01/12/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. The top stories: Celebrations at outside

court after the trial of eight police officers collapses. They

were accused of perverting the course of justice during the

investigation into the murder of Lynette White 23 years ago. Tonight,

questions and recriminations. probably tens of millions that this

case has cost. I would call for an inquiry into the way this

investigating team has conducted itself.

There has been disappointment over today's events from one of the five

men wrongly accused of the murder. A it was just a farce, it was just

a farce. We really believed, close family and friends, but things

would be done here, you know? But Also on the programme, struggling

to balance the books, health boards face a �15 million shortfall. 10

Years After our national museums through open their doors to

visitors free of charge, we find out if people still look forward to

finding out about our past. And the treatment from Mexico that

has offered hope to 10 year old Connah to treat his rare form of

Good evening. Britain's biggest ever trial of

former police officers collapsed after it was ruled they couldn't

get a fair hearing. Eight former South Wales Police officers had

denied perverting the course of justice after the wrongful

conviction of three men for the murder of Lynette White in Cardiff

in 1988. The cost of the investigation, and trials spanning

almost a quarter of a century, is thought to run into tens of

millions of pounds. Hywel Griffith is at the scene of Lynette White's

murder. There was relief from the defendants.

This was a landmark case which had been locked in legal argument for

the last month, so when the judge gave his decision, in has -- in his

words, that this had become irretrievably confused for the

defendants, there was huge relief involved. Eight former police

officers and two civilians in the defence box has -- had been warned

that this could happen today but clearly this is huge row -- relief

for them and the weight taken off their shoulders. They have spent

six years on police bail not known where it would end, but today it

came to an end and they could walk free. Concern about how much money

has been spent on this trial. one estimate I have been given by

one of the defence barristers involved is over �30 million. Of

course, Lynette White's murder took place more than 23 years ago in a

bedsit in the building behind me. Her body was found their soaked in

blood, but the case has become notorious in South Wales and the UK

legal system as one hampered by errors and miscarriages of justice.

We remember at the two men acquitted, and then three others,

the so-called Cardiff Three, were acquitted and it wasn't until 2000

that the murder was reinvestigated, and 2003 when the real killer was

found. So this case has gone down in legal history, sadly, often for

the wrong reasons. And now, of course, more inquiries. Yes, the

judge has already called for an inquiry and we understand South

Wales Police have agreed for it to be referred to the Independent

Police Complaints Commission. They will need to look very closely at

what has gone wrong in this latest trial, and the issue of disclosure,

or there was evidence that should have been shared between the

prosecution and defence not make known and why was some destroyed?

Important questions that really bite to the core of be legal system.

Her will go for it in Newtown, thank you.

South Wales Police have tonight referred the matter to the IPCC and

the Director of Public Prosecutions said he was extremely concerned

that evidence was destroyed. The original investigation into the

murder of Lynette White has cast a long set -- shadow over the South

Wales force. Murphy Mary looks now as a case that has asked many

questions of the legal system. Lynette White was just 20 years old

and was stabbed more than 50 times in what was called a frenzied

attack. Her throat and wrists were cut and her body left in this flat

where she worked as a prostitute. The ending of this triumph seems to

be the final twist in a long- running saga which started in this

flat above the bookmakers over 20 years ago. The murder of Lynette

White led to one of the biggest police investigations South Wales

has ever seen but also led to a Five men were arrested and charged

with her murder. Two of those men were acquitted. I have been put in

jail for two years for a crime I did not commit. I don't know

anything about it. Three others, Tony Paris, Lynette White's

boyfriend and Stephen Miller, were connected -- convicted and sent to

prison but in 1992 the convictions of the Cardiff Three as they were

known was quashed by the Cardiff Three and they were released from

jail. It was not until 11 years later but the real killer was

brought to justice. A former client of Ginette White was caught using

the latest DNA technology. That conviction led to the inquiry into

the original investigation and resulted in the UK's biggest trial

of ex-police officers. Today the judge ruled the sick man could not

get a fair hearing after files relating to complaints by an

original defendant was said to be missing. Solicitors Stewart Hutton

represented two of the five men originally arrested for killing

Lynette White and believes the collapse of this trial has led to

further unanswered questions. has this happened? You would expect

the Crown Prosecution Service and the police force to prepare their

position so that it was watertight, and that hasn't happened, so

therefore, do we have an inquiry? Do we have an outside police force

to investigate? Certainly not South Wales Police, or do we go further

and have a judicial inquiry? Why on the Cardiff three were

convicted it led to unrest in the Cardiff docks community with many

taking to the police -- streets and campaigning for their release. The

miscarriage of justice cast a long shadow over South Wales Police.

was right for South Wales Police and the IPCC to look at this issue

and seek to bring matters to a conclusion. What happened, why was

the case brought to a conclusion now, I think we need to see the

full details before entering into any judgment.

