The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has just announced that Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne and his former wife VIcky Pryce will be charged with perverting the course of justice.
They will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday 16th February.
It is expected that Chris Huhne will now step down from the Cabinet.
Keir Starmer emphasised that Huhne and Pryce have the right to a fair trial and that nothing should be said or reported that could influence that.
He said:
All the available evidence, including the new material, has now been carefully considered by the CPS and we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce for perverting the course of justice.
The essence of the charges is that between March and May 2003, Mr Huhne, having allegedly committed a speeding offence, falsely informed the investigating authorities that Ms Pryce had been the driver of the vehicle in question, and she falsely accepted that she was the driver.
Accordingly, summonses against both Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce have been obtained from Westminster Magistrates Court and those summonses will now be served on them. They are due to appear in court on 16 February this year.
Can I remind all concerned that Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce now stand charged with criminal offences and that they each have a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice their trial.
His full statement can be found here.
We will bring you news of further developments as they come in.
This was originally posted at Liberal Democrat Voice.
1 comment:
I am a big fan of Chris Huhne's razor sharp intellect, and quite upset he's resigned.
If only he had broken up with his wife in a more sensitive way, he could have saved himself all these problems!
Post a Comment