A CHINA spy-trial witness has accused ministers and prosecutors of botching it in a way that “smacks of interference.”
Ex-diplomat Charles Parton said it clearly showed “a desire not to offend China”.
ReutersThe spying case against Parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash, pictured, and Christopher Berry collapsed[/caption]
Berry, pictured, and Cash both denied spyingReuters
The case against Parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash, 30, and teacher Christopher Berry, 33 — who both denied spying — collapsed last month.
The Crown Prosecution Service blamed ministers for failing to provide key evidence that China was a national security threat at the time.
Mr Parton, who was due to testify for the prosecution, slammed the CPS for failing to find new witnesses after the Government pulled its national security official at the last minute.
He told The Sun: “They are both to blame. The Government for withdrawing.
“But the CPS should have got some evidence from experts to say, ‘Is China a threat?’
“Then the jury could have said, ‘Yes, national security threat,’ and now we’re going ahead and trying this case.
“That smacks either of interference by the Government or just sheer incompetence.”
Sir Keir Starmer has blamed the previous government.
But Mr Parton has piled fresh pressure on No 10 and the PM’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell.
Ex-diplomat Charles Parton also slammed the CPS for failing to find new witnesses Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