After more than 20 years, this may be the final twist in a case which

has been dogged with problems, and still leaves many unanswered

questions. Andrew Taylor is a barrister who

has been following the case closely. What do you make of what happened

today? I think it is breathtaking. This is the biggest and longest-

running case in Welsh legal history. These people have been under

investigation for well over 60 -- 6 years and for the case to collapse

in the way it did ask many questions of the police, the

prosecution and the way we deal with disclosure. They are right in

saying there must be a full judicial investigation, not by

South Wales Police, they already have their hands all over this case

in more ways than one, and that is the only thing that can be done,

hopefully to restore some confidence in the police and the

way we bring people before the court. Let's have a look at the way

this case collapsed and why it did. It was said they wouldn't get a

fair trial. The judge ruled in an unusual ruling that they cannot

have a fair trial. They have the best legal brains, ostensibly, in

this case and millions of pounds worth of resources at their

disposal and yet at the end of the day they could not provide

information to defendants and their teams to allow them to have access

to that information, which may have given them possibly other defences

or shown that the prosecution case was fatally flawed. But is not a to

penny half penny case. I suspect this cost at -- case has cost well

over �30 million and all that money has been lost. In the meantime

people have been on bail, lives have been ruined and confidence in

our criminal justice system is in tatters. There will be

repercussions not just in Wales but in other parts of the country. In

particular how people deal with disclosure. Many people will say

tonight, when my son, my husband, Mike relative had an unfair trial

and is once again shows disclosure is not something the prosecution

deal with fairly. You are saying many legal brains involved in this

case, and the best ones. What lessons need to be learned across

the board here? A great deal. People take their responsibilities

to the court and justice very seriously. For this to happen six

months it would dry up when these documents were in police possession

and the CPS for well over seven years, possibly 20 years, and for

this to happen at this stage is quite literally breathtaking, and I

think many people out there will say that in today's stricken

society in terms of finances, we have wasted over �30 million, and

in the same breath, cast a complete doubt over the way people are able

to receive fair trials and hopefully in the way justice is

dispensed. This is breathtaking and there must be a full judicial

inquiry. Andrew Taylor, thank you for joining us this evening.

It was a dramatic day at Swansea Crown Court as we have heard, and

he is Kate Scott Williams with her report.

Acquitted of all charges after seven years under investigation, a

former police officers walked free from the biggest trial of its kind

in criminal history. Well, I am just relieved that it is all over

after six-and-a-half years. This would have been my 7pm on bail, and

we have had stalling tactics from the prosecution. My team proved

that any such evidence against me was completely dismantled and taken

apart, and there was no evidence at all against me. My client Richard

Powell has asked me to say this on his behalf. I am pleased that the

correct verdict has been reached. The last six-and-a-half years had

been harrowing for myself and my family as well. I would like now to

return to normal life. I would like to thank my friends and family for

their unwavering support, and made legal team he supported me

throughout. Five innocent men stood trial in

1990 for the murder of Lynette White, who was killed at her flat

in Cardiff's Docklands where she worked as a prostitute.

One of those five is John Actie, who was found not guilty. It was

just a farce, just a farce, we really believed, family and friends,

close family, that things would be done here, but I'm just

disappointed again, just disappointed. For everyone involved,

not just myself, every other family who was involved in the case over

the last 20 odd years. It is finished now and we have to move on.

Me a more court cases or nothing, it you know what I mean? It would

have been nice to have a result on this one.

Three men were found guilty of Lynette White's killing and were

jailed but released after the Court of Appeal quashed their convictions.

Earlier this year eight detectives working on that investigation went

on trial charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice,

along with two civilians, want Violet Perriam, accused of lying to

the jury in 1990. Today her solicitor spoke on her behalf.

obviously delighted with today's decision. This investigation and

trial has been very difficult to deal with. I have had to leave with

these proceedings for several years and the impact on my family,

friends and I is impossible to describe.

