Potential jurors warned of long trial in case of ‘VIP paedophile ring’ accuser
Potential jurors in the case of the man known as “Nick” who is accused of fabricating his claims about a Westminster VIP paedophile ring have been told it will be a “long trial”.
Carl Beech, 51, from Gloucester, is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court, where he denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud.
The alleged offences relate to claims he made that former prime minister Edward Heath, ex-home secretary Leon Brittan and others were part of a child sex ring, and that three boys were murdered.
Mr Justice Goss picked a group of 25 potential jurors from a larger group and sent them home for the night to come back on Wednesday, allowing them time to check with their employers and family that they could sit on a “long trial” which could last 12 weeks.
The larger pool group of jurors had been given a questionnaire containing the names of people involved in the case.
The judge said jurors must not talk to friends and family about the case, or carry out their own research into it, adding that it has appeared in the news over the past few years.
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