Prosecution offer no evidence in perverting the course of justice case

Omran Belhadi was instructed by Saeed Hafezi of JMW Solicitors to represent MR.

MR was charged with perverting the course of justice after it was alleged he claimed he was not the driver or registered keeper of a motor vehicle seen running a red light and making off from police near Victoria Station.

A police sergeant gave a statement alleging he could see the driver while they were stopped for a few seconds at a red light. He arrested MR the next day and asserted the driver he saw was MR. No ID procedure was carried out.

Omran challenged the identification evidence on the basis the police had already obtained MR’s full name and address without setting out how. It was a case which required an identification procedure and none was carried out. The identification could not be trusted. Omran also submitted disclosure requests regarding the process by which MR was identified.

Following receipt of the disclosure requests and applications the prosecution offered no evidence against MR.