alleged eyewitnesses, who testified anonymously, were liars or fantasists.
Two had received money from the police.Two had received money from the police.
Opening the prosecution, Richard Whittam QC said some witnesses in the case against Jacobs kicked or punched the officer and would testify against Jacobs after being granted immunity for themselves being prosecuted for murder. Whittam said some witnesses had drug or alcohol problems, others had changed their accounts and it was for the jury to decide on the witnesses' credibility. "Your task is likely to be centred on deciding whether or not you can be sure that these witnesses are telling the truth when they tell you that Nicky Jacobs took part in the attack with a bladed article, acting with others."Opening the prosecution, Richard Whittam QC said some witnesses in the case against Jacobs kicked or punched the officer and would testify against Jacobs after being granted immunity for themselves being prosecuted for murder. Whittam said some witnesses had drug or alcohol problems, others had changed their accounts and it was for the jury to decide on the witnesses' credibility. "Your task is likely to be centred on deciding whether or not you can be sure that these witnesses are telling the truth when they tell you that Nicky Jacobs took part in the attack with a bladed article, acting with others."
After Wednesday's verdict, Jenny Hopkins, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said:
"At the close of the prosecution case the defence argued that there was no case to answer, however, the judge ruled that there was a case to answer and it was for the jury to decide on the guilt of the defendant. It was right that all the evidence in this case was put before a jury and we respect its decision."