All 10 accused had always said they were innocent, and today the case

against them collapsed. In the past few weeks, the defence argued they

hadn't seen all the evidence. Mr Justice Sweeney was so concerned

over problems of the disclosure of evidence in this case that he

ordered a review. Following that review, the prosecution Today said

it has emerged that some files had been destroyed. They said the

correct course of action was to offer no evidence, and provide a

verdict of not guilty, essentially ending the trial.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service said destruction of evidence meant

it would be impossible to give meaning for reassurances that no

other material had been treated similarly, thus undermining the

defence's confidence in the disclosure process.

In a statement today, Stephen Miller, one of the three men

wrongly imprisoned over Lynette White's murder, said that this is a

sad day for the criminal process. The investigation and trial are

estimated to have cost over �30 million. There are calls to look

into the use of public money. The police budgets has been big

over a number of years with 18 or 19 defence teams between the two

trials, a jury he has since July and judges in London to try it. It

A second related trial of four former officers will open next week

with the prosecution again offering no evidence. In dismissing the jury,

Mr Justice Sweeney said when a trial has become an offence must be

stopped. It is vitally important his joint review now go to the

bottom of what went wrong and enjoy as appropriate action is taken. --

and make sure appropriate action is taken. Health boards across Wales

face a potential shortfall of nearly �50 million that's despite a

warning from the Welsh Government that they won't be bailed out. The

bodies have already been offered an extra �103 million but financial

reports show they're struggling to make ends meet even after an

injection of cash. Here's our political editor, Betsan Powys.

It is not unusual for health boss to predict they will be in the red

by the end of the financial year. It is unusual for it to happen at

the health minister has said they have had their lot and would be

bailed out. It is not about reductions of services, they have

got the funding in place to be able for them to deliver the services.

That is where the accountability is. If they don't steps will have to be

taken, we will have to bring in sanctions. Of the seven health

boards, only one expects to break- even. The others foresee that

despite a legal obligation to balance the books they will end the

year with a deficit of anywhere between �3,000,000.14000000 pounds.

A what has been made clear to chairs of health boards is this is

a p 45 target. How do you make savings? There is only two ways you

can make savings, by closing a facility and the other is to either

let go of staff or to not recruit new staff. The health minister has

warned its financial targets are missed heads will roll. She is

right to be tough says the opposition. They argue she must

share the burden of responsibility. There are huge pressures within the

health service, technology is continuously advancing and that is

why it is important it was government protects the health

budget. That is the priority of the Welsh people. It is our priority

has a opposition and I hope it is the Welsh Government's reality.

Local health boards are working to was breaking even. These game of

the challenge should not be underestimated. A what happens if

the boards don't break-even? We don't really know. The are

legally or obliged to break even. That is why in previous years the

health ministers have put their hands in their pockets. But Lesley

Griffiths has said she won't. Should patients be concerned by his

cousin at this is a question I asked health economists yesterday.

There. Is they're not going to turn anybody way if it is going to be a

tough winter. There is also that question of why can't Welsh health

was live within their means? Settlements have been generous in

the past. They can't be generous any more. The Lib-Dems or Plaid

Cymru don't argue with the government. They are saying from

now want the health minister has got to what very carefully where

the money is spent. Civil servants have to be sure where the money is

spent. The funeral has taken place of a

couple from Newport who died in a multiple crash on the M5 in

Somerset last month. Tony and Pamela Adams were among seven

people who died in the accident near Taunton. The service was led

by the Bishop of Monmouth at St Mark's Church in Newport.

The Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas has announced he's to stand for the

leadership of the party. Speaking earlier today he said he's be a

different type of leader. We need to reinvigorate the the party and

to look at the issues that concern people like job-creation, the

economy, protecting the health and education.

It's ten years since UK national museums began offering free entry

for visitors. Wales was ahead of the pack and led the way 6 months

earlier. 15 million people have enjoyed Wales' seven national

museums free of charge over the past decade. Matthew Richards is in

Wrexham for us. Wrexham is a local museum, not a

national museum, but it has an expensive refit and is a part of

the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. He says a lot of exhibits

you might see elsewhere around the country. Let's find out more now

from the exhibitions officer. What is the link between you and the

National Museums? We have a special gallery dedicated to providing free

access to collections from the National Museums and library here

in north-east Wales. Everybody is benefiting. Over the last 10 years

you have noticed a difference, what kind of changes has free access

make's it has changed the way people use and visit the museums.

