10/07/2007

21/7 jury discharged after failing to reach verdicts

The jury has failed to reach verdicts on the charges against two defendants in the 21/7 bombing trial.

Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 34, of no fixed address and Adel Yahya, 24, of High Road In Tottenham had both denied charges of conspiracy to murder.

The judge Mr Justice Fulford told the jurors at Woolwich Crown Court that the failure to reach a verdict did not reflect badly on them and thanked them for their perseverance throughout the trial.

The men who could face a retrial did not react as the jury was dismissed.

Yesterday, at Woolwich Crown Court, Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, Hussain Osman, 28, Yassin Omar, 26, and Ramzi Mohammed, 25, were all found guilty of conspiracy to murder.

However, the case has highlighted concerns about operations by security forces.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that the trial had exposed what he said were "systemic failings" that had allowed one of the guilty men Muktar Ibrahim to attend a terrorist training camp in Pakistan while he was on bail.

He had obtained a British passport just three months prior to the trip to Pakistan in 2004.

(SP/JM)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 December 2003
Judge instructs Soham trial jury to be objective
The jury at the Old Bailey trial into the deaths of two 10-year-old Soham schoolgirls has retired today to consider their verdicts.
24 September 2012
Britain To Establish Joint Embassies With Canada
Foreigh Secretary William Hague has announced that Britain and Cananda will establish joint diplomatic missions abroad. Mr Hague revealed details of this planned new co-operation as he meet his Canadian counterpart John Baird in Ottawa on Monday.
18 December 2008
Mortgage Arrears 'Could Reach 500,000', CML Warns
The number of households more than three months behind in their mortgage repayments could reach 500,000, according to stark figures released today. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have warned that despite action taken by the Government and housing industry, 2009 is expected to be a "very tough year" for the UK mortgage market.
03 April 2006
Man found not guilty of Damilola murder
A 20-year-old man has been found not guilty of the murder of schoolboy Damilola Taylor in south London. Hassan Jihad was cleared on charges of murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob at the Old Bailey today.
15 November 2011
Jury Sworn In For Stephen Lawrence Murder Trial
The jury of eight men and four women attending the Stephen Lawerence murder trail have been sworn in. Two men stand accused of murdering the black teenager Stephen Lawrence 18 years ago, and face a trail at the Old Bailey. The jury will hear the case against Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, both of south London. Both deny the charges.