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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Cleared Blakelock suspect Nicholas Jacobs freed | Cleared Blakelock suspect Nicholas Jacobs freed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The man cleared of killing PC Keith Blakelock in the 1985 Tottenham riots has been released from prison. | The man cleared of killing PC Keith Blakelock in the 1985 Tottenham riots has been released from prison. |
| Nicholas Jacobs, 45, was found not guilty on Wednesday of the murder and manslaughter of the officer who was stabbed 43 times at Broadwater Farm. | Nicholas Jacobs, 45, was found not guilty on Wednesday of the murder and manslaughter of the officer who was stabbed 43 times at Broadwater Farm. |
| But he was kept in prison overnight as administrative offices had closed. | But he was kept in prison overnight as administrative offices had closed. |
| His solicitor Tony Meisels said his client was "relieved" to be free but his "thoughts are with PC Blakelock's widow and her children". | His solicitor Tony Meisels said his client was "relieved" to be free but his "thoughts are with PC Blakelock's widow and her children". |
| Outside Belmarsh Prison Mr Meisels said: "He told me he slept like a baby. He knew he was getting out this morning. | Outside Belmarsh Prison Mr Meisels said: "He told me he slept like a baby. He knew he was getting out this morning. |
| "It is one more thing the authorities have thrown at him." | "It is one more thing the authorities have thrown at him." |
| Earlier Mr Meisels criticised the authorities for keeping Mr Jacobs in prison the extra night and said it was "almost like the last small laugh of the police." | Earlier Mr Meisels criticised the authorities for keeping Mr Jacobs in prison the extra night and said it was "almost like the last small laugh of the police." |
| 'Extremely unusual' | 'Extremely unusual' |
| Following the verdict Mr Jacobs was returned to Belmarsh Prison for the relevant paperwork to be carried out, but Mr Meisels said, despite ample warning, the officers involved went home. | |
| He said: "It is extremely unusual and I've never come across it before and it's a shame. | He said: "It is extremely unusual and I've never come across it before and it's a shame. |
| "The comment I was told from one of the senior prison officers was that 'this case is of a high media profile and we don't want to release him in error'. | "The comment I was told from one of the senior prison officers was that 'this case is of a high media profile and we don't want to release him in error'. |
| "He doesn't get the experience of walking out the front doors of the Old Bailey." | "He doesn't get the experience of walking out the front doors of the Old Bailey." |
| In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said it did not comment on individual cases. | In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said it did not comment on individual cases. |
| It added: "Public safety is our priority and prisons must be satisfied there are no outstanding legal issues before releasing an acquitted prisoner." | It added: "Public safety is our priority and prisons must be satisfied there are no outstanding legal issues before releasing an acquitted prisoner." |
| PC Blakelock was attacked on the night of 6 October 1985 while protecting firefighters tackling blazes started during the riots. | PC Blakelock was attacked on the night of 6 October 1985 while protecting firefighters tackling blazes started during the riots. |
| He was repeatedly stabbed and attempts were made to decapitate him. | He was repeatedly stabbed and attempts were made to decapitate him. |
| The jury at Mr Jacobs' trial heard from three witnesses who claimed they saw the then 16-year-old take part in the attack, but his defence team questioned their credibility. | The jury at Mr Jacobs' trial heard from three witnesses who claimed they saw the then 16-year-old take part in the attack, but his defence team questioned their credibility. |
| Outside the prison Mr Meisels also criticised the police's use of evidence from "kickers" - witnesses in the trial who admitted attacking PC Blakelock but were given immunity if they testified. | Outside the prison Mr Meisels also criticised the police's use of evidence from "kickers" - witnesses in the trial who admitted attacking PC Blakelock but were given immunity if they testified. |
| 'Never get justice' | |
| He said. "So desperate were the police to secure a conviction that they went to great lengths to alter the rules so they could proceed with the case." | He said. "So desperate were the police to secure a conviction that they went to great lengths to alter the rules so they could proceed with the case." |
| Mr Jacobs was the seventh person to be charged over PC Blakelock's death, but no-one has been successfully prosecuted for the killing. | Mr Jacobs was the seventh person to be charged over PC Blakelock's death, but no-one has been successfully prosecuted for the killing. |
| In 1987 three men were convicted of the murder, before being freed four years later on appeal. | In 1987 three men were convicted of the murder, before being freed four years later on appeal. |
| Retired policeman Richard Coombes, 63, who survived the Broadwater Farm attack, said: "We're very disappointed from the point of view of it doesn't give anybody the opportunity to draw a line under this and say well at least somebody's been found guilty of Keith's murder. | |
| "I feel dreadfully, dreadfully sorry for the Blakelock family because they sat through every day of that trial and they must today be feeling that they'll never get justice for Keith." | |
| 'Get anyone' | 'Get anyone' |
| PC Blakelock's family said in a statement issued on Wednesday: "We viewed this trial as an opportunity to see some form of justice served for Keith. | PC Blakelock's family said in a statement issued on Wednesday: "We viewed this trial as an opportunity to see some form of justice served for Keith. |
| "We hope that more people are able to come forward so that some of those guilty can be brought to justice in the future." | "We hope that more people are able to come forward so that some of those guilty can be brought to justice in the future." |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "We accept the decision of the jury and our work to bring those responsible for Keith's murder to justice will not stop." | Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "We accept the decision of the jury and our work to bring those responsible for Keith's murder to justice will not stop." |
| Meanwhile Winston Silcott, who had his 1987 conviction for murdering PC Blakelock overturned, said: "The police are bitter about what happened, that's why they brought this case. | Meanwhile Winston Silcott, who had his 1987 conviction for murdering PC Blakelock overturned, said: "The police are bitter about what happened, that's why they brought this case. |
| "My conclusion is that they had promised the Blakelock family that they would get justice for him and so they were trying to get anyone they could." | "My conclusion is that they had promised the Blakelock family that they would get justice for him and so they were trying to get anyone they could." |