BBC ON THIS DAY | 9 | 1976: Young Liberal leader cleared of robbery

1976: Young Liberal leader cleared of robbery

The president of the Young Liberals, Peter Hain, has been acquitted of stealing �490 from a branch of Barclays bank last October.

Supporters in the public gallery at the Old Bailey in London clapped and cheered as the verdict was announced.

The case is certain to raise new doubts about the validity of eye-witness identification.

The only evidence presented against Mr Hain, a postgraduate student at Sussex university, was his identification by three schoolboys and a bank cashier.

The schoolboys, who chased the thief, only saw him from a distance and a fourth boy said it was not Mr Hain.

The cashier was the only person from a number of bank staff and customers to pick Mr Hain, 26, from a police identity parade staged three days after the robbery

During the trial members of Peter Hain's family testified he had not left his home in time to commit the robbery.

I think there is plenty of reason to suspect that there might have been a frame-up
Peter Hain
The thief was also said to have been wearing different clothing from that of Mr Hain on the day of the robbery.

Speaking to reporters after his acquittal, Mr Hain said he planned a campaign for other victims of mistaken identity.

He said it was possible South African agents may have used a "double" to frame him because of his anti-apartheid activities.

"I think there is plenty of reason to suspect that there might have been a frame-up but it is nothing substantial," he said.

Peter Hain's family left South Africa ten years ago because of their opposition to apartheid.

Mr Hain has since been prominent in anti-apartheid activities in the UK.

Four years ago he was sent a letter bomb that failed to explode because of faulty wiring.

In the House of Commons six MPs, led by Liberal David Steel, called for the resignation of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Norman Skelhorn, over the Hain case.

E-mail this story to a friend

	^^ back to top
	Front Page \| Years \| Themes \| Witness
	©MMVIII \| News Sources \| Privacy & Cookies Policy


	9 April



	Search ON THIS DAY by date



	Search ON THIS DAY by date