They don't try to see is all at once and tried different

exhibitions and Mark that partaking in different activities rather than

visiting once, ticking the box and never coming back again.

different types of people coming? You can tell when people I knew in

the museum. We have had their activities the way you can tell

they have obviously not been in the museum before but have enjoyed the

experience. Tonight, the museum is open late on Tuesday -- Thursdays

to catch the lake by shoppers. Tiny me now is the only member on

communities for Wrexham council. -- joining me now. It is vital that we

get a free access for people. It was obvious when the National

Museums decided in Wales to be a head of the game back in 2,000. It

brought in 88% more people when they did not have to pay to gain

access. It is vital we maintain these facilities as long as we can.

To have the quality exhibition that applies nationally, it gives

everybody the benefit. If charging more for exhibitions should come in,

do you think that will be a good idea? I think we have to look at

best. Currently, we have good access to the museum and we need to

keep it that way. Many thanks. The Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay

says he's relieved to have avoided one of the Premier League's big

teams in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. The Bluebirds will

play fellow Championship side Crystal Palace, who beat Manchester

United last night, for a place in the final. Liverpool or Manchester

City will await the winner at Wembley.

It is great for the championship that we are one of the teams going

through. It is a great advert for the championship. We know each

other well. We respect each other and we know it is going to be a

tough game. We are delighted that we did not get Liverpool or

Manchester City. Wrexham have extended their

unbeaten run to 13 games and reclaimed the top spot in the Blue

Square Bet Premier after a 2-1 win over Darlington. The visitors took

the lead in the first half but Wrexham equalised in the 78th

minute after a goalmouth scramble. Substitute Jake Speight hit the

winner with his first touch of the ball.

A schoolboy from Flintshire who has a rare form of cancer has defied

medical experts by recently celebrating his 10th birthday. Four

years ago Connah Broom from Gronant had 11 tumours throughout his body.

Now, after travelling to Mexico for pioneering treatment costing almost

�250,000, 10 of the tumours have This is a Connah at the age of five,

won the Arc de was diagnosed with new robust coma. It is a rare

condition that affects 100 children in the UK every year. When these

pictures were taken, Connah had 11 tumours. Chemotherapy had not work

and the prognosis was bad. This is Connah now after turning 10. 11 of

the tumours have gone and his family says it is down to this

photodynamic therapy, an experimental treatment he received

in Mexico because it was not available on the NHS. He has four

nights a treatment a week at home. The Eddie at... There it damages

blood vessels in the team were. It there rectally attacks cancer cells.

We have been doing is for four years. We were told the secondaries

would dry up. They would try at and disintegrate into your body. How do

you feel? You feel full of beans? Yes. His grandparents are convinced

by this, many medical experts are sceptical. This is his GP and

supports the family. We have to be sceptical of new treatments in case

they create more disease rather than last. However something has

definitely changed his out luck. I don't know if it is just him, it

could be that Connah has a particular genetic switch that has

turned off. Now I don't know if it is the treatment he has received.

Name and still has the primary tumour in his abdomen. But they

will not give that the treatment until it has gone. Derek is

The next few days are looking somewhat colder and more seasonal.

Showers for some of us tonight and Jack Frost will be out and about.

Tonight, a few showers in parts of the north and west including

Pembrokeshire and the chance of hail. Elsewhere dry and cold.

Temperatures falling close to freezing with some frost. Tomorrow

morning, you may have to scrape the car windscreen. A frosty start for

most of us. There will be a few showers in parts of North West

including Deeside and part of the coast and on Anglesey. Milder next

to the sea. Bright for a time to Mirabeau make the most of it

because during the afternoon, cod will thicken up and eventually some

rain moving in. The south-east should stay trying to laugh the

dark. Temperatures between 6-9 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow night

will also be wet. Gales on high ground. On Saturday, a wet and

windy start but don't worry, that they should clear away followed by

a dry and bright weather. Sunday, some uncertainty. There is a risk

of more rain and showers. Those showers turning wintry on Monday

with sleet and snow on the high A reminder of our main story.

Britain's biggest-ever trial of former police officers has

collapsed after a judge ruled they could then get a fair hearing.

Eight former South Wales Police officers were accused of perverting

the course of justice after the wrongful conviction of three men of

the murder of Lynette White in Cardiff in's 1988.

I am relieved that it is all over. This would have been my son of

Christmas on bail. We have had stalling tactics from the

prosecution. The investigations and trials that spanned almost a

quarter of the century are estimated to have cost the taxpayer

tens of millions of pounds. It was just a farce, we really believed,

family, friends, close family that things would be done. It has