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| PC Keith Blakelock trial: Seventh man cleared of murdering officer in 1985 Tottenham riots | PC Keith Blakelock trial: Seventh man cleared of murdering officer in 1985 Tottenham riots |
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| The wounds from one of the most damaging and painful episodes in modern British policing were reopened today after the seventh man accused of being part of the mob that hacked PC Keith Blakelock to death during the Tottenham riots 29 years ago was cleared of his murder. | The wounds from one of the most damaging and painful episodes in modern British policing were reopened today after the seventh man accused of being part of the mob that hacked PC Keith Blakelock to death during the Tottenham riots 29 years ago was cleared of his murder. |
| Nicky Jacobs, a 16-year-old teenager at the time of the attack, wept in the dock after he was found not guilty of being part of a 20-strong group who had stabbed the officer more than 40 times and tried to decapitate him during riots on the Broadwater Farm Estate in 1985. | Nicky Jacobs, a 16-year-old teenager at the time of the attack, wept in the dock after he was found not guilty of being part of a 20-strong group who had stabbed the officer more than 40 times and tried to decapitate him during riots on the Broadwater Farm Estate in 1985. |
| PC Blakelock’s widow, Elizabeth Johnson, slumped back into her chair at the verdicts and was comforted by members of her family outside the court. The trial followed the third police investigation into the killing and relied in large part on evidence by two men who took part in the attack but were given immunity from prosecution since they kicked rather than stabbed the 40-year-old policeman. | PC Blakelock’s widow, Elizabeth Johnson, slumped back into her chair at the verdicts and was comforted by members of her family outside the court. The trial followed the third police investigation into the killing and relied in large part on evidence by two men who took part in the attack but were given immunity from prosecution since they kicked rather than stabbed the 40-year-old policeman. |
| A third witness came forward 24 years after the attack to say he had also seen Mr Jacobs attack the officer from his home on the estate. But the witness, known only as Q, a long-term heroin and alcohol user, was accused by Mr Jacobs’ legal team of suffering from delusions because of his substance abuse. | A third witness came forward 24 years after the attack to say he had also seen Mr Jacobs attack the officer from his home on the estate. But the witness, known only as Q, a long-term heroin and alcohol user, was accused by Mr Jacobs’ legal team of suffering from delusions because of his substance abuse. |
| There were cheers from the public gallery after the jury took less than seven hours to return not guilty verdicts for both murder and manslaughter. Mr Jacobs’ supporters included Winston Silcott, who was jailed in the 1980s for the murder but was later cleared after scientific tests showed that interview notes had been tampered with by the original investigation team. Mr Jacobs is now the seventh man to have been charged, prosecuted and cleared of involvement in the attack. | There were cheers from the public gallery after the jury took less than seven hours to return not guilty verdicts for both murder and manslaughter. Mr Jacobs’ supporters included Winston Silcott, who was jailed in the 1980s for the murder but was later cleared after scientific tests showed that interview notes had been tampered with by the original investigation team. Mr Jacobs is now the seventh man to have been charged, prosecuted and cleared of involvement in the attack. |
| Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: “"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. | Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: “"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 people's lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted.” | "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 people's lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted.” |
| The three main witnesses, who were given pseudonyms, admitted changing their accounts over the years following the murder. One, John Brown, said he saw Jacobs use a machete in the attack, but in cross examination, he admitted he thought all black people looked alike. | The three main witnesses, who were given pseudonyms, admitted changing their accounts over the years following the murder. One, John Brown, said he saw Jacobs use a machete in the attack, but in cross examination, he admitted he thought all black people looked alike. |