The aftermath of Phonehackgate rumbles on with
the news that former Screws executive
Neil “Wolfman” Wallis, who was
arrested around 21 months ago and bailed since then, will not be charged. This
was one of two decisions revealed this morning. Wallis, to no surprise, has
been relieved, and wants anyone who is listening to know that he is angry.
Well, Wallis will know what he needs to do, and who to see
about it, when it comes to seeking redress, and that is his business and no-one
else’s. On that I make no further comment. Where I certainly do make further comment is on the
assumption made – not by Wallis, I should add – that his case automatically undermines
the actions against others previously arrested.
That’s one very significant logic leap, particularly as
Wallis was never charged with any specific offence. Moreover, out of the
thirteen arrested “in relation to
allegations of conspiracy to intercept voicemail communication”, eight have
already been charged. Wallis and his former colleague Dan Evans both being
acquitted leaves three still officially in limbo.
Nor does any of this help the case of the twinkle toed yet
domestically combative Rebekah Brooks, who in any case has
already been committed for trial on hacking and a further offence, that of
attempting to pervert the course of justice, which, as those following the
Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce case will know, is likely on conviction to lead to
a custodial sentence.
What Wallis’ acquittal really means is that the authorities
will no longer be distracted by whether to wait for charging decisions, and can
press on with the cases where charges have already been laid. So for a majority
of those nicked, it’s not likely to be good news at all – unless they’re
looking forward to being put on trial and have access to a crystal ball that
says they’ll get off.
But coming back to Neil Wallis, one further point has to be
addressed, that which
he made most forcefully in a post for the HuffPost
UK last August. He asked “what
about "innocent until proven guilty"? What about those who turn out
to be completely innocent? What about proportionality?”, and I agree with
him. All who are arrested should not instantly be assumed to be guilty.
The problem which then enters, of course, is that the reason
sympathy for the arrested journalists has been in such short supply is the
impression constantly given by the Fourth Estate that those about whom they
write are indeed guilty before coming to trial: Colin Stagg, Winston Silcott,
any number of those being Irish, Catholic and of republican sympathy, and most
recently Christopher Jefferies.
If only the hacks had asked Wallis’ questions themselves. But they never did.
Has he actually been acquitted? I read that there "was insufficient evidence to charge". Doesn't quite mean the same thing does it?
ReplyDeleteAnd is Dan Evans off the hook?
From The Guardian:
"The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed in a statement that Wallis would face no further action.
"Having carefully considered the matter, the CPS has concluded that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction in relation to that journalist," it said, adding that his file had been resubmitted for charging advice in January 2013.
Last year it had received files on 13 individuals in relation to allegations of conspiracy to intercept voicemail communication, eight of whom had been charged. It asked the Met Police to make further inquiries on two journalists in those files, Wallis and Dan Evans, a former editorial colleague on the News of the World."
Mentions "only that journalist" singular?
BBC site says "The other journalist remains under investigation."